Mary and Keith's Excellent Adventure!

Where in the World Are Mary and Keith Now?

2011-01-29T19:53:00.002-05:00

Dear Readers and Impromptu Internet Surfers,

Since ending our journey of 10,000 miles, 21 states and 31 intentional communities, many of you know that we chose to live at The Commons on the Alameda cohousing community in Santa Fe, New Mexico. While ending our peripatetic wanderings was hard to do on some levels, having a stable life off of the road has also been quite a blessing for both of us and little old Tina the dog.

With our son and daughter-in-law only 90 miles away in Taos, a wonderful community to call home, and well-paid nursing work here in the Santa Fe area, life has solidified for now into a sweet lifestyle that has truly fulfilled many of the original goals of our journey.

Blogging is indeed a way of life for Keith in many ways, but maintaining this particular travel blog eventually became one website too many for Keith to manage once he began working again. However, we both managed to keep this blog going for an additional six months once we moved into our little one-room casita at The Commons in June, and putting the blog to bed with the dawning of 2011 seems somehow fitting.

So, if you would like to keep in touch, here are some ways to do so:

Our coaching website, Rives Carlson Coaching, offers a snapshot of what we are up to in terms of our new business as Certified Professional Coaches.

Laughter Incorporated, our Laughter Yoga website, is a portal to our Laughter Yoga business, with many resources related to the worldwide phemomenon of Laughter Yoga.

Keith's blog, Digital Doorway (devoted mostly to nursing and health care, with a little spirituality and personal reflections thrown in) is a good way to check in on what Keith is up to.

Here are some links to find us on Facebook and Twitter:

Keith on Facebook
Laughter Incorporated on Facebook: fun daily posts to entertain you in thoughtful ways
Rives Carlson Coaching on Facebook: inspiration and reflection
Keith on Twitter
Mary on Twitter

Thank you for coming along on our journey, and please get in touch with us via any of the aforementioned internet portals.

Life continues to be an incredible and wonderful journey, and we are blessed beyond measure with friends, community, meaningful work, health, and a firm belief that the Universe (or God, All That Is, The Great Spirit, or whatever you would like to call it) continues to guide us along our chosen life path.

With love, blessings, and immense gratitude,

Mary and Keith

Christmas in Santa Fe

2010-12-26T21:54:00.000-05:00

Our first Christmas in Santa Fe has been a wonderful, magical and community-centered experience unlike no other. Just like the celebrations of the summer months, "The City Different" knows how to have fun and put on a party, and our own microcosm of the city here at The Commons on the Alameda Cohousing Community also knows how to make the most of the season.

On Christmas Eve, we made our way to Canyon Road for the very famous Canyon Road Christmas Eve walk, an event that is now attended by 20,000 to 30,000 people. But first, we stopped at a local gourmet chocolate shop for spicy Mayan hot chocolate to pique our palates and warm our bones.

On this special night, the entire road is closed to vehicular traffic and is transformed into a spectacle of bonfires (luminarias) and farolitos (paper bags filled with sand and lit with candles). Some galleries, residents and shops go all out, lighting their property and adobe walls with dozens, if not hundreds, of farolitos, and the effect is stunning.

Many galleries and shops offer free hot cider, cocoa and snacks, and there are planned and spontaneous outbursts of holiday singing and caroling at every turn. Although there are thousands of people, it is a very tranquil event, and there was a very palpable peaceful aura all through the city.

Thanks to a local friend, we were invited to several nearby house parties, where we were treated to hot food, egg nog, and other holiday cheer. It was a nice respite from the chilly night, and we were greeted along the way by people gathered in front of fires along the darkened streets.

Christmas Day dawned bright and sunny, with abundant blue skies. Here at The Commons, a group of carolers wandered the community beginning at 10am, singing for various neighbors as they asked for their cups to be filled. We rewarded these intrepid singers with French cognac, and then joined them on their merry rounds. We ended our singing at a neighbor's home, where a generous spread of food and drink was on offer, with kids and dogs running and playing in the large living room as adults laughed and talked.

Luckily for us, our son and daughter-in-law arrived from Taos by noon, and we enjoyed a long, lazy day of opening presents, cooking a sumptuous meal, walking along the river, and playing charades after sundown. It was a lovely and memorable time, and the day ended as sweetly as it began.

On Sunday---Boxing Day---we had a delicious brunch with our "kids" and bid them adieu. Leaving Tina at home, we went for a very special hike in the hills along the Rio Tesuque outside of town, and marveled at the beauty of the forest, the icy running water, and the sun that tried its best to make its way down into the shady darkness of the forest.

This evening, a Boxing Day gathering at The Commons featured desserts, even more holiday cheer, and time to elongate the holiday feelings that have enveloped our little community all week.

It's been a special holiday weekend, and we look forward to the celebrations that will no doubt be in the offing as 2010 wanes and 2011 dawns.

Happy holidays to all, and our blessings to you and yours at this special time of year!

Snow on the Mountains

2010-12-19T22:38:00.000-05:00

Teletubby Friends

2010-12-14T10:20:00.003-05:00

Mary has a penchant for finding curious toys and objects wherever we go, and many of these become like talismen or mascots for us, hanging out on tables, altars, dashboards, and other places where they collect dust and sometimes become a part of our family landscape (like this rubber duck that Mary found in Chama, New Mexico on the banks of the river---he still lives in our shower).

Once upon a time, Mary found a 2-inch replica of "Dipsy", one of the four "Teletubbies". For those of you unfamiliar with the Teletubbies, they are a group of creatures made famous by a somewhat psychedelic British television program that aired for many years on American PBS stations. The Teletubbies were made especially infamous by Jerry Falwell, who claimed that one of the characters---the purple "Tinky Winky" who was festooned with a triangular purple antenna on his head and carried a purple handbag---was gay.

At any rate, our little green Dipsy has been living on our front porch among various rocks and stones for many months, and two neighborhood girls somehow took a shine to him. Like many children here in The Commons, these girls see precious little television and have no notion of who or what the Teletubbies are, but they periodically knock on our door, politely ask to borrow Dipsy, and then just as graciously return him when they're done playing. It's a sweet ritual, and it's amazing how a little 2-inch broken plastic statuette can bring such joy and imaginative play to two creative, innocent and beautiful children.

Misery Loves Company, or Great Expectorations

2010-12-10T19:49:00.003-05:00

Well, since our arrival home last Saturday from our whirlwind (and somewhat stressful) trip to the East Coast, Mary and I have been holed up in our casita, nursing monster viral illnesses that have pretty much laid us flat. Although I became ill just three days into our trip, Mary did not show signs of illness until our last day in New England, the day after she had her memorable post-Thanksgiving emergency root canal.

Calling in sick to work for the entire week and canceling all appointments except for mutual sessions with our chiropractor, we basically entered a state of collective suspended animation, spending entire days in our casita, leaving only for several minutes at a time to give Tina brief walks. (Actually, we were generally so sick that we were sometimes unable to walk Tina, so we chose to just let her out on her own, except for nighttime when the coyotes are prowling the nearby river bed, hungry for a sweet canine or feline morsel.)

On Monday evening, too sick to make it to community dinner (and unwilling to infect others with our illness), a neighbor delivered our dinner to us when we requested that someone do so, and we gratefully slurped on homemade soup. Meanwhile, someone has brought us chicken soup, a neighbor is loaning us a vaporizer/humidifier, someone else called from the co-op to see if we need anything, and others have also checked in to see how we are and what we need.

To this day, our coughs continue (although Mary’s is improving), and as I posted on Twitter a few days ago, the used tissues have piled up like so much snotty snow. And to add insult to injury, I believe I have suffered a hairline rib fracture from the force of my persistent cough. Oy.

Illness notwithstanding, yesterday a momentous day dawned, and the 18-wheeler on which we had packed all of our worldly possessions not one week ago in Amherst, Massachusetts arrived to our new storage unit here in Santa Fe. Rallying our strength and meeting up with our excellent hired help (a sweet father-and-son team), we unloaded the truck, carefully packed the storage unit, and brought selected furniture and beloved objects to our casita. Having lived with our clothes in cardboard boxes for the last seven months (and crammed into small spaces in the RV for nine months before that), each of us having a dresser seems like an unheard of luxury, and we will continue to discover small treasures and beloved belongings as we slowly comb through the contents of our storage unit.

So, you may ask, dear Reader, why have the intrepid travelers and self-proclaimed “nomadic communitarians” decided to bring all of their worldly goods to the West? Are they thinking about remaining in Santa Fe? What about the continued search for community and the optimal climate for living?

What we have decided is that, except for friends and family who we love dearly, our ties to the East Coast have indeed weakened, and we have decided to stay in the West for the foreseeable future. Although Santa Fe still holds our attention and we are happy at The Commons on the Alameda, this area is not feeling like our “forever home”, and other horizons will eventually beckon once the time to move on has presented itself. Until then, there is still much to explore and experience here in Northern New Mexico, and we are presently traveling while rooted in one place (something that Tina is especially thrilled about!).

So, as the used tissues continue to pile up and gallons of tea with honey are imbibed (with the odd shot of sherry or port wine for reasons of pure constitutional fortification, of course), we feel our mutual suffering coming to an end, and our (admittedly somewhat cozy) self-imposed isolation will also cease.

It’s been a long two weeks, replete with a whirlwind trip to the other coast, acute illness, reuniting with our life’s possessions, and the reminder that our bodies need important rest and recuperation when under duress. Yes, Misery loves Company (guess which one of us is Misery and which one is Company!), and we know this time of companionable misery and great expectorations will remain a poignant memory long after the trash is taken out and the surfaces summarily disinfected.

We are wishing everyone out there in blogland a most happy, healthy and joyous holiday season, and we send you all our love, respect and gratitude.

From the West to the East, and Back Again

2010-12-05T20:20:00.001-05:00

Almost thirteen months after our departure on our excellent adventure, we flew east from New Mexico on Thanksgiving Day, landing in Boston in time for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at Keith's brother's cozy home in Somerville. With our niece visiting from Port-au-Prince where she works with the Haitians on rebuilding their country, and our nephew on break from college in Washington, DC, it was like "old home week", made even more delightful by the presence of our son and daughter-in-law who had flown from Albuquerque to Boston just two days prior to us.

Our lovely daughter-in-law Bevin and handsome son Rene

Our good friends Deborah and Nancy

Keith and his brother Ken

Having ten days to see everyone we wanted to see and do everything we needed and wanted to do, it was a tall order to accomplish it all and manage to be fully present for each encounter with family and friends without allowing our minds to wander too much to the next destination.

The first few days in New England were relatively easy, and our time in Boston and Manchester-by-the-Sea flew by. Walking on Singing Beach in Manchester with our dear friends and visiting with our god-daughters was joyful, but we were still quietly daunted by the next leg of the journey.

