Living Many Lives

"And now for something completely different."

That's what Dave says when we are plopped down into a new life. Since we are nomads, this happens often.

Right now we are playing farmers in the Santa Cruz mountains, housesitting for friends.

Dave gets up early each morning to feed, water and let out the chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. He does the same at sundown, herding them into their enclosure.

He feeds the rabbits. He gathers eggs. He cuts flowers and fills the house with color and fragrance.

We pick berries, plums, nectarines, peaches. We pull greens from the garden.

Using this fresh food, I've cooked stir fry, berry cobbler, and crunchy kale. Dave uses the dinner leftovers for breakfast hash. I'm making smoothies every day. Coming up: Plum pie, and potato salad made with hard-boiled duck eggs.

It's very satisfying to recycle everything. When I cut off the tops of strawberries or root out a rotten nectarine, I set them aside for the animals. Eggshells, banana peels and peach pits go to the worms that make fortified dirt.

When we first got here, I felt a little overwhelmed. How were we going to pull this off? But a day or two later, I was into the swing.

Laundry on the line? I can do this!

I love watching Dave take to the next "completely different" thing. He doesn't complain or worry. He just goes for it. He becomes it.

Living so many different lives is challenging me to become more flexible and resourceful. I'm learning how to suspend judgement, and to trust in my creative powers.

 

Today, I root myself here. Yet change is a constant, waiting in the wings. "Something completely different" is always around the bend--not only for nomads, but for us all.