A Visit to Florida

It's so nice to escape the dreary northwest winter (God bless it) and within a few hours be in the swirly humidity of Florida. Not only is it hot, but I'm reminded that not all life is dormant in the winter. Osprey are nesting on tall pillars. Gopher turtles scurry into sandy holes. Spanish moss drapes from tall cypress. Oranges are hanging heavy on the trees if they haven't already been harvested. Strawberries are in season and local festivals are happening.

Oh yeah, and I have also been vacationing in a nudist resort. There are no juicy details to share, just regular people who like to kick it in their birthday suit- year round. I think the fact that these folks live in a resort is more striking than the fact that it's a nudist community. The residents here are some families and mostly retired people. Actually, only married couples were allowed here until about 25 years ago, to promote a mellow, family-oriented vibe.

They are bonded by the fact that they like to have the freedom to be naked- which doesn't mean they always are, just that the option is there. Actually, with being so acclimated to the Florida weather, most resident nudists are wearing clothes if it's below 72, and inside with air conditioning if it's above 90. The resort draws all different kinds of folks, from a former head of the NYSE with his shiny kajillion dollar RV and hummer, to people who want to commune with nature and pitch a tent at one of the rustic campsites. What I really like about the lifestyle it is that it promotes an awareness of your own body in a healthful and non-judgemental way. No one has a perfect body, and since no one is hiding it, then no one is self-conscious, and you reach a totally new level of comfort.

Also, since the weather is so nice most of the time (there are more nudists per capita in the county north of Tampa than anywhere else in the country) most people spend a lot of time being active outside. These are the fitest retirees I've ever met. The other day I got a tennis lesson from a 71 year-old in amazing shape. He pointed out a man on the court next to us playing doubles, who was 85 (and looked 60). "That man has 14 YEARS on me, and look at him!" my instructor exclaimed. "Keeping active is the way to stay young."

So I've been enjoying the facilities, swimming daily, running in the woods, learning petanque (French-Canadian version of Bocci Ball), sunbathing, watching volleyball matches, and in the evening when it gets chilly in the 60's, taking a soak in the hot tub.

I wish I had some photos to post, but taking pictures here is strictly prohibited. For obvious reasons.

Happy V.D.

For the 5th year, I took part in the madness that is Valentine's Day at a flower shop. It was a great excuse to come to Bellingham and see old friends and co-workers, and get lost in piles of sweet-smells for a few days. Despite the long hours, we have a blast in our warehouse of creativity.

You talk to lots of people and hear about their lives, which is part of why flower shops are an important part of community. You might make bouquets for a man sending flowers to his wife of 40 years, or a husband in Iraq to his new bride, or a sister to her sister, or a dad getting a small bouquet for a young daughter. My favorite story though was from an older man who hobbled into the shop, eyes watery. He wanted to get a plant for his neighbor woman across the street. He explained that her husband had drowned a couple years ago while they were on vacation in Hawaii, and she was 6 months pregnant with their first child. His wife of 50-some years had also recently passed away. While the neighbors hardly knew each other at the time, they ended up bonding over their similar losses, and as he was also a pediatrician, he could answer her questions about the new baby. Now they have dinner together every Saturday night. He reminded me of how close love is to loss, and that sometimes the best relationships are unconventional.

The old man leaned in close to tell me, "And we're just good friends, there's nothing, you know, romantic going on." Well, I had assumed as much based on the age difference, but I thought it sweet that he made a point to clarify. I assured him that a plant was an appropriate "friendship" valentine gift, and the man wiped his eyes and left the shop smiling.

Winter Vacation

I've decided to take a break from the island for the rest of the winter- to work in Bellingham, see family, and do some traveling. I'm looking forward to a change of scenery, and just as much looking forward to returning to the yurt in the spring. I had a lovely last day here- horseback riding followed by a farewell dinner. It was a mostly outdoor meal, undetered by rain on a cozy porch, around a grill and fire. There were oysters with tomato-wine piquat sauce, mashed potatoes with summer's pesto, root veggies, grilled blackcod, steamed chard, and homemade chai with milk milked hours before from a local cow. It was a wonderful feast.

Here are a few more recent photos from this winter...

Doing my Reluctant Part to Pollute

Not to toot my own horn, but I live a lifestyle of pretty light environmental impact. I haven't owned a car for 5 years, instead cycling, walking, mass transiting, or sailing to get around. I lived off the grid for half of last year, only using minimal light generated by a solar panel. I eat almost entirely locally during our growing season, including produce, honey, and meat from Orcas. As much as I love Spanish wines and Argentine malbecs, I make a point to buy Washington wines and even San Juan vineyard or Lopez ones regularly. I compost, buy used clothes, and always bring my own grocery bag and coffee mug.

As hard as I try to minimize my consumption of fossil fuels, I bought a car today! It feels like a regressive step in a way, but a big move forward in others. I'm pretty excited to not have to ask for rides, bicycle in the pouring rain, hitch-hike in the dark, or take city buses loaded down with bags. It's a maroon '85 Toyota Camry, and looks pretty much like this one. It's a 5-speed that should get good mileage, and I bought it from the original owner who took great care of it.



Oh, and I've vowed to keep my front seat clean so I'm always ready to pick up hitch-hikers and start repaying the transportation gods for all the times I got great rides.

