Letting Go

The Art of Dharma

October 3, 2009.  That is the day I closed the front door of my house in Eugene and opened the door to a new chapter in my life.  I can barely remember not living a life on the road.  Now, three years later....

I am glad I have kept a blog.  At times it has been uncomfortable sharing my life and personal thoughts with friends, family and total strangers but it has helped me remember the vast and huge life I have led over these years.  It helps me remember all the places I have been, all the people I have met and all the challenges I have faced.  This new life has certainly not always been easy, but easy doesn't promote growth, doesn't bring you to your knees or raise you to your heights.

Guy Finley made the following statement, "The secret of letting go is knowing that life will give you something better than whatever it asks you to give up".

And I have found that to be true.  I miss nothing of what I gave up.  I don't miss a spacious house.  I don't miss the beautiful objects accumulated over many years.  I don't miss having a car, a large bathroom or a fully stocked kitchen.

I have also had to let go of friendships and people I have loved.  Saying good-bye one of the hardest experiences.  It is a constant in my life.

In return I have been given countless friendships and encountered people from all walks of life.  I have explored land that has made my heart sing. Seen sunsets that are divine works of art and starry nights that made me feel small within such an immense cosmos.

I have been given time to read and write.  The gift of countless hours alone with myself exploring who and what I am.  Always in a state of transformation and initiation.

No, not easy.  But in the letting go, allowing the letting IN.

Just To Prove My Point

The bald man singing and playing the guitar in this video is the same man that was leading the jam session the other night.  Told you it was good music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er0E9spNLTc

Bald Men Jamming

Kiss, Kiss

I have never seen so many bald men in a park before.  Big, beautiful, shining hairless domes.  This park seems to have an over abundance.  And tonight when I went to a jam session, there they were again, amazing hairless musicians.  I have been to jam sessions before, but this was by far the best music I have heard.  I would have paid money to hear such good music.

I met a lovely woman at the pool yesterday.  We seemed to share so much in common and chatted non-stop until water polo began.  Her husband was there this evening, the lead bald man jamming and there she was, strapped into her electric bass guitar jamming right along with them.  Whodda thought?

So here is a big shout out to all you beautiful bald men out there, rocking and jamming and looking and sounding so amazing.

Buckeye, Arizona

Backyard View While in Needles, CA

I stayed in Needles an additional night.  The land is so amazing it makes it hard to leave.  And since it was a new moon the stars were another added bonus.  Feels like I haven't seen a sky like that in such a long time.  I also had a neighbor that I thought might be interesting.  I did have some wine and conversation with him, but come the next day I was ready to leave.

So now I am in Buckeye, Arizona.  My neighbor while in Lincoln City, OR told me about this park and I decided to check it.  I really did not want to spend any more time at the park in Mesa I have stayed the last two winters and I am happy to have found an alternative.  I like this park just fine.  It is smaller, quieter and CHEAPER.  It has a nice outdoor swimming pool, good internet and before my new neighbor showed up, the space felt big enough.  I will miss out on line dancing, but I plan to pick up water volleyball so it seems like a good trade.  I may even go play cards tonight.  Not sure about that one yet.

The park is Leaf Verde (http://leafverde.reachlocal.com/?scid=1471759&kw=8293008&pub_cr_id=7552712791) and it suits my needs for the time being.  They do not have cable so the funny thing is I am now back to watching football on my original 9" TV.  What a laugh on me.

At Least I Have a Tree

Best Story Ever

I find myself once again back in Needles, CA.  I was here three years ago and stayed at this very same park.  Nothing to write home about, I just loved the wide open land and mountains that surrounded the park.  I wasn't thrilled with the site they put me in and was thinking I would never again come back to this park, until I was asked to join the group of winter residents.

It was a large group, sitting outside freezing in the cold early evening temperatures, keeping themselves warm with wine and other assorted alcoholic beverages.  I was offered a seat and sat down to enjoy their stories and get to know my neighbors a bit better.  This was by far the best story:

A man, who was not there this evening, sold his Harley to buy his girlfriend some new dentures.  Then she up and left him.

Ok, maybe the retelling isn't as funny as when you are sitting around hearing it first hand, but I thought it was one of the funniest stories I have heard in awhile.  Maybe I was just too long on the road today.

I did have a very challenging, long day on the road.  It took me 30 minutes to find a gas station that was 5 minutes from the park I stayed at last night.  I needed help unlocking my gas cap because I was turning it the wrong way.  My electric step somehow no longer works.  I even needed help plugging into my electrical outlet (use two hands to lift up the outside unit).

It has just been one of those days.  One of those days where someone else's story seemed much funnier than my own.

Petaluma, CA

Maria and her husband stayed in Deerwood for a few days and it was during that time that I picked up my Aspect.  While they were there Stan unexpectedly got a job outside of San Francisco, bought a 5th wheel and headed South.  Hmmm...sounded like a plan.  And that is why I find myself so unexpectedly settled into a KOA park in Petaluma.

Maria and I have spent some time exploring the area and yesterday took the ferry to San Francisco.  My favorite part about the day was the beautiful country side we drove through when her GPS took us the scenic route, causing us to miss our intended earlier ferry time.  But it was an amazing magical, mystery tour and I hope we go back to explore the area. 

Because it was such a hot day, my other favorite part was riding the ferry back and forth to Fisherman's Wharf.  Other than that, I am not such a fan of big cities.

These are sights I much prefer:

Beautiful view of Mt. Shasta from the Weed rest area

Trees outside my front door

Petaluma Fountain

Maria and I sitting in front of that Fountain

Not much going on today other than the multiple times it took figuring out how to roll in my awning.  Dang I miss my power awning!