With our friends Maria and Vint

Keith's goddaughters, Andi and Vikki

A five-hour drive to New Jersey on the Monday after Thanksgiving delivered us to the hospital where Keith's father was dealing with some serious health issues, and we were closely involved in his transfer to a nearby rehab facility. Unfortunately, our itinerary prevented us from lingering too long, and it was most difficult to leave him in the rehab, miserable and lonely, as we made our way to Brooklyn in order to visit a very dear friend who is waging a battle against metastatic ovarian cancer.

Having only twenty-four hours with our friend was bittersweet, but we were quickly able to adjust to her skeletal body and see that her spirit is intact, and no matter her outer appearance, she's still "in there", with the same sweet smile and loving manner. Being entertained by her delightful grandchildren, the two cherubic children were an antidote to our weariness and opened our hearts for a visit that lifted all of our spirits, even as Keith became ill with apparent bronchitis and our subsequent destinations beckoned us away.

Exhausted, we drove north to Western Massachusetts and our beloved Pioneer Valley, spending the night at the Pioneer Valley Cohousing community, a stay made all the more enjoyable by the hospitality of good friends.

Once in the Valley, Keith's illness became worse, and it became apparent that Mary would need an emergency root canal. As if orchestrated by powers beyond our control (as it most likely indeed was), Mary was able to undergo urgent dental surgery by the best root canal specialist in Massachusetts, surgery that immediately resolved the pain that had been incrementally increasing over the last few months, coming to an excruciating head during our visit. (Thanks to this masterful oral surgeon, Mary was able to avoid the astronomical pain that the high altitude of the flight home to Albuquerque would have certainly caused.)

During our few brief days in Western Mass, we were able to revisit the home of our friend David who took his own life last November several weeks following our departure, as well as spend some time with an elderly disabled friend who brought a joyful lift to our spirits.

David, one month prior to his death

Amidst Keith's illness and Mary's pain, our very dear friends hosted a heartwarming and wonderful party in our honor, and we were able to spend an unforgettable evening with more than 20 friends who arrived with delicious food, drinks, smiling faces and open arms. The conversations and sharing were deep that night, and a circle towards the end of the gathering allowed many to share life updates, memories and stories with the entire group.

Finally, as our ten day sojourn came to a close, it was time to face the ultimate test: our 10 x 10 storage unit. Sorting and repacking the flotsam and jetsam of our lives in the damp, cold New England air was no picnic, but we were able to successfully fit everything into a 6 x 8 x 10 space on an 18-wheeler moving truck which will deliver our worldly goods to our New Mexican storage unit in just under a week. It was a Herculean effort, but it will bring us great peace of mind to have all of our things where we can access them, rather than sitting in a damp storage bin 2,000 miles away.

Even though it was a stretch, to say the least, dealing with our stuff now clears the way for more uninterrupted quality time with friends and family during future visits to the East Coast. We look forward to certain special things being once again in our possession, including our super-duper juicer, German vacuum cleaner, and some beloved art that will soon grace the walls of our casita.

We are so grateful to our friends and family who hosted us, treated us with such love, and who made this trip wonderful despite the physical and emotional challenges that confronted us along the way. We honestly had some trepidation that our visit to New England would engender some wistful nostalgia, perhaps triggering the feeling that completely relocating to the West was not necessarily what we ultimately desire. However, what resulted from this trip back East was the cementing of the notion that we can continue to nurture and grow the many wonderful friendships that will no doubt mature into lifelong connections regardless of geographic distance.

Absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder, and this also applies to our return to New Mexico. Flying over the breathtaking mesas and mountains, we did actually feel like we were coming home, and Tina greeted us happily with a wagging tail and her ubiquitous and unending desire for treats.

It wasn't easy, but the trip was extremely successful, and we feel incredibly blessed and grateful for the wonderful people in our lives. Now we will settle in for our first New Mexican winter, and continue to allow our lives to unfold as they will. It's good to be back.

Thanksgiving Images

2010-11-27T09:19:00.003-05:00

Our son, Rene

The Thanksgiving table

Brother Ken

Near Harvard Square

Chandelier in The Plough & Stars, a Cambridge bar

Our niece Sabina, visiting from Haiti, and our daughter-in-law Bevin

Our handsome nephew, Adam

Sister-in-law Barbara, brother Ken, and Bevin

Ken and Barb, married 26 years

A Flash Flood Comes to Santa Fe

2010-11-20T15:26:00.003-05:00

Today was an amazing event in Santa Fe, the purpose of which was to call attention to the timely and urgent subject of climate change.

To explain the background story further, 20 locations around the world were selected to participate in "art actions" to call attention to climate change, satellite images of which will all be projected worldwide and watched by the attendees at the upcoming Cancun climate change summit. Santa Fe was one of only 5 communities in the United States selected to take part, and we were all excited to be part of such a great event, where Indian, Anglo and Hispanic citizens were all well represented.

Here's information from the Santa Fe Art Institute website:

"The Santa Fe Art Institute, in coordination with Bill McKibben’s 350.org, an international campaign dedicated to building a movement in response to the global threats of climate change, is spearheading the New Mexico project, which is one of five U.S. sites out of 20 global locations. 3,000 community members will carry and flip blue-painted recycled cardboard to compose the FLASH FLOOD in the dry bed of the Santa Fe River, which has been designated as one of America’s most endangered rivers. The art action and aerial design will be visible and documented from outer space via satellite. The FLASH FLOOD will be projected worldwide alongside the 19 other global aerial designs as part of the Cancun Climate Change Summit, November 29 – December 10, 2010."

So, between 10:53 and 10:56 pm, we created a "living river" as the satellite passed overhead. Meanwhile, news helicopters and cameras on a 5-story high crane shot video and still photos of this spectacular community event.

Representing the Indian community, local Buffalo Dancers performed dances in the river bed:

There was even a local Mariachi band......

As well as people of all ages.....

We're grateful to the Santa Fe Art Institute for making this event a reality, and we hope that we contributed, at least in small part, to a growing global movement bringing the issue of climate change to light.

Fun Friday: Home, Tina, Art and Tapas

2010-11-19T23:31:00.000-05:00

We spent the morning making calls, doing marketing for our new business, catching up on emails, and otherwise taking care of business. I also did some yard work for a neighbor who recently had surgery, and got some laundry done.

Lucky for Tina, we didn't drag her anywhere today (unlike yesterday when I took both her and Mary to work with me!), and she got to rest to her heart's content and have small walks around The Commons. As she rested in her bed, we couldn't resist a photo shoot since she's so photogenic!

For our Fun Friday activity, we went on a date to an opening at one of our favorite art galleries, then had tapas at El Farol, a famous Spanish tapas restaurant on the equally famous Canyon Road.

It was another local Fun Friday, and we look forward to many more over the coming winter.

Next Friday's destination: Boston, Massachusetts!

Fun Friday: Mary and Snow Leopard

2010-11-14T08:32:00.001-05:00

This past Friday, Mary and I went to the horse farm just next door to The Commons, and she took her first horseback ride without any assistance from her teacher and friend, Ellen. Mary's equine companion, Snow Leopard, was (mostly) a gentleman, although you'll notice in the video that he kept trying to make a bee-line for me based on the knowledge that I had treats hidden in my jacket pocket!

You may also notice that Mary rode Snow bareback without reins or a bit, and she actually did very well with only leg pressure and her close connection with Snow to keep him in line!

After conquering her fear of heights at the Grand Canyon in May, Mary has now also conquered her life-long fear of horses, with many thanks to Snow and Ellen for the opportunity!

Petroglyph National Monument

2010-11-10T22:31:00.000-05:00

This past week, we were lucky enough to take a hike at the Petroglyph National Monument on the outskirts of Albuquerque. There are thousands of ancient petroglyphs scattered throughout the various sections of the park. We were able to just scratch the surface by hiking in Rinconada Canyon, and we hope to return several times and visit the old volcanoes and other nearby sites, as well.

Some of the petroglyphs have been damaged by bullets, graffiti and other human interference, but there is no mistaking the beauty and timelessness of the images. The black volcanic rock dotting the sagebrush mesa is also strikingly beautiful.

Tina in Repose

2010-11-08T19:24:00.000-05:00

Here are some recent photos of Tina in repose. Note her front legs sweetly stretched out in front of her. Can't you just picture her wearing a cape like "Super Dog"? Or maybe not!

Family Photos

2010-11-07T10:14:00.000-05:00

Keith and his mom Barbara, who is sitting at the Commons piano

Barbara and Mary, walking at The Commons

Our son Rene, Barbara, and our daughter-in-law Bevin

Three generations

Flamenco!

2010-11-06T01:05:00.000-04:00

To celebrate my mother's birthday during her weekend visit to Santa Fe from Atlanta, we saw a spectacular flamenco show at El Meson in downtown Santa Fe. The dancing, musicianship and energy were simply without peer.

Autumn Light

2010-11-04T00:47:00.000-04:00

The late afternoon light here in Santa Fe is just spectacular at this time of year. And here at The Commons on the Alameda, the cottonwoods in the central plaza simply glow as they tower over our cozy community.

The fountain in the central plaza

Cottonwood and evergreen, by Mary

Cottonwood and adobe, by Mary

Cottonwoods, by Mary

Somos Un Pueblo (We Are a Village)

2010-11-02T05:12:00.001-04:00

There is a plethora of beautiful public murals all over Santa Fe (and greater New Mexico). Many of these artworks depict the cultural diversity, religious iconography and ethnic pride of various groups within the larger citizenry, which is generally divided into "Indians, Anglos and Hispanics" for want of better terminology. (I, for one, don't feel any identification with the term "Anglo", but that's what I'm seen as here in New Mexico, for better or worse........)

This mural represents the Spanish Conquistadors, the Mexican settlers, and the Pueblo Indians who inhabited New Mexico long before anyone else attempted to claim it for their own. The text on the flag mentions the suffering, laughter and tears experienced here.

Day of the Dead/Hallowe'en in Santa Fe

2010-11-01T00:47:00.001-04:00

Keith and Mary in sepia

Mary and our friend Kate

Amazing photo of Keith by Mary

Trick or Treating Commons Kids

Sumo Wrestler Commoner

Reflections by Keith at One Year

2010-10-30T21:39:00.000-04:00

Exactly one year ago today---on October 30th, 2009---we woke up in our rig after spending the night in our friend David's driveway, said goodbye and began a journey whose length and breadth we could not predict. Having sold our house and most of our things, quit our jobs, and made the radical decision to hit the open road in search of intentional community and (excellent) adventure, we left our beloved New England for points unknown.

Not several weeks after our departure, our aforementioned friend David took his own life, and an unplanned return to Massachusetts for his funeral threw a temporary wrench into our travels---and our hearts---as we processed the grief and loss that his passing engendered.

Recovering from David's sudden and unexpected death, we continued our descent down the East Coast, visiting friends, family, and intentional communities whose missions or values spoke to us.

For me, this East Coast sojourn was like a long goodbye after 45 years of living along the Atlantic, and my heart continued to open to the West once we took that right-hand turn in northern Florida. We meandered through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, and there were BBQ's, communities, serendipitous meetings, Laughter Yoga, camping adventures, and all sorts of events along the way.