Mental musical exercise

I'm learning an instrument for the first time in my life! It's the baritone ukulele, and it totally rocks. Forget your assumptions about how ukuleles sound- the baritone is different, more like a small, 4-stringed guitar. I love to sing, and it is so satisfying to be able to accompany myself now. Having such small hands, I always struggled with the guitar, but the moment I picked up the baritone uke, it just felt natural. It feels accessible, and yet I have to remember that learning a new instrument takes time, and even simple chord changes challenge my brain more than it seems like they should. I'm stoked and I can't thank Jon Manning enough for introducing it to me over bubble tea.

(Out with the old) In with the New!

"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage."

I've been waiting excitedly for this day since the election 2 and a half months ago. I even considered going to DC for the inauguration, but decided against the cold, crowds, and chaos. In the end I stayed on Orcas to bask in the day, and listened to Obama's speech online while at work.

"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."

Then my friend brought me champagne and orange juice at work for celebration mimosas(drank later off the clock). In the evening we went to a community party with families, good food, and a life-size Obama cutout.

A few of my favorite lines from the speech-

"Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

"We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do."

If you want to read the full text of Obama's inauguration speech, it's at
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/us/politics/20text-obama.html

Happy New Year

The ringing in of 2009 was fairly mellow. Kevin and I hiked up Turtleback for sunset, looking west to the orange changing to dark blue over Vancouver Island. Then we got Thai food and watched a movie, going to bed shortly after midnight. New Years Day my friend Elizabeth came up to visit from Seattle and we headed out to Doe Bay for a hot tub soak, sauna, open mike music night, and hubbard squash/gouda pizza.

So far I'm feeling great about 2009. In the spirit of the end of the year, I've made a Top 5 list of the best and worst parts about living on Orcas Island.

TOP 5

- THE NATURAL BEAUTY:
Who wouldn't want to live on a pristine, remote island, surrounded by forests and farmland and sparkling water and bald eagles and leaping Orca whales?

- THE SMALL COMMUNITY:
I've lived here less than a year, and already I feel like I know a solid chunk of the residents. At the grocery store you invariably see a whole bunch of friendly faces. It's a comfortable place to try new things, learn skills, and see the close-knit fabric of a small town.

-THE RELIANCE ON BOATS:
There are more boat owners per capita in San Juan county than any other in Washington. I've done more sailing and kayaking in the last 6 months than my whole life combined. Fishing and crabbing are practically out your front door. You get to take a beautiful ferry ride to get to the mainland.

-RURAL LIFESTYLE:
There is no bustling stress of big city life, no traffic or pollution. Nights are truly dark and quiet. I've taken to ALWAYS carrying a headlamp with me, because you never know when you will end up at a house down a long, unlit driveway. Parties are often quaintly tied to the land, such as "biomass parties" (an excuse to get your friends to chop wood), or cider pressing parties.

-THE FEELING OF SAFETY:
I will walk anywhere at night here. We never lock our houses or our cars. If you leave a cell phone or a wallet somewhere, not only will you get it back, but the person who finds it will probably be your neighbor's daughter's math teacher.

WORST 5

-THE NATURAL BEAUTY:
The hard part about being near less developed land is to constantly see it disappearing. It is more noticeable when trees are cut to build a mansion that will only be lived in for 3 months out of the year. Less development also means less services, resources, and higher prices. For any medical emergencies, people must be airlifted to the Bellingham hospital. It's hard to shop for affordable, everyday items. Gas is reliably a dollar more than on the mainland, but you can't exactly just go to a different gas station.

-SMALL COMMUNITY:
Sometimes, it's just too small. You want to date some one til you find out that they have already dated your best friend, landlady, barista, and yoga teacher. If you drink a beer with some one at the bar, people will assume you're dating and every one will know. Like within 2 hours.

-RELIANCE ON BOATS:
Have you ever missed a ferry? It throws your whole day off, as you often have to wait 3 hours for the next one. If it's a busy time of year, you don't want to get out of the ferry line either. And last summer I was late to work more than once for trying to commute by sailboat returning from a weekend sailing trip.

-RURAL LIFESTYLE:
Cider pressing parties? C'mon. I just want to see a concert, or go to a movie theatre or an art museum or an author reading or have an excuse to wear something besides jeans and a down jacket. There are small happenings out here, but I do miss the cultural events of larger cities.

-FEELING OF SAFETY:
Sometimes it is a false sense of security. Sure, violent crime is uncommon, but there have been a substancial number of breakins to cars, homes, and business in the last few months. I was assured that I didn't have to lock my bicycle, yet it's been stolen here- twice. Granted, I did get it back both times. Thanks to the fact that it's such a small community.

Snow... It's Treacherous!

That mild fall weather changed lightening quick. Holy snow storm batman! This has been the longest stretch of cold and snow that I can recall in my life of Pacific Northwest winters. Having such extreme weather in our mild climate means we are mostly unprepared, and everything shuts down. Pipes freeze, school gets cancelled, and just getting to work is a sketchy prospect. As Gerrison Keillor said in a recent "News From Lake Wobegon", the thing about snow storms is that they're an excuse to not do anything. 'I was planning on going to the meeting, but I can't go out in this- it's just treacherous!' I finally had to park my bicycle and take to tromping around in the ever-present icy whiteness, in its strange mix of serenity and chaos.

Latte Art Part II

Just a few more of my creations with foam and crema...

Fall Into Winter

It's been a dry, mild fall, so much that I've still been working on the farm into December! But the days are short and nights are chilly. I've been spending a lot of time with my roomates, making big house dinners and doing crafts by the fireplace. There's been some beautiful foggy days and gorgeous (early!) sunsets.