Winding Down My Dirty Life and Times
August 14, 2006
10:05 a.m., MT

Not permanently, but here at our summer location ... for now. I've been so busy thinking and doing and enjoying that I've barely captured any of my adventures here. Can't say that I regret that, because blogging is a far lower priority than actively living my life ... it's kind of like all those tourists one sees, so busy capturing their travels on film or vid that they don't actually enjoy the destinations. And many of the most enjoyable or otherwise significant things are, frankly, too private to share.

That said, as I wind down here, I'll devote my last blog post prior to our departure for points west to a brief recap of some summer highlights. Those of you who're interested, please step into my parlor ...

Probably the best way to sum up the summer is that I've been able to casually play at pioneer wife with several modern twists. I've come to love hanging out our laundry in the morning, picking fresh herbs and checking our tomato plant (which will not gift us with any ripe fruit prior to leaving, apparently), then roasting our coffee and doing my morning blog-reading. We've met several very interesting locals, many of whom have graciously shared their knowledge of the area's hidden bounty. The snolfs and I have tried to capitalize on this, mostly via a series of berrying ventures; and I have been seriously bitten by the foraging bug. The only thing better than tasty homegrown or -produced pood is free tasty pood!

My children have thrived over the summer too, despite missing the rest of the family. MAL generously bought them bikes, and my son (Snolf the First, S I from here on) is very proud that he's able to ride on the road, and has the basics of shifting and hand braking down. Darlin' Daughter (DD) is maybe twenty minutes of practice away from her first solo ride ... but ever the princess, she won't be hurried on reaching that achievement. It's real progress, though, because when we arrived she was unwilling to ride any bike without training wheels because she was afraid of falling.

Both have learned a lot about nature, mostly by virtue of their explorations of the varied lands around us, and by talking with the many grownups who've generously devoted time to answering their many questions. DD especially has enjoyed the abundance of frogs in the area, from tiny peepers to full-size ones. And of course, she was the one to discover a snail hiding under a blackberry leaf on one berrying adventure! Both enjoy the varied birdlife and butterflies too.

Each has improved their reading and math skills too—mostly on their own initiative rather than my insistence. Having good resources around doesn't hurt, though, and they've had a wide variety of reading material at their disposal. DD discovered that a set of dominoes makes a good tool for math drills.

MAL has also taught them a lot about using various hand and power tools. He's been very patient about explaining how to do things properly whenever they've asked, and allowing them to help where they're able. S I was better at helping, for several reasons, but both have experienced the pleasure of accomplishment from genuinely helping someone. They've also made gains in self-control, and understand better the importance of supporting oneself and earning your keep. Of course we haven't been in perfect bliss, but the challenges and difficulties have been mostly minor, and fairly easily addressed.

For my part, I'd wanted to make some progress on the truffle business ideas, as well as working through some personal issues that have been problematic for some time. I succeeded at both—in fact, exceeding my hopes for each. Before arriving, I'd made arrangements with MAL regarding earning my keep while here. Aside from those obligations, I've been free to do whatever I want, and I've gloried in that. And even the obligations, because they were consensually arranged, haven't felt like restrictions at all. I feel like I've been living my dream, for the most part.

Only it's been much better than a dream, because it's been real. With ups and downs and pleasure and pain and joy and sorrow, the way life is supposed to be. I know that there were several anomalies in this summer—not needing to worry about earning money being the prime concern that was largely absent—but being free of that helped me identify ways to improve that going forward. I also generated a lot more ideas on how to do so, in ways that will be enjoyable to me and won't have me going back to the wage-slave world.

I didn't unplug entirely from the world, obviously. But I did unplug from the state-controlled matrix enough to get reattuned to myself. To enjoy the company of some of the people most important to me in the world (albeit not enough with some of them). To meet a fellow traveler who's close to joining that group. To just relax and be me, and live as I'd like. Well, as close as I can come right now ... there are still large goals before me. But where many of them had been nebulous at best, or muddled in some wrong-headed thinking on my part, they're now in much better focus. And I'm more confident than I've been in years that I will reach some of them.

Best of all, I've seen that I can enjoy the journey, wherever it may lead.

Sunni

Comments: 1 person has added a thought or two ...

On Tuesday, August 15th, at approximately 9:26 a.m. Mountain time, Kirsten said:

Safe travels!

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