Some Introspection by Keith

With patience and some luck, I was able to upload this video yesterday, and it only took three hours!

The Gremlins of Technology

As the videos and photographs pile up in the ol' digital archive, it seems that the gremlins of technology simply refuse to allow us to post them here for your enjoyment. Just this morning, I tried unsuccessfully to upload a few photographs to share from our most recent days in Florida. After an hour, the first photo had still not uploaded to Blogger, leading me to realize that perhaps it was not meant to be. And when it comes to uploading videos to YouTube, that now seems like a bandwith pipe-dream---at least for now. Perhaps later in the day the gremlins will take a nap and I can try again.

It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but in this Age of Information, that saying has never been updated to include video. Taking that oversight into consideration, how many words is a YouTube video worth, pray tell?

Life on the road has many frustrations, but it is also magically resplendent and wonderfully rich---sort of like life anywhere. One of my keen frustrations on the road is the considerable lack of reliability when it comes to cell phone service (curse you, T-Mobile!) and wireless internet speed, and these frustrations underscore for me the ways in which I am a spoiled consumer living in the industrialized world. We take so many things for granted, and when my inner consumer doesn't get what he wants---what he, in fact demands---his petulant and child-like nature is brought into stark relief, and it is revealed just how spoiled he truly is.

But let's face it, folks. For me, sharing our journey in words, photos and videos is one of the greatest pleasures of this sojourn. Waking up in the morning and knowing that many of you are looking forward to reading our posts is both energizing and inspiring. When I see that we've had more than 500 pageloads in a week (and numerous comments on individual posts), I'm driven to continue to write, reaching out to all of you, sharing our journey and bringing you along for the ride---virtually speaking, that is.

So many people travel, take pictures, keep a journal, or videotape their adventures, but a great deal of that material just gets stored on computer hard drives, pasted into photos albums or scrapbooks, or sent in emails to friends and family. For me, this journey is to a large extent about sharing our discoveries, pains, pleasures and travels with as wide an audience as possible, and this is where my frustration comes to bear when I have things to show you and simply cannot come through.

When bandwith is uncooperative and those pesky gremlins rear their warty heads in our direction, I need to learn to laugh, watershed my impatience, and simply reach out the old-fashioned way with words. As easily as those words come through my hands to the keyboard, it's also the visuals that I think enrich this blog and our ability to share it. No matter, we know you're out there, we know you enjoy this digital travelogue, and we'll keep trying to dish up a serving of enlivening travel stories for those wishing to satisfy their wanderlust a little by hitching a virtual ride with us.

And perhaps those gremlins will take that nap now.

---Keith

A Respite in Alabama

Just yesterday, we were basking in a brief window of relative Floridian winter warmth, enjoying temperatures of 58 degrees during the afternoon and a good dose of sun and sand. As the sun set, the temperature plummeted to 26 degrees overnight, and a strong wind of almost 25 mph---accompanied by freezing rain---shook our rig as we slept (or tried to).

With colder temperatures and strong winds forecast for the coast all weekend, we decided to retreat inland, heading to an RV park in Summerdale, Alabama, just 40 miles from Pensacola, Florida. As full-timers living in our RV, we're members of Escapees.com, an RV'ers co-op that provides discount RV parks, mail forwarding, and other services to full-timers. (Our legal address is actually at an Escapees park in Livingston, Texas, and that's where all of our mail now goes, so please email us for our address if you don't have it, and keep those cards and letters coming!)

So, we are now encamped at our first Escapees park, taking advantage of having a clubhouse where we can play pool and ping pong, watch movies, talk with other Escapees, and enjoy having an alternative place to hang out during this cold snap.

Staying at a campground in really cold weather can feel somewhat claustrophobic when there's nowhere else to go and the cold winds are howling, so being here relieves that concern, allowing us some breathing room and the ability to spend some healthy hours apart in a warm and comfortable space! (Tina is not allowed in the clubhouse, so we'll take turns and sometimes leave her alone in the rig, poor old girl.)

