Mexican Train Stops in Taos!

When Mary's parents passed through northern New Mexico this week on a whirlwind visit after attending the Kiwanis International annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, we all convened at our son and daughter-in-law's house in Taos for a fun night of Mexican Train, pizza, wine, and lots of laughs (the serious countenances in the following photo not withstanding....)

Mexican Train is a strategic domino game popular among the retired set, but we and our son and his wife are totally hooked and play almost every time we get together. Although we all become rather loud and excitable (and occasionally vulgar) due to the tension induced by the stressors inherent in the game, it's all in good fun, and last night our daughter-in-law Bevin took home the prize. We're proud of how she has learned so fast, but I'm determined to beat her next time!

Outstanding in its Field.....

This outhouse on the outskirts of Taos was simply too good to pass up when the light of the sunset raked across it so beautifully........

A Walk in the Woods...

The other day, I escaped from the city deep into the Santa Fe National Forest, driving about twenty minutes out of town to get there. The aspens and other trees were lovely, and the shady forest canopy was a nice refuge from the heat of the day. I heard many birds and saw a considerable number of butterflies, although I sadly wouldn't be able to identify anything that I saw!

Luckily, I had asked a neighbor for tips on finding water, so the trail that I hiked led me to the Tesuque Creek. Being hot enough from the hike, I stripped down to my bathing suit and immersed myself in the ice cold water several times, even though it was only about a foot deep. Sources of water for swimming or immersion are not as accessible here as they were when we lived in Western Massachusetts, so beggars can't be choosy out here in the dry, dry Southwest.........

Some Views of Our New Surroundings

We wanted to share some photos of our neighborhood and surroundings, and these are a few offerings to give more of a visual image of where we're living.......

This is a bird's eye view of The Commons from our landlords' rooftop terrace.....

This is the view from the horse farm next door. Note the mountains in the distance (this is truly within the city limits of Santa Fe)......

The following photos depict the (unfortunately very dry) Santa Fe River which "runs" just behind the community whenever the powers that be decide to release a little water to the thirsty minions.......(and this is where the local coyotes hang out at night.....)

These photos give a sense of the leafy shadiness and paths that wind through the community.....

And this is the breezeway that welcomes all who enter the community......

These are the community chickens which several families share cooperatively......

The community garden space near the chicken coop is decorated with colorful flags.....

This photo shows the outside dining area where we often eat community meals on Mondays and Thursdays.....

Our neighbors' lovely patio across the walk from our casita is just one example of how people have made their homes both attractive and comfortable.....

Taken from a vantage point we only recently discovered----an enormous hilltop dog park built upon the remains of the former city landfill.....this photo offers a view of downtown Santa Fe at sunset.....

Fellow Travelers on the Road.......

Just today, we were lucky enough to meet two couples who are now on the road and happened to be passing through here at The Commons on the Alameda.

Tristan and Libby used to live in Amherst, Massachusetts, the town from which we absconded only seven months ago (in fact, we lived there at the same time but never crossed paths, sadly enough). They've been living here in Santa Fe for several years and are now whittling down their lives, packing up their few belongings in a homemade gypsy caravan, and heading back to Western Massachusetts to begin a new life in the lushness of New England. They are obviously highly talented, motivated and enterprising people, and we wish them well on their journey and hope to keep in touch. Their blog, Whittled Down, is well worth a frequent perusal. Here's a photo of the interior of their gypsy wagon, which is covered with waterproof canvas, and has a simple waterless kitchen and comfy-looking futon.

Jane and Gordie are two professional musicians from British Columbia who put their house on the market, their things in storage, and have hit the road for what will likely turn out to be a year of travel and making music along the way (they've been traveling about a month at this point). We exchanged some travel stories over dinner this evening, and as the sun set they played some original tunes under the trees for our listening pleasure. Their blog chronicles many adventures and is also worth a frequent visit. We wish them well on their journey and hope their house sells soon!

New Mexican Barn Cats

A Check-In at Solstice

A belated Happy Father's Day and Happy Solstice to everyone as the summer officially begins (here in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway).

On Father's Day, Mary kindly took me on an excursion to Cochiti Lake, where we swam in the lovely waters and watched families at play and rest. When the late afternoon winds whipped up a dust storm, we bid a hasty retreat from the beach and somewhat wistfully drove through the campground where we happily camped in our rig this past March. Cochiti Dam is a very large structure whose construction inundated hundred of acres of tribal lands, however the tribes have since negotiated a legal settlement for irrigation rights from the waters of the Rio Grande, and the nearby pueblos still farm the land surrounding the lake. (Click here to read my original post from our first visit to the pueblo.)

The high desert is an interesting place to be in summer, and we do sometimes feel homesick for the lushness and moisture of New England. We remember well those summers of biking to the local swimming hole and Amherst's "Puffer's Pond" for a luxurious swim, but we also remember the wretched humidity and hordes of mosquitos that frequently ate us alive. For now, we bicycle to a local municipal pool that's somewhat slimy with sunscreen and warmed from the sun (and the urine of excited children), and we'll frequent Cochiti Lake and a few hot springs that are all generally within an hour's drive.

