We had a chance to go camping this weekend.

We were around a group of people who don't know me well. This is unusual/unfamiliar territory.

Most people in my world have lots of experience (at this point) with my illnesses and limitations.

What happened in this setting?

Old tapes started to play without my active awareness.

I felt excluded -- not intentionally but in all the discrete and subtle ways that being inactive and unable to participate leaves one feeling sidelined.

The inability to have fires at our campground was a boon for me but a bust for everyone else.

It was disconnecting to feel like I was having such a profoundly different experience than everyone else.

How do you participate in groups where you are not well known?

When do you choose to step up and advocate or not?