For now, our plan is to remain here at "Rainbow Plantation" for the weekend, catching up on emails, writing and phone calls, meditating, reading, playing pool and ping pong, and planning for the next leg of our adventure. On Monday, we'll have an oil change and lube for the ol' "Rigatina" (formerly known as "Scottie La Blanca"), and then head to the Alabama coast or northwest Florida coast for what promises to be a week of plentiful sun and temperatures in the 50s and perhaps 60s. Imagine that! Following our week on the coast, we'll then begin heading west through Alabama and Mississippi towards Louisiana, where we hope to visit some of Mary's extended family in New Orleans before our entry into Texas (which will become our legal state of residence forthwith).

In terms of our search for intentional community, our outreach to communities in Florida has not been terribly fruitful, perhaps due to the recent holiday season. Three communities have indeed responded to our inquiries, but two of them are still in the forming stage and are not yet up and running, and the other---the Kashi Ashram in Sebastian----was, alas, too far south for us to make the trek. We are now focusing our sights on intentional communities in Texas, and will soon begin reaching out to the ones that have piqued our interest (of which there are many).

We would love to post more videos for your enjoyment over the next few days, and it remains to be seen if we have the bandwidth to do so. Please know it's our clear intention to fully entertain you with our audiovisual antics, but sometimes technology does not cooperate with our intentions! (If you're just tuning in to our adventure, welcome, and know that there are some recently posted videos available for your viewing pleasure!)

Until next time, be well, be happy, and please do keep in touch!

Tina Drinking Her Fill

Here's a sweet little video of our old girl getting some water after a strenuous two-hour hike.....

Mary chimes in...

Shockingly loud booms echo and vibrate the earth under our feet as we sit at this sunnier picnic table across from our campsite. Must be the Air Force base nearby. Sigh---more memories of my formative years on Army bases. A missive from our visit to Ft. Benning, GA (a place of my childhood) will follow, I promise. 


My back went out pretty badly the last of our 2 half days at Fort Benning which coincided with the last day of the year. I nursed myself back to health with bedrest, ice, muscle relaxants, Keith's TLC and time to heal while we were at Koinonia Community. I managed to rally for New Year's Eve Laughter Yoga we promised the good folks there and it was so worth it as everyone really got into it as we laughed in the New Year! That was a shifting point in my healing process that I am much better now--even without the aid of a chiropractor, I am happy ro report. I can do so many things again, including more writing which you can expect from me now.     :  )

This morning, I wanted to set up a little picnic in the sand next to the dunes on the ocean lake but since learning that alligators are alive and well in that there lake, we'll have to play it safe and pass on that idea. I'm trying not to imagine a hungry gator coming ashore and taking our little Tina away from us by surprise. These creatures can run up to 30 mph and she would be a good bite-sized snack, I'm afraid!

Instead of taking stupid risks like eating on the shore of gators' homes, I am content to bundle up, put Tina in my bike basket and cycle about this beautiful coast. The jury is still out as to whether we'll pack up and check out the next lovely state park a few miles from here, or hunker down for a gently unfolding day in nature, free of the hassle of changing campsites. I presume the latter will prevail because of yesterday's transition, the worst of which for me was the miles of smog that made a sickly orange haze from many oceanside factories. Such a juxtaposition to the conservation lands that sandwich them. Regardless, this "Forgotten Coast" will not be forgotten to us, but may it be forgotten by excessive development. Knowing my optimism, I will remember the best parts, all this time in the splendor of nature with my beloved Keith and Tina and loved ones in my heart.  


Here is a meditative moment to share some of this beauty with you. May it be a peaceful oasis within that you can return to whenever you need it.

Peace and love,


Mary    

Biking to the Gulf

Since uploading videos takes a lot of bandwith and fast internet connectivity, we may need to post some videos out of chronological order from time to time. My brother Ken encouraged us to post them whenever we can, chronology be damned, so here's one that's only a few days old.....

Cheers!

Happily Crawling Along the Gulf

Well folks, we are making slow and happy progress along "The Forgotten Coast" of Florida.

