I started the week in isolation, following the CDC guidelines for Covid. You’d think isolation is my preferred state, since I so often live off-grid, far from other humans. But forced isolation is somehow different and it was especially difficult for me after spending 10 days with good friends and all the people (infectious though they were) at the mineral hot springs. I was back at my favorite spot in Ehrenberg, far from other people, but easy walking distance to Bonnie’s van. But I didn’t go visit Bonnie until Thursday for fear of infecting her, and even then, I kept my distance and wore a mask. It was sunny and warm at the beginning of the week, and I sure missed my long walks with Chase over in Joshua Tree NP, and hanging out in the evenings with him and Kitty, Ben and Kirsten around a blazing fire. I was bored. I could have found some project(s) to work on in my van; I haven’t posted a YouTube Video in months. I have many stones that I’ve found and kept in order to wire wrap and make some necklaces. It would have been a good week to practice my wrapping techniques and make some gifts for friends. I just didn’t have much ambition.
I did however, make some time to work with Cosmo outside. We were in a huge, open area, quite a distance from the road in, which is seldom used. It was a great place to practice being off-leash and to play ball.
Most mornings, I went out first, letting Cosmo wait inside the door until I told him it was OK to come out. Then we worked on him staying close by as we walked toward the edge of the mesa where there where plenty of shrubs for him to do his morning business. I got out his ball flinger and we played fetch most days. He sure was built to run and chase things. Later in the afternoons I’d take him out again and just practice having him walk by my side and when I stop, if he stops and sits, he gets a treat. He is pretty good at that, but I think he too was feeling the effects of being cooped up in the van and he was often more interested in running between my legs and trying to tackle me than walking by my side. We still had fun, and I think it helped with bonding and training him to pay attention to me when he’s outside.
The weather was extremely windy early in the week. Chase texted and said he was leaving Palm Springs and coming east and wanted to stay with me in Ehrenberg before heading to Quartzsite. He came over Thursday and we made dinner. We both originally had planned on going to VanLife Pride on Friday, but the organizers were so annoying and controlling, needing to micro-manage the event in every way possible. They first said I wasn’t on the list and wouldn’t be given the coordinates to attend because I hadn’t filled out the proper RSVP form. I sent them correspondence we had had in December asking about the event (which I attended last year—a very nice lesbian couple had organized it ad they were so gracious and accommodating to everyone). I kept getting e-mails saying “Sorry, but you did not do it the way we wanted you to do it, and we’re only allowing 100 people…” Well, it was being on BLM land, so they couldn’t possibly limit who shows up. They (falsely) said it would be in Quartzsite and said they’d give out the “final location” two days ahead of the event. What? Their reasoning was that it was “for the safety of our queer family.” I found it odd that the organizers felt safe enough to emblazon their vehicles with various gay flags, rainbow stickers, and a variety of in-your-face gay logos, and yet they feared the secret location “falling into the wrong hands.” Wednesday night they relented and sent me the location and the list of rules. It was so restrictive, and so clear that these two dykes wanted to be in control of everyone I texted Chase and said I just couldn’t bring myself to be subjected to it all. He was having the same thoughts and when he arrived Thursday he pulled up the letter they had sent him and the more he read it aloud, the more he too was not wanting to go.
We pulled up stakes on Friday morning and headed to Q. We stopped for him to get gas at the cheapest gas station around, then on into Q for me to top off my fresh water tank and get propane. I followed him to “The Magic Circle” a clothing optional part of the BLM land in Quartzsite, and he knew where the gay section was (or had been a couple weeks ago.) We set up camp in a secluded area. The previous campers had built a bit of a maze out of rocks, and a very nice firepit and we got settled in and sat outside in the sunshine. Later we went for a long walk and explored. Although it was sunny, I had on long pants, long-sleeve shirt and a hoodie. No nudity when it’s below 60 for me. There were a couple die-hard nudists—older men (yes, older than even I am) sitting outside sporting pot bellies. Whatever floats your boat, right? We came back and made dinner, and played Farkle. It was a wonderful day.
I am so enjoying Chase’s company. We interface well, each doing our own thing at times and connecting up for morning coffee and meals. Sometimes one of us gets up and wanders off. Sometimes we sit outside in silence, just taking in the scenery or warm sunshine on our faces. We seem to not have to explain much to each other. We’re so often on the same page and I laugh at how often I would think something and Chase would verbalize it, or I’d say something and he’d say “I was just thinking that.” He’s easy to be with and a bit more of an adventurer than I am, pushing me to get outside my comfort zone sometimes on long hikes, or exploring things that I might otherwise take a pass on. It was a very nice few days.
Not much else to report, but wanted to share some photos.
Lessons From The Road: What worked last year may not work this year. I was so excited to go to VanLife Pride last year. I connected with several people, mostly straight couples. This year when the new organizers changed everything up and decided everyone would have to go by their rules, I thought back on last year and realized that it was fun because at that time I was mostly alone, and just being in any group felt like connection. When I thought of most of the people there, there was actually very little connection. And a year later, I’ve made real connections, with people who share similar likes, dislikes, and values. I don’t need to go to a place where there are going to be a lot of people I have very little in common with, especially when I have options to spend quality time with quality friends. I am very glad I resisted the urge to go to such an “exclusive event” where attendance was limited and I had to fight to “make the cut.” When I did make the cut, I decided I really didn’t want to belong to that club. It turned out to be a smart move.
I realized this week that I have really settled in to my more mellow lifestyle. A year ago, I was still in the state of mind that I would stay someplace for maybe up to a week, and I’d spend much of that week figuring out where I would go next. My life was mostly travel. I was a tourist on this planet, visiting places that I thought would be fun to see, or following advice from other travelers to go places that everyone else went. Now I’ve slipped into being a resident. I truly am feeling that wherever I am is home. I have been so comfortable slipping back and forth between Joshua Tree BLM land, Ehrenberg, and Quartzsite areas. It’s also nice to have consistent friends on the road. It makes nice places even nicer to share them with my nomadic family.