jwillis54
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Re: Wilderness Longing
Wine Maker wrote: That is so awesome Jane. I too long for that. All my life, for as long as I can remember, I have felt the draw of the woods. I cannot fully describe it other than this pull that says come to me. Like the woods are talking to me. I so wish I could say goodbye to the concrete jungle and just retire in some remote place away from the huge city life. Not necessary off the grid as I do enjoy a cup of coffee and wine. :) You lead a charmed life if you were able to spend 5 weeks away. I am happy for you. :) Vin. In my popup I was often off the grid. I had solar for 12V power, and propane for a gas stove and refrig! Lots of coffee and wine (and Bloody Mary made with V8 now and then when I need more veggies). I wish I had 6 weeks every year. I am a minister and get a sabbatical every 7 years. We used to get much longer, but church budgets are tight (it is paid time off). So many good writes talk about the lure of the wilderness. I have some book lists on my blog...can send you links! Jane183Views0likes0CommentsWilderness Longing
Hi there, I still work but just completed 5 weeks in my popup camper (and another week of vacation at home). I really long to see more of the wilderness when I retire and RV. I wrote up Observation One from my trip, which talks about this wilderness longing. If you wish to read the post, it is on my blog at http://www.janesjournals.com/2014/08/25/obervation-one/ Thanks! Jane1.2KViews0likes3CommentsRe: phoenix area parks
tsetsaf wrote: The bulk of the parks are in communities around Phoenix. You can see what most of them look like here: Phoenix Parks Really depends on your needs. Do you want the "snowbird" parks or are you active? Wow--great link. I won't need it for 5 years, but glad to know about it! Course, it may take that long to read about all the parks;)191Views0likes0CommentsWilderness Withdrawal
From my blog www.janesjournals.com today: I am still at home, finishing my sabbatical projects.Tango is snoozing on the cool tiles lining the fireplace hearth. I am happy with my work progress: a new church website, which is still in the beta stage (www.uccww.com), a confirmation curriculum, a heritage cookbook, and some personal stuff. I finish the cookbook TODAY and after a few reviewers take a peak, it goes to press. The confirmation curriculum is taking forever…so many details to fill in for each lesson (supplies, opening and closing ideas, and more). I have some personal writing burning into my soul so that gives me extra motivation to get the work projects off my plate by next week, when I “return.” Reentry into regular life is not so easy, however. I loved having only tent walls and zipper windows between me and the outdoors. My senses were always alive to the animals, plants, the wind, and the sun’s daily movement.I woke up and fell asleep looking out the screen windows and listening for coyotes. I knew the moon phase without checking my Kindle. Drinking coffee outdoors on my recliner, I could jump up with my mug and take a long morning walk with Tango, while still wearing jammies. At night, I would lie on the recliner and stare at the sky. Bird of Prey1 The solid walls of my lovely home separate me from nature. Last night I sat out for some time watching stars. Without a garden, however, I don’t feel the impulse to move around outdoors during the day,not as readily anyway. I have a huge yard between the house and the Church that is shaded with mature trees. I think about setting up out there this morning, then the little voice says, “Oh those lawn sprinklers will drench my chair later”, or “Oh the neighbors will see me in my jammies”. But I know those are excuses. I will set up there a bit later (fully dressed) and just get over my own objections. Bike tire chairs I am understanding again the vital importance of being outdoors. Sensory interaction with the wind, the sunlight and the rest of the natural world softens the stresses of modern life. Even more important, time away from the trappings of life help us to get some perspective on over-consumption. I enjoyed living on less (okay, I know the shoe thing seemed excessive but I wore all but one pair). I had time to reflect once again on the ineffectiveness of our government–a process fueled in part by John Mayer’s song “Waiting for the World to Change”. I could feel the possibilities for healing the people and the planet, however hopeless it seems today. Emerald Pools Trail, Great White Throne 4-29-14zi For the first time, I felt compassion for obnoxious kids. I watched one young teen run around Ayers Natural Bridge, a small, enclosed