Another near-perfect week in Ehrenberg. We started off with some cooler temps and rain. I think that’s pretty rare in the desert especially at this time of year. But with the rain, comes beautiful rainbows.
The AZ desert is such a study in opposites. The ground in many areas is like a moonscape. It is rocks and fine dust, but it is broken up with brush. I guess if I’m going to live here for the winter, I should find out what these trees or bushes are. They pop out of the rocky soil. Some are green, and others seem lifeless and brittle. It feels like a harsh environment, but that is almost always countered by the spectacular sunrises and sunsets, the moonrise over the mountains and of course the night sky with Jupiter and Mars being prominent, and Orion making its nightly appearance. The Milky Way is a sight to behold. The past several nights, when I awoke after midnight, I happened to look out the window to see if I could see the moon (and get a guess at what time it might be) and instead of finding the moon, I just lucked out and saw a meteorite both nights. The sky never disappoints.
Cosmo and I have settled in here. The stretch of land we occupy is sparsely populated. For a few days over the weekend, we had rigs pull in to the right and left of us, and a couple giant Class A motor homes pull in just down the road, but even they were far enough away to allow for some privacy, and they all left on Monday.
Bonnie and I have developed a routine of visiting most mornings. When Bonnie opens her van door (nearly identical to my van) and sits outside, Cosmo and I wander down and visit. Bonnie is easy going. She’s funny. We sit and talk and when there is nothing to say, we just sit. It’s so nice to have made a friend that I can feel comfortable with just sitting in silence.
My van is in a state of “All systems go” and I am grateful every day for the luxury of running water (hot and cold), a furnace that warms the van up quickly on those cold mornings (It’s gotten down to near freezing several nights), and my propane fridge is now lighting first time, every time. I’ve gotten a system down so that my solar panels charge up my batteries to the optimal level each day, in spite of the short days, the sun being so low in the sky (that angle makes solar collection way different than it is during the summer months) and even some rainy, cloudy days.
The upgrades and reorganization that Richard and I did in October are paying off. Now that I’m used to where everything is, I absolutely love the new arrangement. We purchased an assortment of baskets that fit perfectly on the newly-installed shelves, and each holds a category of my belongings. There is one basket for soaps, shampoos, conditioners, etc., and one for medicine cabinet stuff like ibuprofen, band-aids, anti-biotic salve. There is a container that fits efficiently on one shelf that holds Cosmo’s kibble, and one that holds TP, wet wipes and personal hygiene products. This week I found at the dollar store some Yardley disposable washcloths. They are large, pre-moistened, alcohol-free wipes, big enough to wash from head to toe on those days in between showers. It has been too cold for me to shower outside, so once a week I’ve been going to the local laundromat where they have steaming hot showers for $10. I get to wash and condition my hair and beard, and just enjoy the unlimited hot water pouring over my body, while at the same time having my clothes in the washer.
Everything I need seems very close here in Ehrenberg. The town is small and rundown, but there is a dollar store, the shower and laundry, and Bonnie turned me on to a drinking water kiosk. Blythe is just across the Colorado River in California, and what I can’t find in Ehrenberg, I can surely get in Blythe. They have a very nice Albertson’s grocery store and kitty-corner to it is Smart and Final which has a nice produce selection and very reasonable prices.
I’m content. Life is easy, pleasant, and for now, without worries. I like being somewhat settled. Last year I had plans to move to attend this or that event, and I drove to new places too often. I’d just get settled in, and it was time to move. This year I’ve discovered that just because one is a nomad, there is no reason to move every week. Seasonal moves just might be the way to go for me.
Lessons From The Road: I’ve been very aware this week of how much I have that I once considered the necessities of life, but now I have learned that they are indeed luxuries. Last year I was in Anso-Borrego for New Year’s Eve. It got very cold and windy that night. In the morning, I took my coffee outside and chatted with a couple of young men who were camping with our group. They said “Damn! It got cold last night.” I said, “I know. My heat kicked on.” They both looked at me incredulously and one said, “Heat?” And the other said “Kicked on?” Both were staying in old cargo vans, without insulation, no running water, no heat and certainly no thermostat. All of a sudden they looked at me like I was Bill Gates. I had it all. I’m constantly aware of (and grateful for) how much I have. When I start to forget, my van reminds me by the heat having a hiccup for a couple of days, or my water pump going out. I realize that I could live with a propane furnace. I’d just have to get more blankets and wear heavy sweats to bed. I could also live without running water; many campers carry jugs of water with them for drinking and washing. I had started to take running water as a given until my water pump was out for over a week before I replaced it. Now, every time I turn the faucet handle and water comes out, I rejoice in the miracle that is running water. When I wake at night because I hear my furnace “kick on,” I smile knowing I’ll stay warm, just like I assume Bill Gates is. When I heat up milk for my morning cappuccino in my little frother/warmer, I smile at the luxurious quality my life has. My van is tiny, but it has everything I need and then some. I’m grateful for all of it.