Meanwhile, I have managed to secure two nursing jobs here in the Santa Fe area, and I will be working for two agencies that both provide care to various homebound populations, including injured uranium mine workers. (If you'd like to read about my experience of being fingerprinted innumerable times since coming to New Mexico, you can read a recent blog post on my personal blog, Digital Doorway.)

As far as our lives here at The Commons on the Alameda cohousing community, we are adapting to our new lives, attending community meals most Mondays and Thursdays, pitching in where we're needed, and getting to know our neighbors and fellow community members. We've taken a shine to several of the children here at The Commons, and we enjoy sitting on our diminutive patio and making small talk with passersby. Here's a photo of Mary and Tina enjoying dinner in the placita (small plaza) nearby our casita.....

Tina is slowly adjusting to life off the road, and she even has several canine friends with whom she enjoys brief playful interactions before she gets tuckered out. She's had a few play dates while we've been out on the town, and several young girls are always willing to sit with her when we're in need. Tina is making progress and can now spend up to three hours at a stretch alone at home, but she still freaks out and shows signs of separation anxiety that continues to discourage us. Hopefully, this will improve with time.

Mary hasn't written on the blog recently because she has been busy completing a training to become a Certified Professional Coach specializing in holistic life coaching. She is now creating a website (stay tuned!) and is offering a free introductory session to anyone who might be interested in finding out what coaching is all about, so feel free to email her at rives59@gmail.com!

We are still exploring the environs of Santa Fe thanks to our kind son who has loaned us his car for a month (a car that we originally gifted to him last year!), and we hope to continue to explore by borrowing a car from a community member who is not currently able to drive. We are hesitant to purchase a vehicle just yet, so being able to borrow a car is a blessing indeed, and we are very grateful for the ease of transportation that this enables us.

In terms of our rig, it is currently undergoing some basic maintenance and repairs, and will most likely be going up for sale some time later this summer. We fully recognize that our journey is indeed not over, but we are feeling pretty clear that a new rig is in our future, and this one will have to pass to other hands sooner than later. The other day, we stopped by the mechanic's place to pick up a few things from the rig, and I had a good cry as I realized that this phase of the journey with the white beast is over. It's a bittersweet moment, and one that is taking some time to fully digest.

This blog is an important venue for us to continue to feel connected with our journey in search of a new home and intentional community, and whereas it may not be as robust as in previous months, we will certainly be posting at least two or three times per week to keep you all abreast of how we're doing.

We wish everyone a happy and healthy summer, and send our love from the dry high desert of northern New Mexico. 

Caboose at Night

Currents 2010 Video Exhibition

Over the weekend, we twice attended the Currents 2010 Video Exhibition here in Santa Fe. Many of the installations were outstanding, and this free exhibit is an example of the vibrant contemporary art scene here.

This piece artfully and powerfully depicted the trauma and inhumanity of the Japanese internment camps during World War II.......

Some images were just visually stunning or captivating.....

This piece (for which this photo does no justice) involved headphones, beautiful music, and slow-motion video footage of an elephant gracefully swimming. The reflection of the elephant's image that you see in the photograph below is actually a shallow pool of water at the base of the video screen.......

A live audio-video performance on Saturday night was the capstone event of the exhibition....

And here's Mary playing with an innovative video installation that actually responds to movement in front of the screen.......

A Santa Fe Saturday.......

In an attempt to stay somewhat in travelers' mode in Santa Fe despite the fact that we're living here now (at least temporarily), we're still sometimes remembering to bring our camera and video camera when we go out on the town. Today was a day when having our cameras in tow was truly a blessing, so here are some videos and photos that convey some of the spontaneity and cheery summertime energy that permeate the city.

A group plays marimbas on the sidewalk near the famous Santa Fe Railyard.......

And a spontaneous dance breaks out right in the middle of the farmers' market....

A gifted and entertaining banjo player and singer plays to an appreciative crowd......

This water tower seems to be the symbol of the revitalized Santa Fe Railyard, which is a very human-scale plaza where shops, restaurants, the farmer's market, art galleries, museums, and the popular  commuter train to Albuquerque all converge. The Railyard is also the site of many outdoor summer events and concerts........

A human and canine water fountain.....

The balloon man.....

Of Life Off the Road

After so many months and miles, life off the road is, well, different. For myself, I'm remaining open to new experiences, exploring life in the city, looking for work, and settling into our sweet abode here at The Commons on the Alameda, even as I admittedly struggle with the sudden life change that we've clearly needed---and chosen.

In terms of our living situation, there's a lot of good to report. As I remarked a few days ago, cohousing is indeed designed to promote social interaction with neighbors, and there are so many scenarios in which we chat with passersby and engage in conversation on a very regular basis. On Mondays and Thursdays, there is a community dinner which is a convenient and affordable way to break bread with neighbors and share conversation over food prepared by a different community "chef" each time. A menu is posted on the bulletin board in the common house several days prior, and you simply check off your name and, voila, you come to dinner and eat to your heart's content for $4, with containers of yummy leftovers for $1. 

