Winding Down

All Guests Received a Smile on a Stick

I was up early this morning.  Early enough to attend my first (and last of the season) coffee and donuts event.  It started at 8:30 AM, which is why this was my first attendance, and by the time I arrived at 8:32 AM there was standing room only.  Nothing like free coffee and donuts to bring out the masses!

This is my first year here and by a show of hands I am definitely in the minority.  For most people this is at least their 3rd year and one older gent has been coming here for 15 years.  The sites and some other aspects are not ideal, but the people are what make this place a destination year after year.  I will miss them and would not hesitate to come back again.  There was a outdoor dance on March 17th and it felt like the end of summer camp, that time when you know you will be returning home and you are remembering all the good times you have had.  It was a very emotional evening and not just for me.

I have decided to fly to Eugene for two weeks and when I return on April 8th most people will be long gone.  I have attended my last line dancing and only one more game of water volleyball remains.  I will sneak out in the dark hours of the morning and avoid the many goodbyes that I always find such a challenge but I have added many fond memories to a long list of people I have met and enjoyed.

Anything is Possible

I am so in love with this video that I just had to share:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FYxl2iWPIA

Big Wheel Keep On Turnin'

The conversations still tend to revolve around food, but the new conversation is now all about "when are you leaving?".

Some of us have been here for quite a few months.  Because this park is smaller than most of the other Arizona parks we have bonded over water volleyball and line dancing and with the weather getting warmer and Canadian visas expiring....well, it is just time to start thinking about who is leaving when.

And my answer to that is.....I DON'T KNOW!

I didn't realize I was so set in my ways until March rolled around.  In all previous years the middle of March found me winding my way back to Oregon with a summer workamping job lined up somewhere in Oregon.  That is not going to happen this summer.  No heading back to Oregon in March and no workamping job for the summer.

I have a general idea of what my summer will hold, but it shifts and changes daily.  I don't know when I am leaving Arizona, but when I do the plan is to revisit New Mexico, spend some time in Colorado and then make my way to South Dakota to change residency.  I am excited about exploring new territory but there are mountains along the way so I don't want to get there too early and be subject to Spring storms.  The slower the better.

Then my dream begins. My vision of joining a traveling healing arts festival becomes reality for the rest of the summer.  Where and when are still being developed but every step has been filled with creativity, amazing people, wonder and magic.  They are coming from around the world to join this caravan and I will be one of them.

When I submitted my application video I said "I am a one-man-band that has been waiting for the Philharmonic Orchestra, and you have finally shown up".

Gonna be a good summer :).