It wasn’t a really tough decision. Green Edge emailed me. I read it, said “holy crap” and told Robert they offered me the job. Then I wrote back and accepted it pretty much right away.

This was after wishing for a few minutes that I wish I had more time back in Seattle before making such a big decision. But, I had made up my mind already. It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up.

The only thing I didn’t like about it was having to leave so quickly. I was offered the job on 8/14 and I had previously agreed to be there by 8/31 if I got the job … and the two weekends between the 14th and the 31st were already spoken for. I didn’t get to say goodbye in person to several people who are important to me – Kevin, Nazma, Geoff, Carol and Mario to name a few! These are people I spoke to almost every week if not every week. I feel bad I’ve left them behind. I had to do what I had to do, though, and it is certainly not like I will never, ever see them again!

Needless to say, my life has been fun and interesting over the last few months and downright crazy for the last few weeks. I am really looking forward to getting settled at the farm and for all the craziness to die down!

My last days in Seattle were a blast, even though I didn’t get to see some folks. Mainly, because I was in Robert and Amy’s wedding!

I was honored to be a groomsman, but I don’t have any pictures of me in a tux … though I have a feeling there will be some. The wedding was good, no one fainted or tripped. However, there was one slight slip up by the wedding party during the complicated catholic service … but the wedding coordinator finally gave us the tip to get back up to the alter and in place! The reception was fine. Not crazy at all, not to late.

I did have a moment when I got back to Robert’s place with his tux. After I got my tux off and ready to be returned back in it’s bag, I had a few moments to myself. I broke down a bit and even shed a few tears. I was leaving this place and these people. It didn’t really hit me until then – until after the wedding, after taking off the tux, when thinking about where I was going that night and what I was doing in the next few days. It’s hard to believe this was not even a week ago! A week ago tomorrow, yes, but it’s hard to believe it just happened and I’m already so far away. I was struck saddened for a moment knowing I will be in a different place in a week, and that Robert and Amy are truly my best friends in Seattle! I guess that kind of thing happens after an emotional wedding afternoon. I’m really happy for Robert and Amy!

And, I’m looking forward to Ohio! I have no idea what my online status will be at the farm. I’m sure I’ll be posting something again in the next few weeks with details.

I can’t say I have really had time. I just haven’t made time. There have been plenty of hours sitting in front of the computer. Most of them have been spent researching other places in the USA to live, how to get to those places and what would I do with myself once I got to those places.

The rest of the time over the past months have been spent working at Sun Island Farm three days a week. From May through mid-August we had wwoofers on the farm – Sophie, Jeff, Samantha and Jennie, whom all made my time there a lot lot of fun! At one point, Sophie, Jeff, Samantha and I were all there at the same time, which made living interesting in the container. But it worked and we all had a blast! I did some work for Dr. Bob Norton, building things, some irrigation work, planting stuff. We’ve done some great stuff on the farm. When I left things were growing like crazy, when I get back it will probably look completely different!

There have been days spent in Seattle, dinners with friends on and off the island, lots of hiking, some backpacking trips, and even a golden parade. It’s been a great summer, and I am really really really glad I did not make the move to NC I had written about long ago in my last post.

So, the current update:

As I’m writing this, I’m sitting at my sister’s house in Minneola, Florida. It’s hot and humid outside and I’ve spent more daylight hours indoors in the past few weeks than I have in a couple years combined. Florida is hot. Damn hot. And sticky. And flat. But at the same time very comfortable and fun. I’ve seen the best of old friends and spent a good amount of time with them. I’ve made gestures and thought a lot about seeing other friends, but I’ve got only so much money and so much time. I’ve really enjoyed seeing my brother and sister. And, had only a few good days spent with my Mom right when I got here.

