The Global Society for Walking and Talking
The Global Society for Walking and Talking (GSWAT) was founded in May 2021 as a vehicle for people in the Washington, DC area to become better acquainted with each other.
The people who walk with us are of many different professions and ages — and come from many different places in the United States and throughout the world. But we all share an interest in stimulating conversation, supplemented with a dash of exercise.
GSWAT takes its inspiration from Mark Twain, who wrote, “The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking.”
How it works
We typically gather on weekends and start our leisurely walk from Fletcher’s Cove. The path we take is flat and it runs along the C&O Canal, which also offers some beautiful views of the Potomac River. Upon arriving at the Key Bridge overlook – a distance of about 2.25 miles – we stop for a photo (see examples by clicking on the gallery tab below) and some more kibitzing. We then begin our journey back to Fletcher’s.
In advance of every outing (attendance is strictly voluntary), those who have signed up to attend receive an email that includes the identity of their two different walking partners — one for each portion of the walk — as well as biographical information gleaned from LinkedIn and other public sources.
This combination of exercise with curated socializing prompted one GSWAT participant to write,
“I am so in love with this concept. . . . If I met all these people at a party, I would be miserable. But having the shared task of walking and one-on-one conversations changes everything.”
Interested in joining? Want to start your own GSWAT chapter in a new city?
Send along an email and tell us a little bit about yourself.