It was a wild ride, and I must honestly share that even though we were very road weary and ready for a break once we returned to New Mexico following our visit to the Grand Canyon for Mothers' Day weekend, the transition to a place-based life was indeed difficult for me. After so many miles and so much forward momentum, our screeching halt in Santa Fe---although necessary on many fronts---gave me pause as well as a short-term bout of depression.

Now, after five months living at The Commons on the Alameda Cohousing Community and making the most of life in Santa Fe, I see clearly how we all needed this break, and that living only 90 miles from our beloved son and daughter-in-law is sweet and lovely.

We left Western Massachusetts in search of community, with a deep desire for a sense of belonging and sustainable living. Here at The Commons we have fulfilled that longing, and we have immersed ourselves headlong into the life of the community, making the most of our time. We honestly have no idea how long we will stay at The Commons or in Santa Fe, and while we would like to find our "forever home", I'm not convinced that that concept truly applies to us.

One year ago, we took a giant leap of faith into the void, with eight wheels between us and the road that opened up before and beneath us. That road has treated us well, and even though we're now in one place (for however long it lasts), my "traveler's mind" is active, intact, and still brimming with curiosity. Although I love many things about where we are and who we're with, I still feel like I'm traveling, and those 10,000 miles have not really assuaged my itch to further explore the world around us.

There's no predicting where we'll be in another year, but I have no doubt that it will be rich with community, adventure, beauty, and possibility.

Fun Friday: Day of the Dead in Santa Fe

2010-10-29T11:29:00.000-04:00

Silhouettes

2010-10-28T23:32:00.000-04:00

The Joys of Community Living

2010-10-24T01:28:00.001-04:00

When we set out on our journey on October 30th of last year, our intention was to visit sustainable and intentional communities around the country and find one where we might be able to create either a short-term or long-term life for ourselves and Tina.

Now that we're here at The Commons on the Alameda, we are dedicating ourselves to life in this community for however long our stay turns out to be, which will be at least until the end of March. Reluctant to make a long-term commitment, renting a little studio "casita" gives us a cozy little home, a place to rest our heads, and 79 other people with whom we have frequent opportunities to interact.

The Commons is a cohousing community, so it is like an intentional neighborhood that was designed by the original families to be a safe pedestrian village wherein children and adults could live a community oriented life while maintaining a large degree of personal autonomy. And to this end, The Commons has been wildly successful.

Socially, we are lucky to have two opportunities for inexpensive community meals twice per week, and these meals provide us with the chance to break bread with neighbors over homemade food, and it is a weekly ritual that many of us are loathe to miss. Some residents are very popular chefs, so when certain people are on the schedule to cook dinner, you can be sure that the tables will be packed! So, for anywhere from $4 to $7 each per meal, we feast with our neighbors and can even take home inexpensive leftovers for the next day if the food really strikes our fancy.

While organized parties are few and far between (at least since we moved in), we did recently celebrate the annual harvest celebration here at The Commons, and participating in that 19th annual party was a treat. Also, various Commoners frequently host movie nights, sing-alongs, and other gatherings that bring some of us together. (Tonight, a group of us watched "Vitus", a sweet Swiss film that we heartily recommend).

Living in community also gives us the wherewithal to make our needs known and have them fulfilled without participating in the conspicuous consumption that makes American life so expensive and unsustainable. When we need to borrow a tool or a cooking implement, we simply send out an email or stop by the community kitchen or tool shed to see if there's one we can borrow. When I had two flat tires last week and had to send my car to the garage, one email resulted in five offers of cars to borrow so I could get to work. And if one of us was to fall ill or we were to need to community support in a pinch, we have no doubt that it would come through with little effort on our part, and that is a comforting thought.

As far as community processes, we both make time to attend various meetings here at The Commons, including the monthly business meeting, community meeting, parents meeting, and other important gatherings. When we arrived, we immediately saw that the Care and Concern Committee (with only one member) was in need of energy, so we both joined and have initiated a monthly "Heart Circle" where Commoners can come and be heard in a space devoid of judgment, feedback, or problem-solving.

When it comes to kids, that is a very fun aspect of life here. With Mary doing childcare two afternoons each week, many of the kids now see our casita as a place to come for fun and positive adult interaction, and Mary has smartly set up a shelf at kids' eye level that is covered with various toys and playthings. So, various Commons kids come and go from our casita throughout the week, and Mary has especially put a great deal of energy into creating sweet relationships with many of the children here.

Akin to kids, dogs at The Commons are another source of joy, and we have several canine friends with whom we share a special bond. There are a few who wander at will (and sometimes make their way into our casita in search of treats), and then there are others who we run into as we wander the community.

Yes, life in community offers opportunities for socialization, time with children and dogs, and the ability to dig into community life, contribute in meaningful ways, and enjoy not living in isolation in some anonymous neighborhood where no one seems to know one another.

I can say all of this and also simultaneously acknowledge that community life is not perfect. No community is not without its dysfunctions, personality clashes, and cumbersome processes, but in the larger scheme of things, we feel most at home and comfortable when living in an environment wherein some semblance of shared living is involved. It is more sustainable, more ecological, and yields a sense of connectedness and belonging that living in that isolated outside society can often lack.

The Commons may not be our forever home, and we may eventually move on for other pastures, but for now it's a comfortable place to be, and we're settling in for a New Mexican winter here in the high desert, safe in the folds of community living.

Tina Sleeps

2010-10-16T23:18:00.000-04:00

Our poor aging Tina has a shoulder injury that's necessitating additional anti-inflammatories, restricted activity, and a whole lot of rest. Next step: x-rays and more drugs to keep her comfy.

Fun Friday: 50 Weeks!

2010-10-15T22:02:00.000-04:00

Today, October 15th, 2010, marks exactly 50 weeks since we left Amherst, Massachusetts for points unknown. On October 30th, we will celebrate one year of being on the road and away from our beloved and beautiful New England environs. Stay tuned for our one-year celebration!

Meanwhile, today was yet another Fun Friday adventure, this week being an adventure close to home.

After a relaxing morning, we took ourselves out to a celebratory lunch at a fancy outdoor restaurant that we've been eyeing for months. Like most everywhere, lunch menus are commonly more affordable here in Santa Fe, so we took advantage of that fact and spent a wonderful lunch hour being tended to by the nicest waiter this side of the Rio Grande. This tall, benevolent man in a starched white shirt was so nice that Mary looked up at him as he served our meal and said, "You seem like such a kind person." He smiled and thanked her graciously, and he hopefully smiled even more when he received our 30% tip.

At the risk of boring our dear readers with even more photographs of the aspens changing colors up on the mountain above the city, we did indeed return to the mountain for a hike, and hereby submit a small collection of photos documenting our time high above Santa Fe.

The rest of the day involved a trip to REI to buy Keith a new pair of sandals on sale, a few art downtown art openings, and a return to a tired but happy Tina who is currently recovering from a shoulder injury that may turn out to be a chronic condition for an old girl in her golden years.

Images From Taos

2010-10-14T00:59:00.001-04:00

Here are some images from a quick overnight jaunt to Taos this past Sunday, which we undertook with our friend Darina who was visiting from California.

An interesting sculpture captures the light from the sunset.....

And the sunset continued in its glorious Taosness......

Is the raven real?

And we got to spend the night in our kind Taoseno friends' sweet, humble abode in the foothills while they were out of town....

It was a quick visit to a magical place, and the return home to our community in Santa Fe was also sweet.........

Herbs and Community

2010-10-12T23:18:00.000-04:00

Autumn Bike Ride

2010-10-10T12:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, I fulfilled one of my Autumnal desires, which was to bicycle all the way down our street, through downtown Santa Fe, and into the east side of town, where shady streets, ancient acequias (water canals) and lovely adobe homes look radiant and peaceful in the late afternoon light.

At the end of my ride, I was rewarded with carrot cake and a decaf latte at a lovely little cafe we discovered just recently. With great coffee, excellent pastries, the best magazine selection around, a sweet garden, and an adjacent bookstore and photography gallery, the Downtown Subscription Cafe was the perfect destination. The fact that they were playing the music of Brian Eno was just icing on the (carrot) cake!

Fun Friday: The Beauty of the Aspens

2010-10-08T22:42:00.000-04:00

Today, for our Fun Friday activity, we drove just 15 miles up the winding mountain roads to the Santa Fe Ski Basin in order to take in the beauty and splendor of the local aspen trees in their autumn blaze of glory.

From the city, we've been able to see that the mountains began changing colors almost overnight as Summer gave way to Autumn, and our friends and neighbors have admonished us to get up to the mountains as soon as possible before an errant storm has the opportunity to strip the trees of their leaves. So, today was the day, and we ventured out without Tina, who was home nursing a sore leg and old lady fatigue.

Although we had no idea the Ski Basin lift was currently in operation this week, we took full advantage of the opportunity and bought two one-way tickets to the top, where the views were glorious, if a bit hazy. The hike down was steep, but we took our time, waved and conversed with people on the ski lift above our heads, and arrived back to the car, tired but happy.

This is our first Autumn in New Mexico after twenty years of living in New England, so we've been duly spoiled with the reds, oranges and other resplendent colors of New England fall foliage. Still, the aspens of New Mexico do indeed offer a certain solace to the New England transplant, and we took in the deep yellows and golds (and patches of soft reds) with gratitude for the splash of color that they lend to the somewhat more austere New Mexican landscape that we now call (at least temporarily) home.

Chama, Pagosa and Horses!

2010-10-05T23:32:00.001-04:00

Although we’d been planning a trip to the Jemez area this past weekend, controlled burns occurring north of Santa Fe caused us to rethink our plans and consider heading north towards southern Colorado instead. Since the smoke from the recent burns had thwarted our plans to enjoy the natural hot springs in Jemez, it seemed only natural to take ourselves to Pagosa Springs in order to soak our water-hungry bodies.

After a swim at Lake Abiquiu, the next stop was the charming town of Chama, where we ensconced ourselves at The Little Creel Campground where we had spent three lovely days back in May. The river was noticeably lower, but we were able to sleep all night with the sound of the nearby rushing waters, the windows of our rig open despite the temperatures dropping into the 40’s.

Saturday morning, we enjoyed homemade apple and blueberry pie accompanied by fresh decaf coffee at the nearby Elk Horn Café. Lined with wood paneling and filled with hunters in combat fatigues, the Elk Horn and the many nearby lodges all cater to hunters and fishermen looking for their autumnal fix of the outdoors. Pickup trucks filled the parking lot, and the testosterone level in the dining room was palpable as was the cloud of the overpowering scent of Tide detergent that sent us outside to eat our pie in peace.

Leaving the Elk Horn unscathed (bellies filled with quintessentially American coffee and pie) to the farm stand next door, we befriended the friendly Texan proprietor who gave us a sweet deal on some New Mexican gifts destined to be set aside for the holidays. A stray kitten appeared to fall in love with us, and even though the farm stand owner did his best to get us to take the cat with us, we pawned him off on the folks at the gift shop next door who immediately, began the work of finding him a proper home. Phew!