My trip to Florida was primarily to help out my brother, who is in the midst of a divorce. There’s a lot I could say about this, but it’s best that I don’t. Mainly, I helped him move out of his apartment and into his new living situation – now he is living with my sis along with her husband and almost-three-year-old Cam. I will say I am slightly jealous of the situation because they will get to spend mucho amounts of time together (which I don’t get to have) and all my nephews – Tyler, Aidan and Cam – will have an absolute blast when they are all around.

There is definitely a part of me that wishes we all were under the same roof again. Being around my brother and sister, there is a relationship like no other – I relate to them and feel a comfort being around them that I do not feel anywhere else. I miss that.

However … I don’t think it’s enough to bring me all the way back to live in Florida!!! If only it weren’t so damn hot and flat. I’m just not compelled to make the move all the way back.

Which brings me to the other point of the trip. I hopped in my mom’s aging Nissan 200SX and headed north. I left August 2 and got back late on the 7th. Aside from a minor electrical breakdown on I-95 in South Carolina that delayed me for almost a day, it was a great trip. I swept through the Appalachians on a mission to put my feet on the ground in a few places I have been considering moving to. Asheville, North Carolina, Athens, Ohio and Charlotte, North Carolina (in that order). It was a great little adventure of 2000+ miles of driving, couchsurfing, camping, exploring and even an interview. 

Asheville was great. Pretty much what I thought and was hoping it would be. The night I got there, I met up with my couchsurfing host, Jason, and his girlfriend Monica and went to a potluck. Apparently one of the multitude of weekly potlucks that Asheville is famous for. It was a great first impression as everyone I talked to was really great. Very friendly and doing interesting things. All were very welcoming and encouraging. The next day Jason, Monica and I took a fabulous bike ride around Asheville. We stopped for coffee and did a nice bike tour of the city. I like the terrain a lot – it’s hilly, but not as extreme as Seattle. There’s green everywhere. Lush grasses and lawns, beautiful front-yard gardens and trees everywhere! We met up with another couchsurfer, Katie, chatted for a bit and then walked to Greenlife, the local PCC and Wholefoods-like stores. Greenlife was nice, a little pricey and over-polished – just like the Seattle organic stores. I picked up a few things and we all chilled outside for a few minutes listening to a busker jamming on guitar out front. Once we had our fill, we pedaled downtown, grabbed a cookie at a sub-street level cookie shop called Sugar Momma’s Cookies!  We stashed the cookies in our bags and headed off for the banks of the French Broad, where we dispensed of most of our clothing and took a dip. After the refreshing swim, and with thunderclouds looming, we sped back towards West Asheville and had some delicious Mexican fare. We chilled for a while. Jason and I hung out at his place for some hours, exchanging music, talking about life, living, work, eating, etc. Napped, read, prepared, etc. Then we went to a great local eatery for dinner that night, meeting back up with Monica and Katie and with Katie’s friend (who I can’t remember her name…) Dinner was great, then we went to a blues bar for a beer. A pitcher of PBR, an awkward dance, a glance at the watch and we were out of there. I was planning on leaving at 5 am the next day for Athens, Ohio and wasn’t going to get much sleep as it was! 

Great time in Asheville. A big plus by that one. I can definitely see myself being there!

So I got up bright and early on the 5th and headed towards Athens. The drive was amazing. Western North Carolina, Western Virginia, Western West Virginia and yes, even Southeastern Ohio are all absolutely gorgeous. The six hours from Asheville to Athens went by really quickly. My main goal was to get to Athens to see what the Wednesday Farmers Market was all about. I made it just before the closing time at 1 pm, arriving about 12:30 after touring downtown Athens hoping to simply run across the market … I neglected to write down directions to the market, but ended up asking someone on the street for the info. The market was bigger than expected. Athens was a larger town than expected, too. I started counting the farmers at the market, but lost count after I got to 10. I guess part of me was hoping Athens was an untapped market of sorts, but there is no shortage of farmers. However, even having gotten there right before closing time, there were a fair amount of people still shopping. And, after having a great conversation with Angie Starline about their Starline Organic farm and the market, Athens and such, it seems the market isn’t really saturated – at least not with organic farmers … and the Saturday market is a whole different story. Bigger, better, etc. I scored some sweet corn and cherry tomatoes while talking with Angie. I also picked up some delicious strawberries from another vendor and ate ever single one of them over the next day and a half. 