Children are a major force here at The Commons, and these lucky kids have incredible freedom and safety amidst this pedestrian haven. There are toys and scooters and bikes everywhere, and kids climb trees, swing in hammocks, play in the playground, and generally have the run of the community from early morning until sunset. Parents here at The Commons have a childcare co-op, taking turns doing childcare for one another as a way to save money and provide the kids with consistent and beloved caregivers rather than outside baby-sitters. It's a brilliant arrangement that seems to keep everyone happy, especially the kids.

Tina is slowly adjusting to casita life, although she still gets incredibly anxious when we leave her home alone. Kind neighbors and several young girls from the community are helping us when we need to leave her for longer stretches, and we hope and pray that Tina will be happier, calmer and more content as time goes on.

In the park just across from us, coyotes prowl the dry Santa Fe River at night, so kitty cats must indeed be kept indoors after dark. Someone also saw a rattlesnake there a few weeks ago, so even here in the city, there is wildlife to consider. And just next door, there's a small horse farm from which I am delighted to hear an occasional whinny floating on  the breeze, a sound that always brings me great pleasure.

Despite its diminutive adobe buildings and relatively small size, Santa Fe still feels like a city to me, and actually living in a city still takes some getting used to for this sensitive middle-aged guy who often felt overstimulated in Amherst, Massachusetts, a town of 25,000! Santa Fe is working hard at various aspects of sustainability, but it still seems to be lacking in the areas of  "smart growth", bicycle and pedestrian friendliness, and control of overwhelming traffic and automobile-related congestion. The city has a long way to go, in my humble opinion, but also has a lot going for it in terms of it's relatively small size, excellent galleries and shops, and easy access to nature (if, of course, you have a car!).

When it comes to work, over the next few days I will be interviewing for several local nursing jobs and examining ways to bring in some money beyond my various online writing gigs. Meanwhile, Mary has several exciting things cooking which I'll let her write about when she's ready to do so.

In terms of visitors, we've already entertained our son and daughter-in-law for an overnight pajama party, and look forward to them returning so that we can all go see Modest Mouse in concert on July 9th in celebration of our son's 27th birthday. And prior to that birthday extravaganza, Mary's Texan parents will pass through the city at the end of the month, and some dear friends from Washington, DC will be here to celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary with us on July 2nd.

While I miss some aspects of traveling and RV'ing (time in nature, so many beautiful places, the novelty of the road, new intentional communities to explore), I don't miss the rigors of maintaining the rig, emptying the waste tanks, and otherwise dealing with a 12,000 pound rolling beast. I still can't quite accept that we're not packing up and leaving some time soon, but also feel grateful for the respite and peace of mind that having a "landed" life brings.

This blog is admittedly an important way for me to remain connected with our trip, to continue the journey and examine my traveler's navel, so to speak. Whether we're rolling down the road to nowhere or are ensconced here in Santa Fe with a busy social calendar and new people to connect with everywhere we turn, it's still a wonderful life, and we are simply embracing a more solid and grounded milieu in which to thrive, for however long it lasts.

Signing off for the evening as darkness falls on our little corner of "The City Different"-----

Keith

Sweet Sweet Spreedom

This week we had the fortunate blessing of meeting an adventurous young couple---Ainsley and Karl---who are on a summer road trip with a mission.

Ainsley and Karl aren't just road-tripping---they're sinking their teeth into the real America, taking their time to get to know people, volunteer their time, search for community, and experience life far beyond the trappings of tourism and roadside attractions. They are members of their generation who believe that there's something good happening in the United States behind all of the bad news and propaganda, and they want to know what those good things are and communicate that to their disenchanted peers. 

Their blog, Sweet Sweet Spreedom, is as sweet as they are, and offers views of America and American culture through the eyes of two young people who are curiously making their way across the West with eyes and arms wide open. 

We were so happy to connect with these two special travelers, and we wish them the best as they continue to embrace the uncertainty and magic of the road. 

The Madrid Gypsy Festival

On Sunday, we attended the 8th annual Madrid Gypsy Festival. The nearby town of Madrid (accent on the first syllable with the "a" pronounced like the "a" in "apple", strangely enough) was described by one local as the place where "misfits, hippies, alternative people, dropouts and itinerants" hang out, but it's also a town where tourists flock in modest numbers for a plethora of art galleries, gift stores, and a taste of small-town New Mexico. Madrid has a history as a mining town and ghost town, and is indeed quite charming.

The Madrid Gypsy Festival has nothing to do with actual gypsies (much to Keith's dismay), and Keith actually questions the use of the term for a festival that doesn't truly honor the Roma culture from which it takes its name. Still, we understand the sentiment, but having a "gypsy festival" without Romani people is like holding a pow-wow without Native Americans. Be that as it may, a fun time was had by all, and there were so many friendly local people to talk to who invited us to a private after-party and welcomed us to the area.

Can you find Mary in one of the following photographs?