Moments after leaving downtown Chama, we spontaneously picked up a bright young Oregonian hitchhiker named Mary, and we enjoyed the gloriously unrolling landscape, enriching conversation, and a brief encounter with a herd of cattle being ushered down the road by a group of hardworking cowboys and cowgirls. (For all you Easterners, this video is well worth watching for the sheer novelty of traffic stopping for such a spectacle!)

After dropping off our young passenger in pursuit of her next ride, the balance of this glorious autumn day was spent soaking in the waters at Pagosa Springs, where a downtown resort perches along the river and offers more than a dozen mineral pools ranging from 89 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as quick dips in the chilly river.

Luckily for us, a friend and neighbor from The Commons invited us to spend a few nights at a ranch where she periodically boards her horse, and we made our way deep into the San Juan National Forest to the very remote Snow Angel Ranch, a slice of Coloradan heaven on earth more than five miles from the nearest neighbor or paved road.

To share some equine history, our friend Ellen’s horse, Snow Leopard, usually boards at a stable located an easy ten-minute walk from our casita, so Mary has frequently cared for Snowy in Ellen’s absence. Having established a bond over the last few months, Mary and Snowy were ready to engage on a deeper level, and their relationship as horse and rider was established this weekend under Ellen’s very kind and patient tutelage.

Missing the splendor of October in New England, we were heartened to find one small imported sugar maple on the ranch, imported and transplanted by the owner to remind her of her years in Wisconsin. This lone maple was resplendent with orange and red leaves, and we breathed in the familiar color like kids in a candy shop.

After several days of horses, walking the land, and sharing delicious meals with Ellen and the ranch’s gracious homesteading owners, we returned to Pagosa for a few more hours of soaking before landing back at The Commons where Tina had been in the care of kind neighbors all weekend.

It was a wonderful weekend that took the notion of “Fun Friday” and stretched it into a 72-hour odyssey from the high deserts of northern New Mexico to the lush beauty of southern Colorado.

Pagosa Springs!

2010-10-01T10:05:00.000-04:00

We will be camping near Pagosa Springs, Colorado this weekend, so check back in after the weekend for photos and stories from our trip. Our original plan was to go to Jemez Springs and Jemez Pueblo, but smoke from "controlled burns" has settled over the Jemez area and we are simply going to drive in the opposite direction!

Have a wonderful weekend, and we'll "see" you soon!

Burning Trees

2010-09-29T12:35:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, when Tina and I went for a mini-hike in the Santa Fe Forest, I was alarmed to see large plumes of billowing smoke close by.

En route home, the smoke had circled around the city, forming a sunset illuminated by smoggy clouds in the west. I later learned from Keith that the fires were intentional. I had no idea there were controlled burns in the nearby mountains! At first the smell was light and lovely, titillating my senses with tree essences, but soon unpleasant physical symptoms set in as the clouds persisted and loomed over us.

With headache and eyes burning by evening, Keith and I closed up all the windows to our casita, turned on the air purifiers and exhaust fans, hoping for the best. It was a peaceful, albeit fragrant, night. When this morning greeted me with New Mexico's usual blue skies, I was naively surprised to be met with the thick smell of smoldering wood when I opened the door. Immediately, my body started producing excess mucus and my lungs reminded me of how I have asthma attacks under such conditions. Dammit! Just when my chemical sensitivity had really improved here over the summer, this smokey air surprise hits me from behind. Unable to find my "I Can Breathe" carbon filter mask (because i have not needed it in so long), I calmly put my air ionizer around my neck and gave Tina her brief morning perambulation. With all my throat clearing sounds happening outside, I became more disheartened to see a fog haze covering the mountains with very little wind to move it along.

Back in the casita, I am doing all I can to alkalize my system more--plop, plop, fizz, fizz, Alka Seltzer Gold, that is, with plenty of fresh lemon water. Aware that I need to stay inside on this gorgeous autumn day, yet also venture out to buy a new and better mask, disconcerting questions plague me about the long term implications of nearby controlled burns such as, "How often do these burns happen? Will we be able to live here long-term with b.o.t. (burning of trees)? How is the wildlife impacted by the burns? Other people? How will the winter be for my health with wood smoke burning around us? Will it set our health back?" and so forth.

We're becoming rather attached to our community here, and the old thoughts of, "Where can we go where it is safe to breathe and be?" sadly return and begin to deflate the highs of late summer at The Commons. The recent stirrings of excitement and hopes for a longer stay here hang in suspended animation, much like the haze of smoke that covers Santa Fe Skies that is blurring my vision as I type---or might that be from the tears?

~Mary

A Weekend of Community

2010-09-27T01:23:00.002-04:00

This past weekend was the 19th annual fall celebration here at The Commons on the Alameda cohousing community, and we are so blessed to be here and to have taken part in such a wonderful event!

First, on Friday night, the members of the community gathered for a fire circle, potluck, ritual tree-planting, and the sharing of stories about life in The Commons. Since its inception in 1992 from a scrubby field of cactus along the Santa Fe River, The Commons has been home to more than 300 people, and the current census is now at 81 adults and children.

This is a truly special place graced with much heart, community spirit, and the willingness of dozens of people to create a functional and thriving intentional neighborhood that enriches the lives of all who come into contact with it. And this annual day of feasting and revelry is our way of giving back to the wider community with food, drink, music, dancing, and gratitude.

These are some photos from the weekend's events. Enjoy a taste of The Commons at its best!

Mother and Child

2010-09-23T14:15:00.000-04:00

Hope-HOWSE Hugs

2010-09-20T21:20:00.003-04:00

This past Sunday, we participated in Hope-HOWSE Day here in Santa Fe by giving free hugs on the Santa Fe Plaza. Hope-HOWSE is a local non-profit organization in New Mexico that brings music, laughter, outreach and rehabilitation to inmates in New Mexican jails and prisons. The founder and director of Hope-HOWSE, Jane Davis, was also the mastermind behind our recent visit to bring Laughter Yoga to the Bernalillo Detention Center near Albuquerque. Jane is a true hero, and she has walked more than ten inmates from death row to their executions, bearing witness for them as they paid the ultimate price. Jane does amazing work in the world, and she is one of our newest Santa Fean friends.

Sunday was actually Hope-HOWSE Day as declared nine years ago by the Governor, and a great deal of love was spread around downtown Santa Fe......

Here's Jane, on the right.....

Mural

2010-09-20T11:11:00.000-04:00

Fun Friday: Close to Home

2010-09-17T22:30:00.000-04:00

Today's Fun Friday activities again kept us close to home after a very busy work week with lots of driving for Keith. Mary, on the other hand, commented on how she spent the last four days without even leaving The Commons, making us realize just how satisfying life in community can be. With kids, dogs, friendly neighbors, community meals and the spontaneous socializing that community engenders, one can stick around the neighborhood for days and not feel isolated or out of touch with the world.

So, the day began with a relaxing morning at home, a bike ride to town, and a leisurely swim with time in the late summer sun by the poolside.

Biking through town, we noted that Santa Fe is still crawling with tourists who continue to throng the streets, sidewalks and hotels, and there is no outward signs of economic turmoil here in "The City Different". At a local hotel, we came upon a group of housekeeping employees having a field day in the parking lot as they pelted their managers with water balloons, laughing uproariously. Some seemed less shy when the managers had their backs turned and didn't know who was throwing! In her infinite wisdom, Mary went up to the supervisor who had masterminded this "team building" exercise and gave her our card, inviting her to consider Laughter Yoga for their next team meeting or retreat.

It was a glorious day here in Northern New Mexico, and despite a weather forecast calling for "the possibility of late afternoon thunderstorms", the sun shone brilliantly from dawn to dusk, as usual. There has been precious little rain this summer, and the "monsoon season" amounted to little rain, but we were indeed rewarded with numerous breathtaking sunsets and rainbows.

After our outing to town, we were taken out to dinner by our neighbors and friends Bob and Ann, who graciously treated us to dinner in return for us dog-sitting for their beloved Barney while they were in Europe. Even the dogs came to dinner!

It was yet another glorious day here in Santa Fe, and we are grateful---as always---for the abundance of blessings in our lives!

I Love You

2010-09-16T01:46:00.001-04:00

Here's a little glimpse of something I left for Mary on the kitchen counter as I left for work at 6 in the morning while she and Tina slept.....

A (Rio) Grande Birthday!

2010-09-12T12:09:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, September 11th, we celebrated Mary's 51st birthday in the grande style she had requested: by floating down the Rio Grande with inner tubes! Although Mary had her own inner tubing adventure on the Rio Grande several months ago, her greatest wish had been to tube down the river with myself and our son, Rene, so we honored her request and made it happen!

It was a lovely September day here in northern New Mexico, with the temperatures hovering around 82 degrees. After a riverside picnic and other preparations, we hit the river around 2pm, not knowing if we would make it all the way to the second vehicle which was parked almost four miles downstream. With three tubes and an extra raft carrying "supplies" (local beer, peanuts and water!), the intrepid trio set out on our sojourn with high hopes and spirits.

Being late in the season, the river was somewhat low, with some areas less than a foot deep. Experienced in such things, Mary intelligently taught us how to position our bodies in order to avoid major injuries to our coccyx bones. No matter the water level, the scenery was breathtaking as always, with the high Pilar cliffs towering above us as herons, ducks and other birds marked our passage.

Happily, there were five rapids that were great fun and quite exciting, although nothing felt truly dangerous since this is a part of the river quite popular for leisurely inner tubing. We each shot through the rapids without mishap, although Mary did have one complete dunking early on!

As the sun began to sink below the cliffs to our right, the ambient temperature did begin to drop around 5pm, and we dragged ourselves out of the river, with Keith and Rene experiencing marked chattering of the teeth (a strange sensation which I recall as usually being reserved for winter sports).

Up on the road, we quickly warmed in the sun as a personable fisherman befriended us and another friendly passerby stopped spontaneously to offer to take a group photo. Moments later, an equally friendly pair of women in a pickup truck stopped and gave Rene a ride upriver to our van, cementing the fact that people here in New Mexico are quick to be friendly and quick to lend a helping hand.

Changing out of our wet clothes, we drove to the nearby town of Dixon for a lovely birthday dinner, the owner of the restaurant gifting Mary with a birthday surprise: a homemade pinon (pine nut) cookie topped with local vanilla ice cream! The entire staff came out to sing "Happy Birthday", and the birthday girl beamed in delight.

It was a great day, a memorable day, and I have no doubt that Mary will live up to her new self-description: "fifty-one and full of fun!"

Happy Birthday, Mary! We love you so!