After my market stop, I had plans to meet up with another couchsurfer – Kelly. She was working at a coffee shop, off at 1:30 and was willing to show me around a bit. We had a really great time! She was a great tour-guide – taking me to the places I would have wanted to see without me really asking to see them. We have a lot in common, which is what made her such a great guide. She’s moved back to Athens four times now, I think. Which is a characteristic of the place I’ve heard from others – it has a strange magnetism that keeps bringing people who’ve lived there back. Of course, I think it’s the great community that is going on there. I’ve just heard rumors, though, and can’t say that yet from experience! Overall, though, Athens is definitely a place I could spend some time in. 

There were two other big things I was to do in Athens – visit some property in Dyesville and meet and interview with Green Edge Gardens farm in Amesville. The property is Dyesville is the first property I’ve really looked at on my quest to find my own spot on this earth. It’s a nice spot. Right about 30 minutes from Athens. It’s potentially a little too remote for me … the central “village” of Dyesville isn’t much to look at. An old church, a few other houses, and mostly decaying trailer homes. There are some houses in the hills and woods around Dyesville, but they are mostly secluded and not visible from the road. I could probably go on and on about the property, and the 1887 house that’s on it, but I’ll link to the pictures instead.

After camping out in the pasture, I headed back to Athens, got coffee at Kelly’s shop and headed to Green Edge Gardens. Amesville is a nice drive from Athens. Amesville itself is a bit more substantial than Dyesville, but still a teeny dot on the map. I met with Dan at Green Edge to inquire about a position that is opening up there. One of their interns is making an unexpected early departure at the end of August. So, they are looking for someone interested in working with them from late August until Thanksgiving. I had previously contacted Green Edge about an internship there and was on their mailing list of potentials. The timing was perfect! I had already been planning on seeing Athens, and it fit right in to my trip. I think the timing of the position will work too. It’s something to bring me east, give me a place to live, put a little bit (and I mean a little bit!) of money in my pocket, and give me a chance to experience southeast Ohio without much commitment. And, mostly, to get some incredible experience on a bigger, very successful farm.

Green Edge is awesome. It’s what I’m looking for in a farm at this point. It’s not “big” per se, but bigger than anything I’ve been on both in scale and in sales. I’ll let their web site do more explaining about who they are and what they do.

Anyhow … this is getting long. I’ll try to summarize the rest … after Green Edge, I headed straight south. I had one more stop on my trip – Charlotte, North Carolina. I had a couchsurfing host lined up there and it was six hours away! I got to Charlotte no problem, hunted down Dave and Hannah, my couchsurfing host and got to spend a bit of time in Charlotte. The reason I had Charlotte on my list is there is a decent Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Center there … and I wanted to see if my gut would like Charlotte or not as I really knew nothing about it. Dave was a great host. We hit the bar that night, played some pool and once again I had a stellar couchsurfing experience. Charlotte is yet another place I could hang my hat (though it’s low on the list), if only for a while.

Electrical?

Huh? It might be my next direction. There’s not really a short way to explain this one. But it makes sense – when I first went to college, I was enrolled in an “Electronics Technology” degree. Essentially the program was electrical engineering without all the math. The program tanked due to not enough interest. I have always been interested in wiring – initially mainly just car stereos, home stereos, etc., but at Sun Island Farm, working with Joe on some electrical work (and some solar stuff) I realize I have a long-lost interest in such things electrical. The electrical trade is a quite flexible one, and the energy industry is one of those things that is never going to go away and is going to expand, if anything. People will always always need electricity. Renewable energy has long been an interest of mine, and is now finally becoming a national and global interest. The time seems right to me, albeit possibly slightly behind the curve, to follow that path once again. Hence, the interest in the Charlotte JATC. However … I did not even stop by and talk to them (because I previously communicated with the training supervisor there and he was on vacation …)

What of Seattle?

