“And maybe it’s the time of year
Yes, and maybe it’s the time of man
And I don’t know who I am
But life is for learning
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion-year-old carbon
And we got to get ourselves
Back to the garden.”
― Joni Mitchell
Soundtrack for a Sunday morning…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76f5AKIVIu0&list=PLB61i3YZPrMpIgzyVDM_jbCzpAlJwcB6v
Monday was superchore day. I did every chore known to a van dweller. After doing dishes and packing up my bike, tent, table, chairs, cacti, and solar panels, I drove down to LaPosa south entrance and filled my fresh water tank and dumped my trash. I headed over to the Visitor’s Center to pick up my permit sticker for the LTVA only to find out that the center was closed due to the Government Shutdown. I’ve already paid and got a receipt, but need the sticker for my windshield (or maybe not, if there is no one to enforce it?). The sign said “We are here sporadically through the shutdown. If the flag is out, come get your sticker.” I decided not to worry about it, and drove into town to get propane, then over to Ehrenberg where I signed up for a shared PO Box with Bonnie. Then off to Blythe, CA on the other side of the Colorado River and got groceries and picked up some Kung Pao Tofu from Chinese Garden. Then I drove to the Ehrenberg BLM where Skoolie Palooza is held to meet up with Bonnie. It had been nearly 2 years since I saw her last because she was absent from our usual spot last winter due to shoulder surgery. We picked up where we left off. From day one, Bonnie and I have had a connection. We keep in touch even when we go separate ways during the summer months, and so meeting back up, as joyous as it was, was still quite uneventful. We seem to always be together in spirit.
After a short visit, I drove across the dirt road, found my usual spot and set up.
I easily got level, unpacked my solar suitcase and table and chairs and put out my Huachuma Cacti to soak in the harsh desert sunshine. I ate my tofu and had intended to go back to see Bonnie, but was just feeling burned out. I texted her that this old man needed a nap and of course she understood.
Tuesday morning was the exact opposite of superchore Monday. I slept in until after 7:00, and took my time with my morning coffee, emails and playing NY Time’s games. About 9:00 Cosmo and I moseyed (OK, *I* moseyed; Cosmo pulled and tugged and raced to get his treat) over to Bonnie’s van. We sat in the early morning shade on the west side of her van and solved all the world’s problems (as we always do. You’re welcome.) and marveled at what good friends we had become and how easily we spend time together. It was very nice.
I went “home” for lunch and returned some e-mails. I happened to look out the window in time to catch a most gorgeous sunset.
The rest of the week was easy and uneventful. As in years past, Cosmo and I go visit Bonnie nearly every morning, and return to the van around noon. Sometimes we sit outside, sometimes take a walk. It’s peaceful here. And quiet. And on Thursday evening as the sun set, the crescent moon was not far behind, falling behind the mountains in the southwest.
Lessons From The Road: Life should be easy. Life IS easy, unless I choose to make it otherwise. I’ve decided this winter I will spend more time with like-minded people. If there aren’t like-minded people nearby, I’ll move somewhere that I can stay alone. (My dad used to say anytime one of us kids farted, “Better an empty house than a bad guest.”) I do “alone” very well and need to remember it is far preferable to a nice spot with annoying neighbors.
I’m traveling this winter. Not far, but probably often. Instead of tying myself down to the Magic Circle, I’ll use that as a base camp where I can dump trash, get fresh water and buy propane nearby. But only a half hour to the south is KOFA which I enjoyed immensely when my friend Jonah came to visit in years past, and only 20 minutes west is Ehrenberg. And in Quartzsite itself, there are a half dozen options besides the Magic Circle. I think I’ll check some of them out this winter.