Zozobra, The Original "Burning Man"

2010-09-10T00:54:00.000-04:00

Last night, we attended the annual burning of "Zozobra", also known as "Old Man Gloom", here in Santa Fe. Since 1924, the Santa Fe Fiesta has begun with a public ritual of burning up the past in a civic exorcism and conflagration, with a 50-foot bogeyman as the central figure. Citizens are encouraged to bring divorce papers, photo albums, mortgages, anything they want to release to the fires of transformation, and Zozobra's body is filled with the detritus of the past year as a way to make way for the new. Hosted by the Santa Fe Kiwanis Club since 1963, this is grand public theater in which the citizens of "The City Different" come together for a party like no other.

Zozobra looms over Fort Marcy Park, with a mini Old Man Gloom in the foreground....

Meanwhile, security are out in force on the ground and the rooftops as 30,000 revelers make their way to the park for the festivities....

Children relish cotton candy and other treats......

And everyone has fun in anticipation.....

And as the sun begins to go down, the cast of characters emerge in order to enact Zozobra's demise.....

Fireworks underscore that this is the 400th anniversary of Santa Fe, the oldest state capital in the United States, a capital whose beginnings were marked by bloodshed, the Pueblo Revolt, and the conquering and subduing of the Indians by the Spanish....(and it is this very history that makes the Fiesta somewhat controversial since it commemorates the suppression of the Indians who revolted against Spanish rule, and those tensions exist to this day)....

The fire dancers emerge, taunting Zozobra with their torches.....

Zozobra flails his limbs and makes his voice heard in a plaintive roar that goes on for ten or fifteen minutes......

And suddenly his head bursts into flames......

And he begins to burn and the crowd cheers and applauds his demise.......

It is quite a spectacle as Santa Feans of all walks of life scream "burn him!" as Old Man Gloom goes up in flames and collapses into a heap on the ground, with scores of papers, photographs and all manner of ephemera from the past year burning along with him. It is a ritual, a collective letting go of the past, a ritual that coincides with the beginning of the Jewish New Year and the celebration of Rosh Hoshanah prior to the dignified solemnity and reconciliation of Yom Kippur. We burn up the old, ring in the new, and give up our fears, angers and regrets to the flames.

And so Old Man Gloom meets his demise yet again..........

Images From the Sunflower River Harvest Festival

2010-09-08T23:36:00.001-04:00

This past Monday, we eagerly attended the Sunflower River Community Harvest Festival. Sunflower River is an impressive and land-centered intentional community in south Albuquerque that we visited last March, making fast friends with the stewards of this special place. The Harvest Festival was very special, and we're happy to have been invited to such a wonderful event.

A pie contest made everyone's taste buds quite happy.....

Kids and dogs abounded....

And many members of the wider Albuquerque pagan community were there.....

And live music in the shade of the orchard was one of the highlights of the day....

Sunflower River is a place where the people live and love with integrity and a deep connection to the land and all it provides. The people of Sunflower hold a special place in our hearts, and we thank them for being our friends and fellow communitarians.

Fun Friday: Local Color

2010-09-04T17:04:00.000-04:00

This past Fun Friday, we decided to spend the day locally, eschewing the use of our car, and spending the day both here at The Commons on the Alameda and in downtown Santa Fe. It was a great day with those ubiquitously glorious blue New Mexican skies and many hours to do whatever it was that suited our fancy.

First, we enjoyed some time in the spacious home and cozy garden where we're house-sitting until the 10th.....

...then we wandered the community, picking fruit from the various fruit trees exploding with organic ripeness....

.....marveled at some of the flowers in the neighborhood....

....had a Skype video chat with a dear friend in Massachusetts....

...did a photo shoot of Mary in her new blue dress from the Tesuque Pueblo Flea Market.....

.....biked downtown to see the latest show of O'Keeffe abstracts at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum....

...swam at our favorite pool.....

...came home to Tina and Barney the Dog (who's in our care until the 10th)......

...and finished an action-packed yet leisurely day by having some kind neighbors over for a grilled salmon feast.

We're very grateful for our very high quality of life this summer, and recognize how lucky we are to be doing what we're doing. It's been a great summer so far, and as the kids return to school and September blooms beautifully, we look forward to seeing what autumn is like here in northern New Mexico. The Fun Friday tradition will continue, of course, and who knows what delightful surprises subsequent Fridays will bring!

The Levity Project Takes Albuquerque by Storm!

2010-08-30T01:02:00.001-04:00

As part of our weekend at the 2010 All America Laughter Yoga Conference, a series of spontaneous public events was sponsored by The Levity Project, a non-profit organization whose goal is "creating social change through public acts of creativity, laughter and celebration. The Levity Project has sponsored events all over the country, and Albuquerque was ripe for some fun!

First, about 100 of us converged on the downtown Albuquerque Trader Joes, where we all entered the store anonymously and began to shop. At a signal from the coordinators, everyone began to dance in the aisles, engaging with customers and staff and simply having a blast. Many customers and employees seemed to enjoy the fun, a few going out of their way to say that we had made their day, while others said, "Who are you people?" and "Please come to my workplace and do this!"

The young man in the green t-shirt pictured below was just one of several customers who happily joined the fun! (Can you find Mary in this photo?)

Next, we walked into a crowded outdoor shopping area and began a "Laughter Party" on a street-corner, putting Hawaiian leis around people's necks and inviting them to laugh with us. Cars stopped, people laughed along, and it was ten minutes of pure unadulterated laughter.

The family pictured below wandered by the laughter party and got right in the spirit of things.

Finally, small groups of volunteers wandered the streets, stopping random passersby and saying "You are amazing!" with gusto. Most people seemed to greatly appreciate the sentiment, although a few appeared slightly apprehensive about being accosted by anywhere from 4 to 10 strangers loudly affirming their amazingness. Still, it was a fun social experiment that went off without a hitch.

The Levity Project creates many events that are quite similar to "flash mob" events that have been well-documented on YouTube and elsewhere. The founders of the project feel that bringing laughter, play and celebration to the streets is a means to world peace, personal change and an improved sense of connectedness. Feel free to visit their website and contact them if you'd like The Levity Project to come to your town, or if you'd like to play along!

Laughter Yoga Jail Photos

2010-08-29T06:42:00.001-04:00

Mary, Madan Kataria, and Keith

2010-08-28T16:55:00.000-04:00

Fun Friday: Laughter Yoga in Albuquerque

2010-08-28T12:13:00.002-04:00

Here are some images from a very fun Friday at the 2010 All America Laughter Yoga Conference here in Albuquerque.......

Here's Mary in the Friday evening costume parade as a tomato........

We also did some circle dancing (Dances of Universal Peace) at the end of the night.....

This is Mary with some of her cohorts who were here for the Laughter Coach Training. The second person from the left is Katie West of The Levity Institute, who offers the only Laughter Coach certification in the world (and Mary is well on her way to graduation and certification!)

And finally, the man who made Laughter Yoga a worldwide reality, Dr. Madan Kataria....

Laughter Yoga in an Albuquerque Jail

2010-08-27T15:37:00.002-04:00

Over this long weekend, we are ensconced in Albuquerque for the 5th Annual All America Laughter Yoga Conference. Prior to my arrival to the conference yesterday, Mary spent three days training to become a Certified Laughter Coach as a compliment to her new certification as a Life Coach, so stay tuned for more details about our new business venture as coaches!

Yesterday afternoon, our teacher Dr. Madan Kataria of Bombay, India and Jane Davis of Hope Howse brought twelve of us to the Bernalillo Metropolitan Detention Center for a Laughter Yoga session with 90 inmates. This is the largest county jail in New Mexico, and thanks to the work of Jane Davis and Hope Howse, we were allowed entry to the jail and access to one of the pods where 90 inmates are participating in programming geared towards improving their life skills.

Although many of us, including myself, experienced some level of trepidation and anxiety when entering the facility and the pod itself, the ice was quickly broken after Dr. Kataria gave his introduction to Laughter Yoga and the science of laughter and we began the participatory portion of the program. While some of the men hung on the side and only marginally participated, the majority wholeheartedly took part, laughing uproariously, smiling and enjoying more than an hour of the cohesiveness and joy that group laughter can engender.

While we were aware that these men could have been incarcerated for anything from a DWI to aggravated assault or various violent crimes, it also became quickly apparent that they are, of course, as human as the rest of us, and being given this opportunity for a wholesome hour of laughter was a boon to their spirits and their mental, physical and spiritual health. The level of enthusiasm was contagious, and we all shared some very genuine laughter followed by a brief period of handshaking and socializing before our group of 12 had to take our leave.

Mary and I have offered Laughter Yoga sessions in universities, health facilities, senior centers, private parties and other venues, but this may have been the most satisfying session we've ever participated in. Many of the men were obviously very grateful for our visit, and the plethora of hearty handshakes and thank you's were heartfelt and extremely sincere.

Driving back to the hotel and the official beginning of the conference, we were all high from the experience, and many of us are now considering bringing Laughter Yoga to our local jails and prisons, both for the inmates and the officers. Stress is a common state in the jail environment, and bring some relief to those who most need the stress relief was truly a joy and an honor. Any of us can make a mistake or a wrong choice in life, and when seeing those who are incarcerated through the lens of "there but for the grace of God go I", one realizes the essential humanity of these men and the extent to which they, too, deserve the gift of laughter, joy, and unconditional positive regard.

Mailboxes, Galisteo

2010-08-25T22:59:00.000-04:00

Flowers at the Farmers Market

2010-08-24T12:37:00.000-04:00

Another Week in New Mexico......

2010-08-22T12:24:00.000-04:00

It's been yet another great week here in New Mexico: celebrating my birthday all week with live music on the Plaza every weeknight: surreptitious swims in the pool of our favorite downtown Santa Fe hotel (sshhhhh!); an overnight visit from our dear friends in Taos; and a brief visit with friends from New York who were here in Santa Fe with family. With brilliant blue skies every day, an easy week at work, and restored health, it's been a fun stretch of long summer days.

Aside from engaging in various forms of summer fun and celebration, we recently learned that our casita is infected with two types of mold, and we are gearing up for having to move out temporarily as the mold is remediated. Luckily, we'll be house- and dog-sitting for some community neighbors for more than two weeks beginning this Tuesday, giving our landlords time to (hopefully) schedule the work to be done in our absence. We have no idea when the work will be completed or whether the casita will be a healthy space for us once it's done, so we're prepared for the possibility of having to live in our rig for a while until the dust (and mold) settles (or move elsewhere if need be).

Meanwhile, we continue our grounded adventure in community living as I continue to work my nursing jobs and Mary prepares to officially launch our exciting new business venture. (Stay tuned for more on that soon!)

This past week, house- and cat-sitting for some neighbors allowed us time to bond with Peachy, their very interesting cat.......

And I began to practice on my new birthday guitar in earnest....

We observed some strange desert wildlife that apparently enjoys fresh tomatoes.....

And we took the time to observe the play of shadows on adobe walls......

Through it all, Tina has maintained her happy equanimity......

And we continue to enjoy the many pleasures of community living.....

In the coming week, we will both be going to Albuquerque in order to attend the 5th Annual 2010 All America Laughter Yoga Conference, so stay tuned for highlights from the conference. Our teacher, Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga, will be coming from India for the event, and on Thursday evening will take us to an Albuquerque jail for a Laughter Yoga session with a group of inmates. It should be an exciting time, and we look forward to sharing it with you!