So what does all this mean, then? Actually, I’m not sure yet… Why? 

As of today, Green Edge has my references and they are interviewing other candidates. I’m pretty hopeful of getting the position, but am not fully inclined to take it even if offered. I won’t know until Friday at the latest. And that’s the only real opportunity I have in the East.

Mainly because part of me is still looking for a reason to stay in Seattle. It will be really really hard to leave there. The trip I’ve been on to Florida was mainly to see if I can find a reason to leave the Northwest. There are plenty of them, for sure. But man, does Seattle have some gravity to it. And, they have a really good electrical apprenticeship there too. Seattle has just made such an impression on me, and is the place where I feel like I really created myself and who I want to be. I will surely be that person anywhere, but it was most definitely the influences of the people and the surroundings there that have made me.

Realistically, though, to get what I want I feel like the east is where I need to be.

I was a horrible photographer this weekend, though. I didn’t take my camera to the conference at all. I wasn’t really sure what I’d do with it there. I went for a walk Monday in Bellingham and snapped a few shots along the way, but that was it. I didn’t get photos of either of my couchsurfing hosts or any of Fairhaven! Silly me. I’m not sure why. I just didn’t think about it … maybe it’s because I think I will go there again and spend more time there.

First domestic couchsurfin’

I couchsurfed the whole time I was in Bellingham. My first host, Jessica, wasn’t even there for two of the three nights I crashed at her place. So awesome! She just left me the key and I slept there after the conference. She got home on Sunday night and cooked me a really awesome pasta dish with some of the produce out of her own garden! Her gypsy peppers were better and redder than the ones we grew at Plum Forest!!! Then I surfed with Jim and Rick in Fairhaven on Monday night. Man I wish I had taken some pictures! Jim and Rick have a great house in a great location with an amazing garden! I also met their friend Mike, who was great company and my tour guide around Fairhaven. Both experiences were absolutely great. Just such amazing people couchsurfing hosts are!

Farming, farming, farming

The conference was pretty amazing. So much information. Too much information, really, as conferences usually are. It was awesome to be around so many like-minded people. Everyone I met was really easy to talk to – we all had so much in common!

Over the course of the conference, there were five workshop sessions. Each session had five different topics to choose from. It was so hard to choose! I was really happy with all my decisions except one. Here’s what I did:

1. Nutrient Management and Soil Ecology
2. Local Marketing: Two Multifaceted and Complimentary Business Strategies
3. Greenhouse Propagation and Season Extension
4. Pest Management of Slugs and Cabbage Maggots
5. Efficient and Appropriate Use of Farm Equipment

The last one, #5 was completely mis-titled. The description says the presenter would “concentrate on those pieces that our operation uses the most and which are of greatest benefit to us.” Which he certainly did, but his presentation had absolutely nothing to do with the title of “Efficient and Appropriate Use of Farm Equipment.” It should have been titled: “What equipment Mike uses on his 35 acre farm and what he thinks of it.” To me it was especially inappropriate because one of the first things he told us is that they use a very traditional tillage method on their farm – meaning they run their tractors over the land many, many times plowing, discing, fertilizing, rotovating, cultivating, etc. etc. etc. when every piece of sustainable agriculture knowledge I’ve heard and read is for the most part against such tillage practices. Anyhow … it simply didn’t have one iota to do with what I’ve done or will do with farming.