Yesterday, we set out from our sweet spot on St. George Island in search of new adventures and sights, stopping in the quaint town of Apalachicola for lunch. Northerners that we are, we chose to sit at a sunny table on the sidewalk outside. Meanwhile, all of the locals ate indoors, making Mary feel a little self-conscious as they stared at us as if we were crazy or from another planet (perhaps we're a little of both!). It couldn't have been more than 45 degrees but the sun was good and warm, and the added benefit was that Tina got to join us for lunch. I indulged in fresh fried oysters and a cup of shrimp Gumbo, whereas Mary went with the good ol' standard fried fish sandwich. A dessert of homemade Key Lime Pie made with real Key Limes was on the house (and eaten in honor of Mary's father, "The Colonel", because it's his favorite dessert). Even the owner came out to say hello and wish us well, and various passersby stopped to chat. Although she said "brrrrr" when she first came out to take our order, the waitress (who called Mary "baby doll") was friendly and seemed to enjoy the fresh air herself.

People in Apalachicola were exceedingly friendly, encouraging us to move to a town hungry for new residents. Apalachicola is relatively thriving in comparison to some of the smaller towns on this stretch of coast prone to storms and hurricanes, and it was heartening to not see any boarded up shops. Tourism is obviously the industry of choice, but fishing also seems to add to the local economy.

Still without cell phone service after almost four days, we cursed T-Mobile for its poor coverage and began looking for payphones from which to make calls and check in with family. Luckily, coverage manifested out of the blue when we reached Port St. Joe and we were thrilled to park by the water, check messages and return calls from friends who had wanted to wish us a Happy New Year.

Moving along the coast, we held our breath (well, Mary actually wore her mask) as we drove through Panama City, Tyndall Air Force Base, and miles and miles of strip malls and stores. It was visually overwhelming after the pristine beauty of St. George Island, and we quietly began to lament leaving our island sanctuary as the sun began to go down and a place to camp for the night seemed further and further afield.

Stopping in one small private campground by the highway (which shall remain nameless), we considered parking for the night but were both spooked by the general shabbiness and untidiness of the place. Remembering what our mobile RV technician had told us a few months ago about poorly maintained RV parks (in terms of rats, mice and other problems), we turned tail and got back on the highway.

One phone call revealed what we already knew about RV resorts in Florida---they charge $60 to $100 a night for sites on the water! But knowing the high quality of state parks here in Florida, we followed the signs to Grayton Beach State Park and were rewarded with a private site on the lake (alligators included), and proceeded to watch a sensational sunset as the temperature plummeted to 29 degrees.

So, here is a video postcard from us to you, uploaded laboriously via our weak MiFi signal. The upload took so long, there was smoke issuing from our laptop's hard drive!



Cheers from Keith

Sunrise

I woke up this morning to catch the sunrise over the lake and share it with you! Happy day to all!

Love, Keith

The Days Are Just Packed

Some of you who are fans of Calvin and Hobbes may recall a book entitled "The Days Are Just Packed". Well, it's kind of like that for us these days. Not to make you jealous or anything, but our days are generally packed with being in nature, making simple meals, getting exercise, maintaining the rig, meditating, writing, blogging, emailing, doing yoga, and playing on Facebook. It's a wonderful life most of the time.

While we're well aware that the majority of the rest of the population is hard at work, we experience little guilt that we have this window of opportunity in our lives to simply eschew the world of employment---for a while, anyway. We spent most of the last 20 years slogging away in Human Services (mostly in the inner city), and sometimes you just have to walk away. As Michelle Shocked once said, "the secret to a long life is knowing when it's time to go", and that mantra has been operational since we decided to pack up and hit the road.

So now we're here in Northern Florida, where the temperatures are dipping into the upper 20's at night and just reaching 45 during the height of the afternoon. Even so, we found ourselves sitting on a blanket in a sunny spot near the campground around 3 this afternoon, playing a game of Sequence (I won 4 out of 5 games---sorry, Mary!), drinking hot organic cocoa and eating natural animal crackers.

Prior to our repose in the sun, we dragged poor Tina on a two-hour hike, meandering on a sandy path through a diverse landscape of pine trees, wild rosemary, tall grasses, sub-tropical flora and fauna, and dozens of birds, including brown pelicans and many migrating songbirds. The wind was blowing off of the bay, making the 45-degree air feel much chillier, but the Florida sun is indeed strong, and when we could escape the wind for a moment, we were able to warm our bones.