Til then, "be well, do good work, and keep in touch" (with a grateful nod to Garrison Keillor).

---Keith

A Birthday To Remember

2010-08-17T20:28:00.001-04:00

After three days of acute illness, my birthday dawned gratefully on Sunday with a relative cessation of nausea, the blessed absence of headache and fever, and only a lingering malaise that I would not allow to mar my day in the sun.

Mary was kind enough to make delicious French Toast for breakfast with chamomile tea, and following our morning repast, she proceeded to blindfold me and lead me outside for what she termed a "sensory awareness trust walk". Joined by two neighborhood boys along for the fun (and holding Tina for us), Mary led me on a gentle walk through the community, having me touch plants, run my hand along a rough yet somehow smooth adobe wall, and then stop under a tree in the central community plaza to listen to a swarm of bees busily pollinating the arboreal flowers overhead.

I was then led into the Common House, where my blindfold was removed and I was presented with a lovely handmade birthday card. Still not finished with the surprises, Mary then had me sit with my back to her and close my eyes while holding out my hands. A cloth or canvas object was placed in my outstretched hands, and the sound of zippers being opened and closed several times commenced.

When I could no longer bear the suspense (or guess what I was holding), I was allowed to open my eyes to see a miniature "travel guitar" in a cloth case, a gift that Mary was certain would bring me joy and delight. (You see, I very much regretted not bringing my classical guitar on our 10,000 mile journey, and Mary was determined to right that wrong by presenting me with my very own miniature guitar that would take up less space and be my musical companion for the remainder of this peripatetic sojourn.) Needless to say, I'm thrilled, and looking forward to having it restrung with nylon strings for my tender, unpracticed fingertips.

My birthday continued with another return to the Rio Grande 40 miles north of Santa Fe, where we met our son and daughter-in-law for a picnic at a local winery (accompanied by a bottle of local chilled dry rose), and a swim in the river. We also visited the beautiful and special land owned by some new acquaintances in the small town of Dixon.

Ah, a wonderful New Mexican birthday.

Happily, we were visited by dear friends from Taos on Monday, and we spent the evening having a community meal at The Commons and listening to yet another free evening of music on the Santa Fe Plaza. Unfortunately, the music was disappointing Beatles tunes Mariachi-style, so we wandered the streets surrounding the Plaza, visited art galleries, and ducked into our favorite cafe for free samples of gelato.

Walking back to the car, an all-female Mariachi band (Santa Fe's own Mariachi Buenaventura) was playing on the sidewalk across from the Plaza, and the acoustics of the arcade structure above them made their resonant voices carry with great gusto and force. It was a Mariachi tour de force, and the lively crowd spilled into the street, whistling, clapping and singing along as cars and diesel pickup trucks slowed to a crawl, their occupants yelling in Spanish to the musicians.

On the heels of three days of illness, these several days of celebration and birthday fun were sublime, and I am so very grateful to Mary for her kindness and generosity, to Rene and Bevin for meeting us on the river, and for Pam and Bruce, our dear friends of 17 years, for gracing our home with their presence for a brief but magical overnight stay.

Forty-six is looking good, and I am happy to be healthy again and ready for the remaining weeks of our first New Mexican summer.

Fun Friday: Canceled Due to Illness

2010-08-14T12:46:00.002-04:00

Sadly, what would have been our fourth consecutive "Fun Friday" was cancelled due to my becoming ill on Thursday with some sort of virus. Neither of us ever had anything more than a common cold or our usual chronic back pain during our seven months on the road, and with only catastrophic health insurance, this is a very good thing. My current illness is most likely a viral infection causing garden variety nausea, headache and malaise, but not feeling well is certainly a bummer, not only because of having to cancel "Fun Friday" but because this is also my birthday weekend (I'll be 46 tomorrow).

At any rate, we're lucky to have the free and unfettered use of our neighbors' home during this weekend and the coming week, a very kind offer which allows us to have an extra 1500 square foot home in which to rest and stretch out. It's a treat, and it also reminds us how much we don't want a house of our own and the responsibility and the (inevitable) accumulation of stuff that that would entail.

One of the nice things about this house is its inner courtyard that includes an outdoor bed that's protected from the rain that recently never seems to fall. (Protection from the ubiquitous flies would be nice, too, but you can't always have everything.)

Here's a daytime view of the courtyard from the outdoor bedroom....

Here I am, reclined in the outdoor bed, nauseous and resting....

And this is a nighttime view (without flash) from my reclined position.....

Mary has been taking very good care of me, and I can only hope that I'll feel better for my birthday. Still, plans to travel up to the Rio Grande again for the day tomorrow may be scuttled in lieu of something less taxing. Being sick on one's birthday is never fun, but I'm grateful that it's a self-limiting illness that will no doubt works its way out of my system soon. And after all, there are many more Fun Fridays---and birthdays---to come.

---Keith

On the Santa Fe Plaza

2010-08-12T20:38:00.000-04:00

Pilar and the Rio Grande

2010-08-09T23:19:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, we took our rig out on the road for the first time since arriving to Santa Fe in early June, and it sure felt good to have the White Beast rolling on the tarmac once again! All systems were go, our solar panels kept the batteries charged, and everything worked like a charm. Ah.

So, we sailed up to Taos, spent a final night at our son and daughter-in-law's place on the mesa in El Prado (they're moving to downtown Taos in September), and then spent two lovely nights and blissful days in Pilar, camped on the banks of the Rio Grande.

Although some of our fellow campers were a little noisy in the evenings (it's the height of summer, after all), they always quieted down by midnight or so, and the cool night breezes lulled us to sleep, along with the sounds of the rushing river.

During the day, we splashed and swam in the delicious water, bicycled along the river road, and enjoyed a visit from our son and daughter-in-law (and a spontaneous visit from some Taoseno friends) on Saturday afternoon. We also enjoyed watching dozens of friendly rafters and inner-tube riders float by, and we hope to partake of a river ride ourselves quite soon.

Here's our son and daughter-in-law treading water in the mighty Rio Grande.....

And this is Rene contemplating the wonders of nature from his rocky perch.....

We spent a great deal of time reading some good books......

And Tina did a lot of what she does best these days.....

The weekend was a very needed getaway that soothed our spirits, quieted our minds, and bathed our bodies in the delights of a high desert river. The Rio Grande is alive and well, and we'll take advantage of it's rushing currents as many times as we can before the summer comes to a wane.

On the Road Again.....

2010-08-04T20:56:00.000-04:00

Well, we're not really on the road again, but we'll be away for a long weekend in the vicinity of Taos, so stay tuned for more adventures, photos, stories and videos when we return.

Next week, tune in for a roundup of the latest news and a post to mark two months of living in community at The Commons on the Alameda.

Til then, enjoy your summer days (unless, of course, you live in Australia), and we'll be back with more adventures next week!

Po' Girl!

2010-08-03T21:47:00.000-04:00

As if seeing Over the Rhine in Albuquerque last Saturday wasn't enough musical bliss for one week, tonight we were thrilled to see Po' Girl perform a free outdoor concert at the Santa Fe Plaza as part of the series of summer concerts on the Plaza that offers 79 free performances over two months.

Po Girl is a Canadian band that plays "urban roots music" like no other, and their spirited show was just fantastic. They obviously love the Southwest are frequently stop in Santa Fe and Albuquerque when they tour. The members of the band are talented multi-instrumentalists, switching between banjo, bass, slide guitar, accordion and clarinet with apparent ease, with inflections of Louisiana, Quebec and the American West. The bass and accordion player of Po' Girl is also a member of The Be Good Tanyas, another roots band whom we adore.

Hundreds of audience members reveled in the music, transforming the Plaza into a happy summer evening party uniting Latinos, Anglos, tourists, locals, and children who danced uninhibitedly onstage alongside the performers.

Some neighbors from The Commons joined us at the event, and other friends also showed up, introducing us to even more people with whom we will most likely continue to cross paths as we weave our way into different Santa Fean social circles.

It was a magical night on the Plaza, and Po Girl was the musical catalyst for dancing, tired feet, and smiles all around.

Over The Rhine in Albuquerque

2010-08-01T19:21:00.000-04:00

Last night, Mary and I had the delicious opportunity to see Over the Rhine perform at the Outpost Performance Space in downtown Albuquerque. Over the Rhine is the lovechild of Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, a married couple who first met while they were poor music students living in the Over the Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. This particular show featured a live recording of a 45-minute interview for the "Art of the Song" radio series, often heard on independent and public radio stations. The interview taped last night will happily be available on the Art of the Song website quite soon.

While living in Western Massachusetts, we had seen OtR perform several times at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton after discovering them via the excellent college radio available in that area. Having not seen them for several years, catching them here in New Mexico was an incredible treat.

What we love about Karin and Linford is their willingness to make themselves vulnerable, to write about their lives, their relationship, and their own struggles as human beings. They see songs as a means for the listener to experience deep feeling and a vision of what life could be, and they use their gifts deftly. Not averse to fun, they are both very capable of irreverence and play, but the preponderance of their ouvre consists of songs depicting stories, people and situations of great emotional depth and introspection.

We were lucky enough to be able to bring Tina into the venue with a special dispensation. Knowing that Karin and Linford love dogs (and were probably missing their dogs as they continue on tour), Mary ran into them before the show and told them that Tina was in the audience. After their encore, Karin and Linford came out to greet their fans, making an immediate beeline for little Tina. Instantly transforming from performers to dog-lovers, they sat on the floor and engaged with Tina (and us) for a good five minutes before moving on to the other fans waiting to chat and have their CDs autographed. It was a watershed moment for Tina, and Mary was equally pleased to receive a kiss on the cheek from each of them as we parted ways. (We also made sure to give them our card and the url for this blog!)

In November, Over the Rhine and some musical guests will be headlining a 5-day musical train tour of the West, with many lucky fans riding the rails with them, making stops at many spectacular places in between impromptu jam sessions aboard the train and scheduled concerts at various whistlestops. While we can't afford the train trip, we plan to see them again when they disembark in Santa Fe to play a gig during that trip, and we also look forward to their new recording when it's released later this year.

It was a wonderful evening, and left us with that breathless feeling when musicians and audience members share a mutually transcendent experience somewhat beyond description but almost universally understood. And to paraphrase the guitarist Robert Fripp, a recording may be a love letter from a musician to his or her fans, but a live performance is nothing less than a hot date.

Fun Friday: Abiquiu and More

2010-07-30T22:37:00.001-04:00

For our third "Fun Friday" date, we again headed north from Santa Fe and made a brief stop at the Tesuque Pueblo Flea Market, which consists mostly of overpriced stuff for tourists, but we were lucky enough to find a woman selling good used clothes for a reasonable price. Score!