That little rant aside, the conference was just awesome. I met so many folks, talked about so many different farms. Ate some good food, tried some great wine and got to meet people I’d heard of and conversed with over email, but had never met before. So great! I especially remember Autumn, whom I got to know through several conversations about farming and her farm in Oregon. She bought one of the herb pots I’d been eyeing on our dinner tables. I didn’t get out of my last session in time to buy one before they sold out! Thanks Autumn! You rock! These herb pots were on some tables through out the conference. They were 4 different kinds of herbs – in my case sage, rosemary, mint and thyme – in a terra cotta 6″ pot. After the conference was over, rather than throwing them out, they sold all the pots and leftover food that was unused.

Officially in business

The other big thing I did in the last couple weeks – I’m officially a sole proprietor doing business as Wilson’s DesignWorks! I took the plunge after I errantly forgot to ask a client to make the check payable to “Steve Wilson” and got a check made out to Wilson’s DesignWorks. That prompted me to take the step to make what looks and acts like a business into a business. I just hope it’s not going to cause me any heartburn … tax or headache-wise!!!

Moving on

I’m moving to Sun Island Farm this weekend to start work with them November 17. I’m really looking forward to it! I’ve got some heavy-duty Carhartt rain work wear now and am ready for the elements like I have never been.

I just wish I could get used to this time change!!! It is so darn dark at 4 pm! I’m tired and ready for bed by 8 pm!

While that’s not a good or bad thing, necessarily, it’s amazing how many things that lyric can apply to all at once. Mainly what I’m applying it to right now is my love life. Or, now, my lack thereof. In my last post I mentioned Alissa from Chicago. Well, she’s back in Chicago for almost a month now. And, things have changed. It was different when she was here, apparently. Sure it was! I don’t know what it is or what happened, exactly. Of course I want to say it was on her end, but who knows. Maybe it was my fault.

In any case, I’m bummed and disappointed because – I truly felt with her that I had found what I am looking for. After she had left I thought, possibly incorrectly and mistakenly, way to much about what I ought to do to keep things fresh and interesting between us. I felt like, I really want to hang on to this girl. I mean, it is not like I was calling her every day, or emailing her every day, or poking her on Facebook every day. We talked every once in a while on the phone. I sent her an email here and there. I asked twice in an email two weeks apart if she’d had any more thoughts about me coming to visit. (Which, I thought would be crucial to anything lasting.) I mentioned a visit once on the phone and got very positive response (not so much with the emails). Also in an email I tossed around some travel ideas, about meeting in Chicago and going on a trip, or her joining me on a motorcycle trip somewhere. Or various other ideas.

But I guess I pushed it too far. Pressured her a bit more than she wanted. Had I known that she doesn’t feel up to a relationship, I would have never kissed the girl. I mean, you can’t ask that before can you? Wouldn’t that ruin something?

After feeling so good about the connection between us, I felt really stupid to find out she’s essentially not interested. How does that happen? The only thing I can think is that it was all in my head (which, everything is, really). She showed interest in me too (fleeting or not, maybe I need to be able to tell the difference?)

How do people find each other and stay together?

I guess 2000 miles between you at the very beginning (i.e. days after) of a relationship isn’t the best thing for keeping things going. And, finding out if the other person is looking for the same thing you are (a relationship) is key, I guess. I don’t know what to do now. Do I let it go? and if she wants to rekindle something later, renew my interest then? She knows how I feel about her and my desire for there to be an “us”, I’m pretty sure. Do I call? keep in contact?

Damn.

Any secrets?

For the moment this recent occurrence has made my future planning easier. I’m now planning my motorcycle trip down the west-coast. I may have the first wwoof farm already lined up. I’m putting some feelers out for freelance work.

I still don’t have even any vague plans about 2009 yet. Although, they could involve a drastic move away from the Northwest. Or could involve extensive two-wheel traveling. Either way I think farming will be part of it.

Send me some freelance work if you got it!

Aside from better sales, Rob shared with me the nifty method of keeping a running tally in my head of what a customer is buying, rather than trying to add everything up when they are done picking out their produce. It worked wonders! Duh. Sometimes I am so slow on the uptake. Doing this reduced my sucky math stress to nil! There were also fewer people browsing and more people buying.