The breadth of openness and expansiveness that we are currently experiencing in our lives is not something to be taken for granted, and we are well aware that we will need to earn some money eventually. However, we've set aside some of the proceeds from the sale of our house in order to finance this sojourn, and perhaps some opportunities to earn money along the way will serve to stretch our resources even further. No matter, though, because even if we have to stop and find temporary employment for a while, the journey continues of its own accord. In fact, sometimes it feels as if this journey actually began 20 years ago when we were married, and it has only now manifested in its current itinerant iteration. (To wit, prior to our departure from Western Massachusetts, it seemed to me as if Mary and I were simply travelers who have more or less been in one place for 20 years.)

This life on the road is interesting beyond my wildest imagining, and every day reveals something new to learn or discover---about myself, about my country, about nature, about our relationship, or about the journey itself.

Back when I was hitchhiking around Europe in the mid-80's, it was the call of the road that propelled me forward. I read Jack Kerouac's Lonesome Traveler, thumbing my way hither and thither, wide-eyed as I breathed in the rarefied air of the European cities and museums that I had only seen in films and books. Now, at 45, I travel the highways and back roads of America with my beloved and exuberant wife, and we breathe in the air of the American South and the fumes of our diesel rig as we press on towards the horizon.

This is, as a British friend characterized it, a "walkabout", albeit a mechanized one with frequent rest stops and cups of tea. Well, this diesel-powered walkabout is now hitting its stride, and having you along for the ride, dear Readers, is one of the greatest pleasures we know.

---Keith

Florida Magic.....

Despite the novelty of camping right on the shores of the Gulf at the "Ho Hum RV Park" in Carabelle, we both felt compelled to make a move this morning after waking up early, watching the sunrise, and taking turns having a morning walk on the beach while the other hung out with poor tired Tina in the rig.

So, we meandered down Route 98 West along the coast, stopping in the town of Carabelle proper to tank up on diesel and decaf lattes. We don't spend much money on coffee at cafes and such, but about once a week we allow ourselves a cup o' joe.

When it comes to meals out, we have only eaten at restaurants about 7 times in 10 weeks, and the majority of those meals were with family. Needless to say, we never resort to junk food or fast food, and our main addiction is shopping in food co-ops and health food stores. Just like when we lived in Massachusetts, health food is one place where we never compromise, buying organic produce as much as we can, and enjoying almond milk, whey protein, raw local honey and other delectables we find along the way. Mary is my favorite cook ever (sorry, Mom!), and eating in our rig is one delight after another. Tonight's meal was quinoa, steamed organic kale, and organic chick peas in Mary's homemade coconut curry sauce. Wow. Who said you couldn't eat well on the road?

Still, one must partake of the local food culture when one is traveling, so we will make sure not to miss out when there are local specialties to try (like the aforementioned boiled peanuts we bought the other day at a roadside stand, the cheese grits at a health food store in Tallahassee, and the "hush puppies" and catfish we inhaled in Alabama). And now that we're on the Gulf Coast, you can rest assured that we will have some fresh fish sometime soon, and once we get to New Orleans, all bets are off! (Mary's cousin owns a restaurant in New Orleans, and I can just taste the gumbo now!)

So where was I? Oh yes, we left Carabelle and have now landed ourselves at the St. George Island State Park, a fairly secluded park on a barrier island that's reached via a long bridge over the blue-green waters of the Apalachicola Bay. The water, dunes, beaches, flora and fauna here are breathtaking, but due to our very slow internet connection, we may not be able to share photos (and videos) from this visit until we return to the mainland and a faster WiFi connection. Suffice it to say that the island teems with birds (including bald eagles, hawks and other raptors), and we're told there are dolphins and alligators, as well!

As I write this post, Mary is on Facebook remarking about the astounding level of happiness that she is currently experiencing, and I must echo that I am pretty darn happy myself these days.