canyon where sound echoes. The teen was loud. “Mom, watch!” Splat. “Mom, look here!” or Ashley, where did you go?” and ” Hey, look what I found. Then again, “Mom, watch,” Splat. Once the teen ran through my campsite, asking me “Where did they go?” At one time this noise would have annoyed me. That day, I saw him with compassion, deciding that he rarely gets outdoors. I think he felt the mighty pull of nature’s spirit and had no clue how to react in an unfamiliar setting. I vaguely remember someone naming the reaction to nature by uninitiated youth. It is often aggressive, destructive. But later, at home, those forces he felt will seep into his heart. When I left July 14, I intentionally left without any spiritual or personal goals. I wanted to simply be outdoors without an agenda (other than work stuff) and let the outdoors work on me. In the end, I was renewed, rested and with a much lighter heart. I became less egocentric and more compassionate I cannot say exactly how that works, only that it does and requires nothing more than going out. In my reading I have come across terms like “re-naturing” to describe learning how to live more closely with the natural world. The term sounds so much like nurturing. No need to wait for retirement or near retirement for the nurturing to begin.1KViews0likes1CommentSabbatical Adventure Continues
note: I will start posting my full blog post here, for those who prefer not to pass through to my blog at http://www.janesjournals.com Today's post: My three days at state fair were as expected: hot, dusty, full of fun and fueled by fair food. Nothing better than BBQ brisket, although I can do without curly fries or ice cream dots. At the Wyoming Author's booth I enjoyed meeting people and talking about my book.I did great; however, the cowboy author next to me sold box loads of his 3 books. He dressed the part, with a cowboy hat, shirt unbuttoned just low enough to show the curly hair on his chest. He was sweet-talking and pulled people in off the midway. His assistant was mid-20s, in Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots. She managed to sweet-talk quite a few guys into buying books. More power to them. This guy is living the dream and making a living wage. I have given thought of course, to how I can amp up my book sales. I am a bit past the Daisy Dukes stage, but I will come up with some kind of presentation, some way engage with more people. I camped at the City Park in Douglas, just across from the Fair and along the Platte River. After three days at the fair and two nights camping in the popular Douglas City Park, I was ready for a quiet, serene setting. Hmmmm. Where to go? Ayers Natural Bridge came to mind. They do not allow dogs so I have not been able to stay there. But today, Tango is at the dog sitter while I am at the fair, so I jumped in the van and headed 20 miles north on I -25 to the park. Ayers Natural Bridge is a county park, and offers free camping in a heavenly setting. Visitors drive up through an arid, shrubby landscape, but like magic, after a few turns, will enter into a secret canyon Some of the canyon wall was carved out in ancient times by the La Prele Creek, which runs through the canyon.The result, a natural bridge (arch) over the creek. The tall trees and green grass create an oasis. Camping is free, 3 night max. Best part: swimming in the creek. So that night, I set up to van camp, did some lazy stretches, listened to Acoustic Cafe and then waded into the frigid waters. OOOOOO. So good to splash that cool water onto my face and wash away the daily dust from the fair. So freeing to soak off the make-up and public persona and let it dance down the bubbly creek. So blessed to float and look up at the canyon walls and watch flycatchers dart through the air for dinner. I am full from fair-food-for-lunch so I skip an evening meal and drift off reading the unusual--even radical-- perspectives of David Abram, author of Becoming Animal. I also read poetry written by Gary Snyder (from Turtle Island). This trip I also read fiction and poetry by Jim Harrison and currently am reading the informative A Great Aridness: Climate Change and the Future of the American Southwest (William DeBuys), which I hope my Arizona friends will read. If you are interested in print or Kindle copies of the books I read on sabbatical please check out http://www.janesjournals.com. Anyway, I could stay here days, but my buddy Tango waits back home. We have another week, but I am tempted to go home and work full days from home to finish my projects and regroup before work starts anew!912Views0likes2Comments
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