We were in a different and better spot at the market yesterday too. I didn’t think about until just now how our location might have affected sales. We were at the end of a table next to Seabreeze Farm on our right and Lavender Sisters on the left, closer to the sidewalk entrance of the market pavilion. On our side of the pavilion, anyway, we were the first and only produce vendor, I think. We ended up selling out of almost everything. Which, here’s the list of what we had:

• Artichokes
• Bok choi
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Salad mix
• Garlic scapes
• Patte D’Oie salad (pronounced pot dwah, a mix of beet greens and spinach)

The only item we didn’t sell completely was cauliflower. Of which, all the prettiest heads sold and only the floret pieces we chunked off from uglier overall heads didn’t sell. And they were pieces of cauliflower that even I wouldn’t buy, so it’s not a surprise they didn’t go. I was sort of surprised, though, because last week our cauliflower was the second thing to sell out (right after broccoli).

After the first market Rob mentioned the idea that our sales would hopefully be higher this week because people would remember us from the week before and might be more inclined to buy from us again, or buy for the first time if they didn’t last week. I think this idea, coupled with our location probably helped a lot.

All this farming and going to market stuff got me thinking yesterday about my experience at La Chalaguere in France. I went to the archives to see what I wrote and found that I really didn’t post much of anything to my blog. And, for as much as I think about the place and enjoyed my time there so much, it’s too bad that I didn’t share more about it!

Mainly why I was thinking about La Chalaguere is that this time a year ago I was there! It is satisfying to me to know that this time last year, what I’m doing now is what I hoped I would be doing at this time this year. The main things that are different this year versus this time last year is the scale/size of the farm, the location, the relative success at the farmer’s market, and the lack of a secret affair with a french farm girl … all of which I miss! A neat similar thing about Plum Forest, though, is Rob speaks fairly good French and we grow quite a few French varieties of vegetables.

Anyhow … I’m not sure what else to post right now. I’m on the verge of writing a huge long rambling post, but I’ll save you from that. Today is Sunday and it’s gray and cool out and it’s a great day to just do nothin. There isn’t anything I have to do. Maybe a few things I feel like I should do. Definitely a thing or two I wish were easier to do (like see Dana). But I don’t think I’ll get to any of them! Maybe I’ll call my siblings and mom …

end of the day update: After thinking so much about La Chalaguere, I decided it was time to just call them! I fired up Skype and rang. I got to talk to Granville and Stella, but unfortunately missed Cia by just half and hour. It was really good to talk to them!

I’m a bit tired, a bit shocked and a little overwhelmed with where I go from here. But, regardless, it is good to be back in Seattle. I’ve really missed this place.

Later, I’ll post more about my better experiences in Florida, with adventures thereabouts. I just can’t right now. Must rest … more jetlag … ugghhhh.

My brain and energy and enthusiasm are still in Europe. I’m a bit overwhelmed with the transition, I think, and have moments where I really don’t know what I’m going to do next. My bank account tells me I need to pick up some freelance work immediately. My travel bug tells me I need the next new adventure. But all I can and want do right now is relax and rest and readjust. I’m not in a hurry to do anything. So much has changed and so much it going on, it’s hard for me to do nothing with people to see, places to go and life to live.

I’m staying at James’ house, and it is a great place to veg-out – high-speed internet, plenty of dvds, music, beer … it’s also not near anything and without transportation here, I’m going nowhere fast, which is ok for now.

I had a great last day in London. I left Jim’s place about 8:30 Sunday morning and made my way further west to the Brentford area to stay with Sarah, who I met at Kerry Alternative Technology in Ireland. She graciously offered to put me up for a night! We ended up hanging out most of the day, chatting, eating chocolate croissants, cooking stir-fry, etc. She had a penny-whistle lesson/course to go to in the afternoon, and I chilled out at her place while she was there. Then in the evening I met her in Hammersmith (on the way I encountered some interesting flooding) and we headed to South Bank to meet up with some friends of hers.

