Sunday, January 1
Polar Bear Plunge led by Maury "Sock Girl" Shalmone and Nathan "Mr. T"
The first JOC event of the year was truly a splash! About fifteen members of the JOC started off their year by plunging into the icy Atlantic on New Year’s Day. They joined hundreds of other hearty folks at the annual polar bear plunge at Coney Island beach to partake in a tradition that dates back over a century. Hundreds of shivering spectators also watched in total disbelief as a frosty festivity formed on the beach front. Speakers blasted rock music, drums beat, people played Frisbee and at 1:00 pm, in an almost lemming like daze, people willingly exchanged their winter parkas for summer swimsuits, an assortment of customs, and even an itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikini and dived into the ocean. Hoots and howlers could be heard as hundreds of hung-over swimmers were suddenly shocked awake with splashes of ice cold sea water. Some splashed for seconds and some splashed until they turned blue and exchanged their hangovers for a mild case of hypothermia. In any case, the first swim and JOC event of the New Year was truly a success and those who engaged in the frosty fun will never forget that when you start the New Year at zero degrees, you have nowhere to go but up.

If you've made a friend at a JOC event, you can always ask the organizer for his/her name. You can also try a new website that a JOCer put together, called "We've Met" The URL is www.wevemet.com.

Over the years, I have heard many interesting requests for events. “Hey Alon, could you organize a yoga session on top of a mountain?” “Can we bunjee jump off the Brooklyn Bridge?” Could the JOC try to break the Guiness record for the most hikers ever at one time?”

Such diverse solicitations only confirms the notion that there are many different ways to appreciate the great outdoors, and that no way is any better or worse than another. In my neverending quest to simplify the complex, I have come up with five categories of outdoorsman, with their likely Myers-Briggs type as a bonus read. Which type are you?

The Social Outdorsman: The social outdoorsman realizes that in a hike with, say, 25 men and 25 women, he/she can meet as many members of the opposite sex as they could in several years of blind dates. Plus, the social outdoorsman notices that the outdoors tends to bring out the best in people – everyone is friendly, warm, and in a good mood. They especially love camping because everyone looks attractive in the dark (even more so when drunk).
Most likely Myers-Briggs Type: EF

The Thrill Seeker: The thrill seeker likes the outdoors for the adrenaline rush that outdoor activities provide. Forget hiking -- they want to go ice climbing, jet-skiing, skydiving, hanggliding, and skiing, typically at out of control speeds, and often in the buck. Male thrill seekers typically suffer many injuries and end up with “battle scars” they like to show off to ladies, like in Lethal Weapon.
Most likely Myers-Briggs Type: SP

The Spiritualist: The spiritualist is the one who seeks meaning in the great outdoors. Every tree is an unwritten poem, every animal is a soul to be cherished. The spiritualist seeks communion with God through nature, and wouldn’t dare defile his beautiful creations by, say, talking too loudly. Their favorite outdoor activity would be a Carlebach like kumsitz atop Bear Moutain at sunset.
Most likely Myers-Briggs Type: NF

The Conquerer: This type is one who loves to push their limits by tackling a challenging outdoor pursuit. No apple picking for this guy or girl – they’ll want to “suck up” the pain, as they conquer a Himalayan Peak, survive a weeklong desert traverse, or kitesurf across the arctic. They worship Genghis Kahn, Lewis and Clark, and Indiana Jones, and think that pacifists like Ghandi are losers.
Most likely Myers-Briggs Type: TJ

The Knowledge Seeker: This type loves learning about the outdoors, in addition to experiencing it. These are good people to have around if you need an medicinal herb to cure a sudden kidney stone while on the trail. They are experts in botany and zoology, and they love to show off what they know about outdoor survival. Ultimately, their immersion in knowledge is meant to impress the opposite gender; unfortunately, most people just think that they are nerds.
Most likely Myers-Briggs Type: NT