Leaving the market under ominous clouds and distant thunder, we again drove through good old Espanola (the aforementioned Black Tar Heroin capital of the country) and made our way as quickly as we could to Abiquiu Lake, another of those U.S. Army Corps of Engineers damming operations that provides opportunities for fishing, boating and swimming. The water was lovely, and as the storm clouds and winds moved through the area in the mid-afternoon, the waves made swimming almost ocean-like, and jumping off the rocks into the water was one of the highlights of Keith's day.

Before taking our leave of the lake, we met a vivacious and courageous young woman from New Zealand who has made her way across the country in a rented car from her starting point in Boston, and we had one of those wonderful conversations that only fellow travelers can have.

We returned to Santa Fe to attend an art opening at a downtown chocolate cafe, and returned to the Turner Carroll Gallery to catch the new Rex Ray show before it closes next week. Ray works with hand-colored cut paper glued to canvas with painstaking attention to detail.

Driving across town, we paid a long overdue visit to the Meow Wolf Collective to see their latest art installation of fanciful rooms and spaces, a show that closes tomorrow. With thunder and lightning increasing outside, Tina was very happy to be ensconced with us in these small, cozy indoor spaces that resembled anything from Hobbit holes to fantastical yurts and mirrored crawl-spaces.

Next stop was the Second Street Brewery for local beer, steamed mussels and salmon tostadas accompanied by free live music. And we capped off the night with a game of pool at a pizza place across the street from the brewery (Mary won, of course!).

Fun Friday is a new tradition that has already brought us great joy, surprises and serendipity, and we have no doubt will continue to do so. Exploring the area in this way helps us to maintain our "travelers' mind", seeking out adventure and novelty even as we create a more solid life here, for however long that may turn out to be.

Tomorrow, we drive to Albuquerque to see Over the Rhine, a band from Ohio who we have followed for many years, and whose performances at the fabled Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts never ceased to entrance us. It will be great to see OtR again, and we look forward to a wonderful night of transcendent music.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and expressing our deepest gratitude for the abundance of love, community, adventure and blessings in our lives.

Life (in Santa Fe) Goes On......

2010-07-29T01:30:00.001-04:00

As summer evolves into what's known as "monsoon season" here in Northern New Mexico, we continue to explore our new lives here, even as we consider how long our Santa Fean (is that a word?) sojourn will last.

Working with my one-on-one elderly nursing client this week, I sat on his porch and watched storms roll in from a variety of directions. Lightning flashed, the winds howled, and the rain came down in sheets in various spots along the horizon, until the storm lashed his little house with hail that pelted the tin roof of the porch like so many bullets of ice. Driving home through the sticky mud, the windshield was spattered with brown dots that the windshield wipers had difficulty erasing, so I stopped at a gas station and cleaned the glass by hand.

Life in community continues to be pleasant, with kind neighbors and community meals that bind us together in various rotating social atoms. We're still newcomers, and renters at that, but there is a feeling of acceptance and welcome that is indeed heartwarming. This evening, we offered a free session of Laughter Yoga, and a hearty good time was had by all.

Settling into routines, I leave home for my various workplaces three or four days per week, and Mary keeps the home fires burning as she feverishly and happily prepares the official launch of her coaching business, a business that I will join when the time is right for me to pursue certification as a nurse coach.

The dryness of New Mexico is both a blessing and a curse, and the dry river beds and arroyos demonstrate just how much water is at a premium here. Driving forty or sixty minutes to find a clean place to swim in nature is no joke, and we realize that spending another summer so water-starved is not necessarily something we're willing to do, even as the community becomes more like home over time.

Biking around the city, I also yearn for a more bike-friendly town where we can tool around without fearing for our lives. Santa Fe has a long way to go in this regard, and bicycle lanes are a rare commodity here in a city where cars fill the streets at all hours. Still, how can one complain when you can drive across town at the peak of rush hour in fifteen minutes?

Santa Fe is a city of contradictions, in my view. While there is a burgeoning movement towards sustainability throughout the city, a movement that manifests in a variety of ways (community gardens, solar investment), there is also apparently unbridled development that surrounds the city and causes our little community to feel more and more like an oasis amidst the chaos of 21st-century consumerism. As an acquaintance wrote to me on Facebook about her experience of Santa Fe twenty years ago: "It's a magical place, despite all of the ugly and ecologically unsound construction and commercialism." She's right. The place is crawling with healers, artists, musicians and creative people doing amazing things, but there are aspects of the city that are simultaneously maddening, including the frustratingly high cost of living (even a simple burrito can cost almost $10).

So, until we decide that our time is up and the proverbial stakes are pulled from the ground, we will continue to make our best of the time we have and get the most out of being here. Santa Fe is an idiosyncratic place, to be sure, and we'll just see what our idiosyncratic selves can conjure up here as our New Mexican lives continue to unfold for as long as the unfolding feels right.

---Keith

Adobe and Blue Sky

2010-07-27T08:13:00.000-04:00

Santa Fe in Summer

2010-07-25T18:30:00.000-04:00

The summer weekends here in Santa Fe seem to be filled with festivals, markets and other special events, with tourists and locals alike thronging the streets and sidewalks surrounding the Plaza.

Recently, we failed to check out the three-day Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, something many locals say is not to be missed. We also eschewed the annual Rodeo de Santa Fe in late June, another local cultural tradition. This past weekend was the similarly famous and popular (59th annual) Santa Fe Spanish Market, a celebration of the traditional crafts and arts of the Hispanic culture of Northern New Mexico. While we did stop by on Saturday morning, the crowds were so thick that we only skirted the edges of the event.

Still, Mary was able to stand in line and buy a delicious (and surprisingly affordable) bean burrito with green chili, a ubiquitous New Mexican standard.

And away from the madding crowd (with a nod to Thomas Hardy), we heard some lovely Spanish guitar at The Spanish Table, a store dedicated to the foods, literature, culture and cookware of Spain, and happily sampled some excellent paella prepared outdoors for many curious and hungry onlookers.

Back in the 1970s when I was a kid, they used to say that New York was a summer festival. It appears that the same could be said of "The City Different".

---Keith

Fun Friday: Nambe Falls

2010-07-24T15:51:00.003-04:00

Well, our second "Fun Friday" was as successful and enjoyable as the inaugural "Fun Friday" last week. This time around, we drove north of Santa Fe with the goal of swimming at Abiquiu Lake, but we took a spontaneous detour to Nambe Falls (located within the tribal lands of the Nambe Pueblo), and spent the better part of the afternoon frolicking in the water, having a riverside picnic, reading the paper, and spending time in nature. A cold beer and peanuts in the shell went a long way towards satisfying our thirst and the need for a salty snack on a hot day.

The hike to the falls was beautiful, moderate, and relatively flat, but I had to carry Tina upriver several times when the trail basically dead-ended in the water. She was a compliant good sport, and rested in my arms or on my shoulder when she had to be carried. We were told to watch for coyotes, but none made themselves apparent, although they may have been waiting in the shadows for a moment when Tina might be left unattended.

The Nambe Pueblo is picturesque, small and shady, with neat adobe homes, an old kiva in the central plaza and a lovely mission church. (No photographs of the pueblo are allowed.) The people of Nambe speak the Tewa language, and Nambe is translated as "The People of the Round Earth".

Driving through the pueblo, we took a wrong turn and ended up on someone's driveway, and the perplexed owner and his two dogs came up the driveway to greet us as they returned from a walk. I opened the van door and the dogs practically jumped in and covered me with kisses while the kind gentleman gave us directions for getting back to the main road. We remarked how beautiful the pueblo is, and he said "Yes, our ancestors chose well." That about said it all.

On the way home, we stopped at a local winery for a wine-tasting and admired the tidy vineyard. The proprietor invited us to bring a picnic any time and supplement it with a glass of their fine New Mexican wine. We will certainly take her up on the offer sooner than later.

After a brief rest at home, we went to a potluck birthday party here at The Commons, where we got to know some fellow community members a little better and feasted on delicious food and homemade cake. And much to my chagrin, two little girls discovered how ticklish I am (thanks to Mary's prompting, of course), and we spent more than half an hour in an all-out tickle fest.

Fun Friday, indeed!

---Keith

Happy Ending!

2010-07-23T00:26:00.001-04:00

A very scared and wet yellow lab came to our window during this evening's thunder and lightning storm. He was persistently panting and pleading for shelter from the storm so, of course, I let him in. I knew right away he was not our resident yellow lab and the tag on his collar read "Samson". I left the owners a phone message and also Googled their last name. I came up with owners of Santa Fe Cafe. I called there to learn that the cafe is in South Carolina and the owners had just lost their dog! Different dog, but isn't that weird?

The storm blew in a scared, shaking Samson to be in our safe space with a terrified, trembling Tina. How misery indeed loves company! And lucky me, I had two panting, drooling, pacing, silly, scared dogs by my side, in my lap and like old friends together. It was such a gift, and felt to me like some kind of divine intervention.

The owner was beside herself when she called, telling me the dog was far from home, that the door blew open while she was away and that he took off in the storm. She was worried sick and immediately left to come pick up her baby of 13 years.

Funny how things work out and that this dog arrived to our doorstep, of all places. As many of you know, we used to have a yellow lab named Sparkey, our beloved boy, who grew up with Tina.

The moral of the story is...when opportunity knocks at your door, open the door and let it in!

Here is a fine reward for me doing so tonight:

"Dear Mary, Keith and Tina:

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. Samson and I are sending you a big hug and a lick for watching out for us during this very scary storm. Please find me on Facebook and keep in touch so we can have you over to our place to properly thank you for saving Samson’s life.

"Much love and appreciation"

---Mary

Tina as a Tamale

2010-07-22T00:46:00.000-04:00

Weekend Fun!

2010-07-19T07:06:00.001-04:00

Just this past Friday, we inaugurated a new weekly tradition----Fun Friday! We decided that Fridays are going to be our (more or less) sacrosanct day for getting out into the world, exploring, and having fun together---no computers, no emails, no work, no Facebook, just time together enjoying ourselves.

So, our inaugural Fun Friday started off with a drive north towards the Rio Grande, our first spontaneous stop being at a sculpture garden and gallery in the little village of Tesuque, which is sandwiched amidst several Indian pueblos along a strip of highway dotted with casinos and related businesses that cater to casino-goers. The sculpture garden was lovely, and it was a nice way to start the day with an eyeful of art combined with nature.

Skirting the town of Espanola (which we hear is the Black Tar Heroin capital of the country), we made our way to the area of Embudo, a small old town along the Rio Grande on the road towards Taos. Lucky for us, some neighbors loaned us some inner tubes and Mary had a fantastic float for a few lazy miles down the river, with Tina and I picking her up at our agreed meeting place several hours later. Slight sunburn aside, Mary had a glorious time and floated downstream accompanied by a blue heron for most of the way.

Due to Mary's adventurous spirit, we first stopped at a local winery for a tasting of wine and handmade chocolate, and later met a wonderful couple who showed us around their amazing homestead along the river. A number of years ago, they sold everything, bought an RV, and spent 8 years ( ! ) on the road until settling in Dixon, New Mexico, just down the road from Embudo. They were exceedingly kind, and we hope to visit them again and spend some time on their lush and beautiful land.