I had a great time with them, and it was a nice way to spend my last night. We walked along the Thames, stopped off at a bar near the Globe Theater for a drink and then had dinner at a great Turkish restaurant called Tas Pide. Good stuff!

After eating, we all walked a bit more along the Thames and came upon a rave of sorts. The tide was out and there was quite a crowd out enjoying themselves. Quite a cool scene. We joined them, only taking in the scene briefly, as Sarah and I had to run to catch the last train from Waterloo to Brentford.

We chatted a bit more, had some tea and I showed some photos from my wwoof adventures. I wish I had more time to spend with her! She’s beautiful and interesting and I think we have a lot in common. I had to get up early the next morning to catch the train to catch my plane. Which, I did without a problem and even got a free train ride because I couldn’t buy a ticket! All the automated machines take only chip and pin cards. I did find one cash/card machine, but it only accepted COINS! I’m guilty of dodging fare – come get me! ha ha … It was only 9.30 GBP, so I didn’t skip out on too much.

The flight was smooth. I ended up sitting by two cool people. Ruth is an almost 30 web designer from Scotland and Mike is a teacher from Embry Riddle in Daytona Beach, FL. Virgin Atlantic is such a great airline! They keep you well fed and well hydrated are very attentive and the entertainment options are pretty good too. It definitely makes travel nice.

We arrived a little early. Customs was easier than expected, thankfully. There was a slight mix up with who was picking me up – I was looking for Lynn and Jeff and James comes walking up! A surprise, but good to see him and Sam, nonetheless.

So, that brings me pretty much to now. It took me most of the day to write this post. I started it almost first thing and got sidetracked so many times during the day and had to take a nap in between. I tried to join WWOOF USA, and did, I think, but their web site is pretty crap. I didn’t even get a confirmation email! I thought about offering to help, but I really am not sure if I want to do any web design at all. Maybe it’s just my jet lagged mood right now.

I’m off to my sister’s place in Minneola tomorrow and it will be great to see them and little Cam. I’ll be closer to other friends as well, Darin, Ryan and David, so it would be easier and quicker to see them as well. I definitely still need sleep!

My visit to London will only be two days long by the time it’s over, but I will hopefully be able to see most of my friends here, including some new acquaintances. Tomorrow I’ll be hanging out and staying with Sarah, who I met at KAT in August. And, I’ll be trying my best to meet up with Christina, if only for a quick cup of coffee in the afternoon. Today I met my old chap Trevor at the National Gallery and we had lunch and strolled around the British Museum for a few hours. I had wanted to try to see the Terra cotta warriors exhibit, but it was sold out. After we’d had enough culture for one day, we went to the Museum Pub and had a pint. It was great to see Trevor once more and say goodbye. I hope it’s not the last time I’ll see him, but he is old and I don’t know when I’ll be back. We’ll stay in touch at least.

After that I headed back on the tube and Jim and I went out for a tremendous meal at a local restaurant in Chiswick called FishWorks. The food was great – we had a whole baked sea bass and misc. starters and sides. It was yummy, and after a day of missing breakfast and a late lunch, I really enjoyed it.

My last day at Greenhill Farm was good. Mary’s father Bob showed me how to stack the peat turf neatly for storage (following the peat tossing/loading from the day before). I packed a couple 15 Euro vegetable boxes for pickup and helped harvest for an order delivery. It was great, but I probably would have enjoyed it even more had I not been excited and nervous about leaving in the evening. I had a little bit of stress trying to figure out where I was going to stay in London, though. I had called Trevor to arrange a stay at his place, but in the end I wouldn’t have been able to get the connections right to hop on the tube to get to his place. Luckily Jim (old room mate from Seattle) came through again and let me crash on his couch for a couple nights. His excellent girlfriend Michelle is coming into town tomorrow, so he’s obviously kicking my out, and I’m willingly leaving, so they can have some alone-time.

