This is a really nice breakdown of that hard-to-parse feeling of "removed ownership." It's definitely something I can relate with. I'm a dual US/UK national, my dad is from Kent, I grew up watching English media and I have spent a lot of time relative to the average American in England. So I stick out just a little bit from friends and peers here because relative to them I'm "British." When I go overseas or run into actual English people though, I am obviously American. I often try NOT to mention my half-ness because I don't want to end up another American acting like because someone who came over in 1880 was from Cork I'm Irish (I don't know if that stereotype is as pervasive for England but you get the idea).

Split identities and historical details are messy, and they cause all sorts of personal confusion and make it harder to figure out how to present yourself to the world. I'm a second-generation immigrant but would never identify myself as such. And of all the countries you could claim without being problematic, England, the uber-imperialist, is top of the heap. And that's not even going into the Scottish lines I have tied up in there (Grahame Watt is a PAINFULLY Scottish name). 

I think the best any of use can do is to be honest and enthusastic about things that are not originally "ours" (whatever that means) but understand that we are not the main characters in that story. Despite what the internet would have you believe, the vast majority of people are excited when you try to participate in their cultural traditions and have plenty of grace for you when you botch it, provided you're doing it in good faith. It's when you start trying to use those things for some selfish benefit that it stops going from supporting and learning to taking advantage.

This is the way. Do things visibly and curious people who are interested will naturally drop by. If you find a theme or idea later that could be a whole project, great--spin it out, set up a company, whatever. The goal isn't to find that thing, if it comes along it's a product of circumstance. It's not why we're tinkering and gardening in the first place.

Big fan of the yew tree/garden metaphr btw :)

Thanks for reading! It really is one of those clarifying phrases that punches well above its weight. I first ran into it a few years ago and since then it's been rattling around in my head

Numbered lists, super/subscripts, and a page views counter (though that could be in the mgmt page, not a block)! I voted for footnotes because that's the only one here I'd actively like but tables would be good too

Ty ty! Looking forward to your next one!