Older, Wiser and I Finally Have a Fort!

And, A Shoutout for the Fact that Practicing Creativity and Play Can Help Keep You Youngish at Heart

There’s nothing like reconnecting with some of your favourite childhood toys or creative endeavours to make you feel like a kid again.

A couple of weeks before Christmas, I decided to make a cardboard box fort in preparation for an upcoming April visit from my two nephews, Theodore ( 4 years) and Otto (2 years). I’d never had a cardboard box anything when I was a kid and didn’t want them to miss out on the opportunity either. Although, who am I kidding, at 61 years old, the fort was as much for my inner 5 year old as it was for Theo and Otto.

My ‘little’ idea turned into a project that’s spanned nearly three + months, gone from ‘free’ to a cost of $100 ++ in materials and taken up nearly half my living room and a good chunk of my weekends.

Yet, I regret nothing.

The creation of ‘Fort OttoDore’ has been a highlight of the past few months, bringing much joy to myself and many of my friends.

If you’re like me and not ready or interested in signing up for lawn bowling, the local seniors bus tour or investing your dollars in the latest anti-aging craze, I’d highly suggest finding yourself a cardboard box or some other creative outlet to ignite your inner child. You’ll feel young again in no time.

To kickstart my project, I had to source a big box. I found one quickly via Next Door, an app that lets you connect with neighbours in your area. Thanks to ‘Mike’, I became the new owner of what formerly identified as a large, stand-up freezer box. A blank canvas bursting with potential when matched with imagination and some acrylic paint.

While I’d initially planned on making just one tower, when I got the box home, it was clear that I had enough box for two. Score!

When I began my fort journey, I was going through a rough patch. A couple of months earlier, I’d experienced a traumatic breakup and, in December, was going through another difficult time. I needed a distraction, a break, something new and different, a playful de-stressor, a purposeful goal to focus on. It turns out that nurturing my carefree inner child spirit with a creative project was exactly what I needed. And what we all need to maintain in our lives to keep ourselves sane, healthy and youngish at heart.

I began with Tower One, working on it here and there, a few minutes in the evening after work or an hour or two on the weekend. With no grand creative plan in mind, the whole thing just evolved. A snake would look really cool here. This fort needs some owls. OMG, I have to make a drawbridge. One idea simply led to another, almost effortlessly. I felt “in the zone”, so focused on what I was creating that any problems or thoughts beyond the fort disintegrated.

The fort had me feeling like a kid again. Relaxed, carefree, happier, playful, imaginative, seeing possibilities, fulfilled.

It wasn’t just me who’s feeling like a kid again though. When my friends come over, they, too, want to play in the fort. Whether you’re 42, 61 or 73 years old, it seems that you’re never too old to enjoy a fort.

Forts are just fun. And couldn’t we all benefit by having more simple fun in our lives?

I found great joy in painting the friendly dragon that lives under the bridge connecting Tower One to Tower Two. As well as in adding the daisies, lizard, snake, frog and figuring out how to add a west coast flair to the final wall (middle photo, bottom row). Some arbutus bark on the drawbridge completed the west coast vibe.

I even enjoyed a good laugh when I realized what I’d accidentally created with the two round windows above the drawbridge. I can’t unsee the ‘surprised expression’ on Tower Two. *lol*

My friend, Katia, Mom to Theo and Otto, jokes that I may never be finished with the fort. This is quite possibly true. New ideas keep coming regularly, some turrets being added to Tower Two is a distinct possibility. While the exterior currently looks like this…

…yesterday, I added some interior seating…

One needs to be comfortable in one’s fort.

I’ve also been known to decorate it for a friend’s 43rd birthday…

Theo and Otto arrive in mid-April and I’m over the moon excited for them to enjoy the fort too. After their visit, the fort will then be off to its new home with a good friend who will enjoy it with her two-year-old granddaughter.

While I’ll be sad to see it go, I’m glad to know that it will be well-used and loved in its new home.

And I’ll be okay because I’ve got this to enjoy in its place…a VW van play tent!

It’s long been my dream to own a VW campervan and now I do. :-)

I’ve kitted this puppy out with a sleeping bag, pillow and extra-firm foam mattress, creating THE BEST napping zone evah. The joy this tent brings me is off the charts. My youngish-at-heart, hippie spirit gives it two thumbs up.

I don’t believe that you’re ever too old to do anything. Including, being a kid again.

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

- George Bernard Shaw

Keep it youngish friends,

Heather

p.s. There are a couple of new things coming down the pipeline for OWYAH. If you’d like to be sure to stay in the loop, head on over to the OWYAH website by clicking here and sign up for our newsletter so that you don’t miss a thing!