The journey from the farm all the way to Jim’s went well, though. Getting from Stansted airport to Jim’s was probably the closest I’ve ever been to stranding myself inadvertently – I just made it on the train in time from the airport, and I just made it in time to catch the last tube to make the last connection out to Turnham Green on the District Line. It was all just in time, and Jim was even waiting for me on the sidewalk near the underground station waiting for me.

John and Mary were very excellent and generous wwoof hosts. They even stuffed a few pounds in my pocket as I was about to leave. Shannon, their 11-year-old daughter even waved 20 Euros at me just as I was leaving, but I had to refuse. They really took care of me there, and the farm was such a great learning and inspiring experience, it was difficult to leave. I will say it was easier than I thought it would be to actually leave, but I think it’s mainly because I have an important flight to catch and I’m looking forward to being in the states … yes, I said it … I am looking forward to being in the states. I have a great idea of what I want to do, and I am really looking forward to doing it.

Anyhow … it’s late and I’m not thinking the best about what to say. It seems like this post is a bit discombobulated because of my fatigue. Everything is cool, though, and other than getting to the airport on-time for my flight Sunday, I’m all set. Lynnie is picking me up from the airport! Check out my flickr page for hopefully all the latest photos.

I fly to London from Derry on Thursday the 27th. I’ve arranged to stay with Trevor, the chap I met in London in January. Then I’ll try to see what London friends I can. Martin from the African safari will be out of town, so I’ll miss him. And, I haven’t heard from my German friend in London, Christina yet. But, I may have just emailed her seldom-used email account and she hasn’t gotten the message yet. I hope to stay a night or two with Sarah, an excellent and interesting person I met at Kerry Alternative Technology shortly before I left. And, I fly out of Gatwick on Sunday! a week left! Shit. Time has been absolutely excellent to me, but it is coming to an end quickly for me and Europe.

Anyways … I’m not looking forward to leaving Europe, but I am looking forward to being back in the USA. Now more than ever I am looking forward to continuing the lifestyle I’ve found and will make it my new way of life. I still have a lot to learn, and will be looking for a place to land (as well as someone to land with …) and am looking forward to starting something new as soon as possible. I will return to freelance web design for a time at least, although I don’t anticipate actually enjoying it too much. It is necessessary, though and I will just have to ration my time accordingly. Doing shite I don’t want or like to do isn’t worth it anymore – there is more to life than being miserable and since I can live my life anyway I want it, I will! Just like life is too short to eat crap food, it’s too short to waste time doing what you don’t want to do. This has without a doubt been the best times of my life!

I’ll upload photos as soon as I get to a faster connection!

It was a bit of a drive, about an hour I think, from the airport to the farm. It was pitch dark, so I couldn’t see anything, but it was a comfortable place. We had a small bite to eat and then off to bed.

So, this farm is just as different from all the rest as all the rest have been from the others. It’s an Ananda Marga center – which, I still couldn’t explain to you what Ananda Marga is, so you’ll just have to look it up for yourself. Whatever the case, they do a happy-dance meditation two or three times a day. I joined them once, and it’s nice and energizing and inward – a kirtan singing/dancing session combined with a long, quiet meditation. I haven’t repeated yet, and not sure I will, as meditation for me isn’t a group thing and not a three times a day a this particular time thing either. Maybe one more time I will. I had hoped there was more yoga going on, but they don’t have as good of a space for it as I had hoped (low cielings). Not even yoga mats. Whatev, it’s still nice to be here. We eat well, the house is heated and comfortable, everyone is nice and the work is varied and interesting.

Time is flying, though, but some days I don’t even think about how little time I have left. Which is good. It is going to be quite something to return, and I go back and forth looking forward to it or not.

Anyways, everything is cool. I’m here and settled for the time being!