Even as northern Florida (and the entire American South) is enveloped in a cold front that's delivering temperatures in the upper 20's at night and 40's during the day, we are soaking up the generous Floridian sunlight and using layers to keep warm as we explore the trails and dunes of this resplendent island. Tomorrow we will take turns on the beach (since Tina is not allowed on the pristine beaches and cannot be left alone at our campsite), bicycle in the cold sun, read, write, and otherwise while away yet another day of our peripatetic lives.

We send you all our very best, and also send wishes for a New Year filled with hope, healing and happiness.

---Keith

Sunrise, Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico!

After a painlessly short drive from Tallahassee to Carabelle (and the Ho Hum RV Park), we arrived to the Gulf of Mexico just in time for a lovely walk on the beach and a resplendent sunset on the pier.

Here's a video of our jubilant first sighting of the Gulf from our rig as it barreled down Route 98 West:

To give you an idea of our whereabouts, this is where we're parked for the night:

And we can't resist sharing the sunset view with you! (Don't be too jealous---it's a cold day in northern Florida. The temperature at 6pm is 40 degrees Fahrenheit!)

Tallahassee!

We are very grateful to our friends Joe and Claudia (and young Jacob) for their kindness, generosity and friendship during our brief stay in Tallahassee. We all felt so nurtured and cared for (including Tina who was fussed over like the charming old lady that she is), and an old friendship that originated in Western Massachusetts was rekindled.

Before leaving Tallahassee, we had to get a photo of Mary at Optimist Park, a place that must have been named with her in mind.

And on the way to the Gulf of Mexico, we stopped at an entertaining and delicious roadside stand  where we stocked up on boiled peanuts, grapefruit and oranges.

Florida!

After bidding a fond adieu to the good people at Koinonia, we traversed the easy 135 miles from Americus, Georgia to Tallahassee, Florida.

Due to the magic of Facebook, we were invited to visit old friends from Western Massachusetts who live here in Tallahassee, but we were warned that there may not be an amenable place to park for the night in their neighborhood. So, wanting to avoid campground fees, we entered Tallahassee with the goal of finding a free place to park.

Driving down a busy city street, we both spied an Elks Lodge where a group of people appeared to be having a barbecue. We also noticed that there were a few RVs parked in a small lot adjacent to the lodge. Feeling gutsy, we made a u-turn and pulled into their parking lot, dragging Tina with us as we walked up and interrupted their party.

There were actually seven older people sitting around an outdoor portable fireplace drinking wine and beer and smoking cigarettes. They were members of the local Elks Lodge, and we explained that we were looking for a place to park for the night. They were interested in our plight---and very taken with Tina---but they informed us that we would only be allowed to "boondock" in their parking lot if we were Elks. And when Mary mentioned that her father was a member of the Kiwanis, several of them frowned and apologetically turned us away (and held us responsible for the cold weather that we had apparently imported from New England).

Remembering that many Wal-Marts allow RV'ers to park for free overnight, we called five Tallahassee Wal-Mart stores, and four informed us that overnight parking in their lots was allowed. Although we boycott Wal-Mart, this is an option that we keep in our back pocket for emergencies.

Making our way to our friends' neighborhood, we left the rig adjacent to the lovely "Optimist Park" near their home, and we spent several hours meditating, soaking up the sun, watching a group of men practice Tai Chi, and chatting with a young father and his toddler who wandered by. Tina is a great conversation catalyst---especially with people who have young children.

We left our rig on the street adjacent to the park, and spent a wonderful evening with our friends and their adorable 3-year-old son, reminiscing about Western Massachusetts and mutual friends and acquaintances.

Returning to our rig, we began to prepare for sleep, naively assuming that since there were no signs to the contrary, we could park overnight and be on our way in the morning. Not ten minutes after turning on our lights, a police cruiser pulled up behind us and a knock at the door was heard. A very friendly officer listened as we explained our situation, took down our names and the names of our friends, and suggested that we move our rig to the parking lot of "Optimist Park" where he felt we would be safer.

We thanked the cordial officer, moved the rig forthwith, and settled down for a peaceful night's sleep here in the Indian Head neighborhood of Tallahassee. Our arrival to Florida has been graced with generous friends, a "balmy" night with temperatures above freezing, and a local police who are supportive of our attempt to save $36 in unnecessary camping fees or a trip to the dreaded last-resort Wal-Mart parking lot.