Thankfully, our new friends in Dixon sent us down the road to a new cafe in "downtown" Dixon, and we hungrily ate a delicious meal before Mary drove our happy but exhausted selves back to Santa Fe for a good night's sleep, lulled by memories of many hours on the Rio Grande.

Saturday dawned hot and sunny, and after a morning at home, we decided to bicycle into town to check out an international dance festival at the Santa Fe Plaza. Making the intelligent choice to leave Tina behind to stay cool in our casita (with the windows closed and shades down against the heat and sun), we biked to the plaza in time to enjoy almost two hours of free entertainment, including belly dancing, flamenco, break dancing, ballet, mambo and salsa. Despite the heat and glaring sun, people were out in droves, and the audience and dancers were mutually enthusiastic.

On a tip from a neighbor, we then biked over to the Santa Fe Railyard park where the eighth annual "Taste of Santa Fe" was being held. More than forty restaurants were offering small samples of their various delicacies, and before we could consider buying a ticket (6 tastes for $15), a couple came up to us and generously gave us theirs, which allowed us to eat to our hearts' content, especially since most of the folks at the various booths didn't even bother to mark what we had eaten, anyway.

Being as thoughtful as she is, Mary offered our ticket to a homeless man who was hanging out and observing the scene. She approached him and said, "Are you hungry?" He replied affirmatively, and his eyes lit up when Mary gave him the ticket and instructed him to make his rounds of the booths.

After using the ladies' room, Mary emerged to show me that she had found a "$50 unlimited ticket" for the event, and she hurried off to find the same gentleman, who was drinking Coca-Cola and eating a gourmet sandwich and salad just outside the event in the shade. Three female friends of his---possibly homeless themselves---were also watching the crowds eat their fill, and Mary and her friend presented these three ladies with the unlimited ticket which would allow them to eat a rapturous meal during the final hour of the event. A very happy ending for all.

Coming home, we found Tina relatively calm despite being left alone for hours, and the day blossomed into a relaxing evening at home.

Sunday, we capped off the weekend with a celebration, labyrinth walk and potluck at the labyrinth in the park behind our house. It was a sweet and gentle ending to three very full days of enjoying the heat, sun and blue skies of northern New Mexico at the height of summer.

Signs.....

2010-07-16T22:42:00.000-04:00

Jackrabbits

2010-07-15T22:44:00.000-04:00

Just one colorful shop window among a plethora of shop windows in Santa Fe, offering decorative and interesting things that you simply don't need.

Happy Birthday, Rene!

2010-07-13T00:01:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, we were lucky enough to spend a a lovely overnight visit with two of our favorite people in the world: our son Rene and daughter-in-law Bevin. They came down from Taos last Friday after work and joined us for a concert by Modest Mouse at the inspiring and interesting Paolo Soleri Amphitheater at the Santa Fe Indian School, and then for birthday brunch on Saturday morning. It was great to be together, celebrate Rene's 27th birthday, and share delicious homemade quiche and chocolate ganache cake.

Happy 27th, Rene! May stepping into your late mid-twenties be a year of good health, fun, adventure, breakthroughs and a whimsical acceptance of all that is!

With love from yo Mama y tu Papa <3

Under the Umbrella......

2010-07-12T23:27:00.000-04:00

Guadalupe

2010-07-11T01:42:00.000-04:00

I just loved the play of light on this statue when I passed it by the other afternoon. It was so striking that I had to turn around, park the car, and attempt to capture it on film.

Play-Doh at Work

2010-07-10T12:37:00.003-04:00

Now that I'm providing 12-hour shifts of nursing care for an elderly man at his home at the end of a long dirt road, passing the time constructively is important. At my behest, the social worker bought some Play-Doh so that we could try to engage the client in some therapeutic play. Unwilling to touch the clay, he was still able to enjoy watching me make a menagerie of creatures that brought a smile to his face and some color to his world.

-----Keith

Rainbow

2010-07-06T01:58:00.001-04:00

"What is a rainbow, Lord? A hoop for the lowly."----Jack Kerouac

Only in Santa Fe?

2010-07-05T00:10:00.001-04:00

The other night, we attended an art opening at the Skotia Gallery in downtown Santa Fe. The show, entitled "Naked", features a number of well-known contemporary figurative painters, and some of the paintings were quite impressive.

This young woman was lying supine on a table in the center of the second floor gallery space, covered with vegan sushi and naturally-sweetened chocolate from "Body", a famous Santa Fe natural foods restaurant and spa.

The juxtaposition of art and food was fun, and everyone in attendance (well, almost everyone) was quite respectful of the young woman's vulnerable position, offering her grapes and gratitude for her sacrifice for the sake of art. Marcel Duchamp may have appreciated this somewhat Dadaist affair.

Tina and A Distant Cousin.....

2010-07-04T00:24:00.000-04:00

Tina met another Heeler today at the dog park on the edge of town. They didn't interact too much, but they sure were cute together!

Pause for the Cause!

2010-07-01T17:42:00.002-04:00

Howdy y'all. Long time no see!

I am here to share with you that I am one happy camper

and I just had to share the joy with you.

First, I want to express my gratitude to Keith for his heroics that helped get us to--and maintain--our new nest. By heroics, I mean:

A. doing more than the lion's share of the demanding physical work that living in a rig requires. It has been fun to witness how this often frustrating work, along with Keith's commitment to exercise and meditation, has transformed his body into a rather buff, but already handsome man that he is. It has also been good for Keith's peace of mind and good ol' self-'steamers' (esteem).

B. being flexible and temporarily letting go of life on the road as we knew it. While we knew it was time to take a break, maybe even an extended one, it has been a lot easier for me to adapt to our new surroundings than it has been for Keith. Our timing and temperaments are just different like that and it is times like these that I am especially cognizant and grateful for my upbringing as a mobile "army brat" which surely makes adjusting to new environs not only a heck of a lot easier, but a lot more fun too!

C. somehow having the wherewithal to live with ME in a 29' RV for 9 full months!

D. for landing part-time nursing work to enable us to enjoy an extended stay in the Land of Enchantment.

E. supporting me in pursuing a passionate new career path as a "Certified Professional Coach", as in life coaching. Keith has been nudging me toward this livelihood for years, I kid you not, but I simply was not ready as I still had so much to give non-profit organizations. Now is my time to shine as I build the business, my coaching practice and, as always, build myself. I could not do it without Keith's kind support.

Thank you, Keith, for everything, and most of all, for loving me, Rene and our extended families all these years. As we step into our 3rd decade of marriage, I hereby wish you one of our happiest wedding anniversaries yet! 21 years and growing strong! Happy Anniversary, love!

Next, I will attempt to describe a typical morning here at The Commons. After waking, I do my morning pages, yoga, pilates and meditation, then take Tina for a walk around The Commons. We say good morning to the neighbors we see, some dogs frolic a little with Tina, and with some people I stop and chat. The birds sing as people water their gardens, tend to their children or take off on bicycles. (See earlier pictures to get the visual). Some mornings I'll help someone with much worse chemical sensitivity than I have, visit a lonely horse in the barn across the field or get in a good bike ride around the nearby park that I call "Prairie Dog Park". Coming home, I'll have a protein smoothie and get to work (on Rives Carlson Coaching, that is!).

Today, it felt like Mr. Roger's neighborhood here as I checked in at The Commons House to sign up for a work shift and some dinners, did my laundry in the communal, fragrance-free laundry room, poked in on the wee ones in the kid's day care, and accepted an invitation for Tina to play with a fellow Commoner's rambunctious puppy. (Tina is still recovering).

All in all, life is really good here at The Commons, especially now that I've reminded myself that it takes time to forge relations. Being on the road did not allow for the luxury of such time. Connections formed more quickly and the freedom of the road inspired an openness in ourselves and others that 'those who stay more still' are less likely to exhibit--and understandably so.

Now that Keith and I have a foot in each of those worlds, we attempt to strike a balance and be realistic with our expectations, yielding to the necessity of the passing of time. After all, ya can't really force a garden to grow. So, with our approaching anniversary (that we are blessed to be sharing with old and dear friends), we will celebrate sweetly and in appreciation of having arrived to a wonderful place to call home, most likely for long enough to reap the fruits of our labors of love in this lovely oasis of a co-housing community!

July, July, July..........

2010-07-01T15:05:00.000-04:00

Having left New England at the end of October in the midst of autumn's waning splendor, we realize that we have now entered the fourth season of our time on the road. Four seasons have delivered us through more than twenty states and over 10,000 miles, and we find ourselves spending the glorious summer (or longer) in the beautiful high desert of northern New Mexico.

Our little casita is still comfortable, and life in community offers what Mary sometimes refers to as a "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" experience. The kids play noisily and happily outside the window (with the occasional errant spray through our open windows from their water guns). Neighbors walk by and say hello as they pass. Other neighbors care for Tina while we take care of business or have fun, and we attend community meals, go for walks, bike around the neighborhood, and continue to get to know various aspects of Santa Fe, be they maddening or wonderful. For me, I am more or less adjusted to life off the road, although I still hunger for adventure, novelty and the excitement of travel.

And while we consider what to do with our rig (which we will most likely sell and replace with a different travel-ready vehicle), we are using a neighbor's van and bicycling whenever we can, avoiding purchasing a vehicle for as long as possible.

Meanwhile, I have begun working as a nurse, caring for an older gentleman injured by years of mining uranium. Injured mine workers are common here in the Southwest, and I am happy to provide care for someone who worked for decades underground without knowing that his health was being compromised in the interest of our collective national desire for cheap energy and dangerous weaponry.

Tomorrow is the day that Mary and I joyously celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary, and we will do so here with old friends who are visiting Sante Fe from Washington, DC. Next week, we'll celebrate our son's 27th birthday with him and his wife, enjoying the happy proximity that allows us to see them both so frequently.

And as we continue to test the waters for longer-term living here in New Mexico, we keep our purchases to a minimum and choose to accumulate little that may weigh us down if we do indeed decide to move on. Keeping it "light enough to travel" is indeed the motto (stolen from a song by The Be Good Tanyas), but even so, we make the most of our time and continue to dive head first into life here in "The City Different".

Mexican Train Stops in Taos!

2010-06-28T19:04:00.000-04:00

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.....

2010-06-28T18:47:00.000-04:00

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...

2010-06-27T18:08:00.000-04:00

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

2010-06-26T01:06:00.001-04:00

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.......

2010-06-24T23:29:00.004-04:00

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

2010-06-24T13:16:00.001-04:00

A Check-In at Solstice

2010-06-22T23:55:00.002-04:00

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

2010-06-21T23:20:00.000-04:00

Currents 2010 Video Exhibition

2010-06-20T23:18:00.000-04:00

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.......

2010-06-19T15:28:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-17T00:58:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-15T06:26:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-14T23:07:00.001-04:00

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?

Shadow on Adobe

2010-06-12T06:53:00.001-04:00