Greetings from the new guy in Oakland, California!

[Piedmont Highlander]

Hello All!

My name is Josh, I'm 41, single, from Oakland, CA. I'm actually not Scottish (although I have some suspicions about my Viking heritage...and some of the ginger hairs on my head), but I went to a high school and our mascot was The Highlanders (see my avatar). That counts, right? Anyway, long, long ago when I was a teenager, my sister went to a garage sale and came back, telling me a story about finding a honest to goodness kilt in the $.25 bin, but she didn't get it because she "didn't know anyone who would want one". I shrieked that *I* would want it. She went back later and it was, of course, gone. Fast forward many years later and after talking about it for 20+ years, I went onto eBay and got a "starter" kilt. It's acrylic in a Royal Stewart tartan. I wore it on Friday night and then Saturday night in San Francisco. It was a warm night in the city and standing in the breezeway, feeling the breeze, I knew I'd found something I wanted more of. Plus, it looks totally awesome.

There's a lot to know, obviously, about wearing a kilt and I realized that my enthusiasm was going to get the best of me if I didn't talk to some people who actually know something about this. So I'm looking forward to learning more and getting a real kilt that fits me (I'll be posting about the 8 yard I purchased today very soon). I got a "starter" sporran, and the hose to go along with it. Flashes, pin, and waistcoat? This is already getting pretty expensive.

Obviously, I'm not in a clan, and I'm a firm believer in respecting the Scottish culture and the rules they have, which is why I chose a Royal Stewart, since I read that was one of the acceptable tartans that everyone can wear. And for my next (real) kilt, I'd like to make a good choice that looks good and also doesn't offend anyone.

I also have thoughts about sewing my own utilikilt.

So thanks for having me, and I hope to learn as much as I can from you all.

[Jock Scot]

Welcome, from Inverness-shire.

[Hawk]

Welcome to the XMTS Community Josh......from about 10-11 hours north of you....

Hawk

[Spartan Tartan]

from Rhode Island

[Laird_M]

Welcome to the boards.

[rtown]

Hello and welcome

[Tarheel]

Well met Josh. Here in Oxford MS you're probably related to someone by hook or crook, birth or marriage. Consider your self now an X Mark clan member. Glad you've joined us.

[MacEanruig]

Welcome to a great community! You will learn quite a bit here.

[Piedmont Highlander]

Thanks everyone! I figured there would be a couple of Californians here. Funny that California Highlander is in Piedmont and when I first joined, my name was going to be "CaliforniaHighlander". Cooler heads prevailed. Yes, I hope to meet the local kilt-folk (kilters?). You can tell me where you got all of your kit.

I'm interested to hear, as well, how everyone chose their tartan (if not by their clan).

Again, thanks for the welcome, I'm looking forward to learning more. :-)

[WillowEstate]

Hi Josh and a warm welcome from sunny Queensland!

I spent many happy hours in your part of the world when I worked for a computer company in Sunnyvale, across the bay.