Welcome to the Sunshine State!

A New Year's Missive From Keith and Mary

Dear Friends and Family,

As 2010 dawns, we want to begin by expressing our gratitude for all of you. Friends and family are what give life it’s richness and diversity, and your presence in our lives---both individually and collectively---brings us great joy, comfort and peace of mind. We look forward to staying in touch with you in the New Year, and deepening our connections.

2009 was a remarkable year of change for us, and the significance of those changes will make 2009 one of the most memorable years in our history.  

During the summer of 2009, we celebrated our 20^th wedding anniversary and Rene’s 26^th birthday in July, Keith’s 45^th birthday in August, followed by Mary’s 50^th birthday in September.

As proud parents, we are thrilled that Rene and Bevin chose to get married this past August, and we welcome the expansion of our family to include Bevin, her parents Mike and Pat, her brother Rick, and their many relatives. Following their wedding, Rene and Bevin moved to Taos, New Mexico to begin a new life together, and we are pleased that they are happily ensconced in a region of the country that feeds their souls and brings them joy.

Finally, all of you are aware by now that we took an enormous leap of faith during this past year, at a time when most people are hunkering down during the current economic climate. Due to a number of health challenges---including Keith’s chronic pain and our mutual Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)---we decided to sell our house, quit our jobs, jettison the majority of our possessions, buy a mobile home, and hit the open road in search of a new life. After 20 years in Massachusetts, this was a difficult and painful decision to make, but one that eventually seemed both necessary and prudent. Luckily, we received unanimous support from our friends and family---despite the losses and distance that our departure from New England and the East Coast entail---and the pieces just fell into place (with some very difficult wrenches thrown into the works in order to test our resolve).

Despite the challenges of selling our home, relinquishing our belongings, saying goodbye to New England, leaving our jobs and simply letting go of life as we knew it, we are thrilled to now be on the road as 2010 begins, pursuing the dream of a new life, hopefully involving some form of intentional community. Many of you may remember that we were married on an intentional community in Southern Maryland in 1989, and it has been our desire to return to community life in pursuit of a healthier and economically sustainable lifestyle (in a warmer climate). 

Since we left Amherst on October 30^th, we have visited 14 intentional communities, 10 states (plus Washington, DC), and visited with family, friends, and many new friends and acquaintances along the way. It has taken us 8 weeks to travel from Massachusetts to Georgia! This luxury of time and lack of a tight itinerary is allowing us the flexibility to take our time, keep an open mind, and make decisions based on how we feel rather than on a pre-determined schedule. What we are doing is certainly not for the faint of heart, and we do experience occasional “road weariness” and a touch of homesickness. Thankfully, friends, family and intentional communities along the way have provided us with some wonderful company, and we are grateful to everyone who has housed us, fed us, adored Tina the dog, and otherwise supported us on our journey.

We also pause to remember our dear friend David Semon, who took his own life in mid-November after years of chronic pain and depression. May his spirit be free from suffering, and may he now know the peace that he could not manifest in this life.

As we complete our sojourn down the East Coast, we will turn “right”, so to speak, heading west along the Gulf Coast, making our way to Texas, the Southwest and the West Coast, eventually landing at Rene and Bevin’s lovely home near Taos. We have no idea where---or when---we will settle down, but please know that once we do, we will be more than happy to welcome (fragrance-free!) visitors to our new abode.

The New Year began with a “blue moon”, an auspicious beginning that shines a light on the possibility that the world will come to know peace, and that everyone may be fed, housed, clothed, healed, and cared for. We wish you and your loved ones health, prosperity, love, connection, and all good things, now and always.

With love and gratitude,

Mary and Keith

More Images From Koinonia

                                             Brahma bull

                                On the way to the meditation hut

                                Pounding nails

                                More nail pounding

New Years Eve Blue Moon Over Georgia

The blue moon rises over the south Georgia landscape on this auspicious New Years Eve. There will not  be another blue moon for 28 years, so now is the time to seize the moment and take it in.

As the clock strikes twelve, fireworks dot the dark landscape. In the distance, coyotes and dogs howl.

