Moonly Review 🌒 99%
Where Michał is almost done with two big project, and the "almost" part feels quite difficult.
Hello from Faial, the island right next to Pico – a beautiful island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean where I spent 3 years of my life.
I'm back to Azores after a long time away for a minimum viable hop (1 month), and this time I felt like checking out how it is to live on the neighbouring piece of rock.
I've been here for only a week, so no solid conclusions yet, although (surprise surprise) I'm already noticing things I love and things I don't like so much – shocking insight, I know.
Looking over to Pico, from Horta – the first port of entry in Europe.
Before coming here I took a few days break in Pico, connecting with my friends, revisiting the island, and checking out the pile of rocks on my land that want to become a house.
Every time I'm here I'm noticing myself going into a cabin-building mode, and this time it somehow got more alive. Wouldn't it be delightful to build a little forest paradise? Even if I wouldn't live here full time (I'm way too semi-nomadic for that), there's something amazing about having a space where I can chill for some time, and invite friends to. I can almost feel a Wish forming in me to call a Burn in 2026, get a team to the island, and together build something really cool in record time.
But I'm jumping ahead.
Because there's still the 1%.
The most annoying, difficult, feeling like at least 55%. The one percent separating me from completing two massive projects. And I promised myself - no new projects talk until the painful 99% turns into shiny 100 ⭐️.
The last moon cycle has been somewhat insane, while also being absolutely great.
Let's start with the Microsolidarity Deck – my first b2b deck making gig, for the project that reshaped my community building career. Over 5 days we crafted the core of the deck with 18 people, only to realise during the Open Day playtesting that some critical deck mechanics don't work forcing us to pivot. While somewhat annoying (more work) that's precisely what playtesting is for. And the deck that is almost ready to be shipped feels much, much better than the previous version.
Still - the last 1% feels heroic. It is not only the battle with polishing, consolidating, proof-reading, fixing typos, but most importantly the internal battle with the perfectionist self wanting to make it the best possible thing. It's gonna be. And, yes, I'd be better if we'd spend another 6 months playtesting, but that's what second editions are for.
If you want more context of the deck, have a look at the 32 min recording of the Open Day walkthrough, where I got to wear my funkiest costume so far :)
Click here if the video doesn't load.
Meanwhile, the Cultivating Neighbourhoods book is also in 99% done. While the book itself was finished in April, there's a whole load of work that goes into getting it ready for publishing, and this time that work expanded significantly, as we finally setup a company for Tree House Collective, and started moving all the three books to print-on-demand.
It's aaaaalmost there, well, at least the Cultivating Neighbourhoods book is. Still, the last 1% is a crazy push, and I'm definitely noticing that having two projects in that final phase is not very healthy for my sanity. I end up overworking myself and then crash and not have capacity for anything else. Luckily the island is here to hold me, with all its nature and delightful swimming spots.
This coming week is the completion week. I said it last week, and it didn't work. This time it will.
It's time to ship.
It's time to switch to looking ahead.
It's time to swim.
(one never regrets a swim)
Wishing you a wonderful moon cycle,
Michał
ps. Next steps after Faial: Nowhere. Find me at Sheepy Ship if you're around and see the improvements to our vessel 🐑⛵️. Baaah!