We welcome the new year, and with it an opportunity for improved health, connection with community, and a renewed sense of joy and wonder.

Processing Pecans at Koinonia

Here are some photos of the pecan sorting process. Growing, harvesting and selling pecans is Koinonia's most important cash crop.

The only time I have ever worked on an assembly line was when I was employed in a fish processing shop in New Jersey as a teenager. I toiled at the end of a smelly conveyor belt and skinned flat fish like flounder and fluke, frequently cutting my hands and fingers with the incredibly sharp knives.

Spending a few hours today sorting pecans brought me back to that experience, and also connected me with the many millions of people who spend their lives in noisy, dirty, smelly and unhealthy factories in order to produce the food and consumer goods that we take for granted.

Here at Koinonia, everyone helps with the cottage industries and chores that need to be done, and when pecan season is in high gear, I'm told that many hands make lighter work for all.

Koinonia Farm

Following our visit to Fort Benning, our GPS (affectionately named "Hilda") led us on a lovely route through the Georgia countryside to the town of Americus, and we have happily landed at the Koinonia Farm community where we were warmly welcomed and befriended.

Koinonia (from the ancient Greek, meaning fellowship or community) was founded in 1942 by two couples who were committed to demonstrating the teachings of Jesus in their everyday lives. They worked with local sharecroppers, broke racial and socioeconomic barriers by worshiping with people of any race or background, and committed themselves wholeheartedly to a life of pacifism and nonviolence. Koinonia paid black and white workers equal wages, and created a community where people of all races lived a life of equality and mutual respect.

The mission and work of Koinonia did not sit well with many residents of the surrounding area, bringing years of threats, boycotts, sabotage, bombings and shootings that became part and parcel of the early years of this dedicated community. The Ku Klux Klan was heavily involved in the fight to break the spirit of Clarence Jordan and the other residents of Koinonia, and bullets, bombs and burning crosses were all used as tools in the fight. And although the nation's eyes were focused on Selma, Montgomery, and other hotbeds in the fight for racial equality, the struggle at Koinonia was seen by many as equally important in the wider movement.

Now, with the fires of racism and the struggle for racial equality safely in the past, the people of Koinonia have been able to focus on their spiritual activism, small businesses, and various ministries of good will and service.

Some of the stewards/residents here at Koinonia are involved in several cottage industries, including an online bakery store that sells home-grown pecans, handmade chocolate pecan bark, coffee, and other delicious goodies, and an online bookstore offering books which detail the writings and teachings of their founder, Clarence Jordan. There is also a very nice print catalog available by mail for those who prefer to shop the old-fashioned way. (Perhaps you can consider their products for next year's holiday season and other special occasions!)

Aside from these projects, residents busy themselves with animal husbandry, organic gardening and various ministries which build bridges to the surrounding community in myriad ways, including peace and justice work, home repair for those in need, Bible study classes, and other forms of outreach. Known as the birthplace of Habitat for Humanity, Koinonia has been a progressive and forward-thinking Christian community for more than 60 years

We are just beginning to develop a basic understanding of the community's structure and governance, and you can imagine that it has been through many iterations since the early 1940's. Consensus certainly plays a part in how decisions are made, and non-profit status provides another structure upon which the community can hang its collective hat. There appears to be a long and thoughtful process for interns and others who would like to explore membership (full members are known as "stewards"), and we hope to glean more from our conversations as we experience life at Koinonia for a few days.

Tomorrow, we will do some volunteer work sorting pecans or helping in the bakery, and then lead some Laughter Yoga and improv games at the community New Years Eve party. We will post more photos and news from Koinonia over the next few days before we head for the Florida panhandle and the Gulf of Mexico!

---Keith

Under the blue moon...

With all the sentimentality and surprisingly deep feelings I am experiencing by visiting a few of my early childhood homes, just thought I'd share a little silliness.


Meanwhile, enjoy the New Year blue moon! It won't be back for another 28 years. I'll be 78. How old will you be? ;-)



~Mary



THE SENILITY PRAYER 


Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
The good fortune to run into the ones I do, and
The eyesight to tell the difference.