The end of July

A year ago I was living in Costa Rica. I've been traveling, or bumming around, for over a year. A YEAR! Here's a brief run-down for those who haven't been on the band wagon:
One and a half months working on an organic coffee farm in Rivas, Costa Rica
A week or so working at a hostel in the rural highlands of Chirripo National Park (one of the last buildings before the wild)
Seven months (off and on) at an intentional community in rural Missouri (meeting people who I will forever consider family)
Months/weeks here and there visiting Delaware and igniting travel bugs and dreams when I could
Went to five festivals without paying a dime after working/volunteering them (Langerado in FL, Summer Camp in IL, Wakarusa in KS, Bonnaroo in TN and All Good in WV)
Worked an a sheep farm in Lawrence, KS for two weeks
Spent two weeks with one of my best friends in Columbus, OH
Had numerous Greyhound/Craigslist ride share adventures
Met so many people that have to buy handfuls of post cards

The biggest thing is that I've gotten used to being alone and taking care of myself again. My health is much better than it was when I worked 40+ hours a week and was living the stress-filled American dream. I used to get sick every month, like clock work. I felt over-whelmed, closed in and sort of like a trapped rat. Now I am so much happier, healthier and fulfilled. Even if I was to go back to a typical job tomorrow my outlook would be totally different. I know what life is about. It's about enjoying it to the fullest. Our world is full of sadness and destruction right now, why not change it starting with yourself. Realize that all those pills your doctor throws at you aren't the answer. GO OUTSIDE and away from cars! Sit down under a tree and breath. Take off your shoes and feel the dirt. And no, you won't get a disease (well, maybe, here in Delaware). Breath, relax, listen to the birds, feel the wind shift, feel the connection of your body to the earth and breath. Our current society is running at a break neck pace...which mains sooner or later you are going to break your neck. Many of the illnesses and disorders that plague our society weren't even a issue until this last century. In this same time we've gone from horses to cars as transport, from hand written letters to email, from cherishing family to isolation via television. Why not give slowing down a chance instead of popping happy pills? But you need money to pay the bills right? Gas is too high to ask for an hour cut? I'm not saying you need to quit your job and be a vagabond. Take a sick day when you feel a little down. Ask yourself 'What do I really have to do today?' Take the long way home. Hand write a letter to a close friend instead of emailing - so it will take a few days longer, but I guarantee they'll love it. Enjoy life and don't fret. Life has its ups and downs, lefts and rights, u-turns and roundabouts. Just breath while you do go through with it.

I guess I am a hippie.

Delaware & Ohio

My time in Delaware was cut in half because I found a Craigslist rideshare to Columbus a week earlier than planned. The woman I rode with was very nice and good conversation was had when I wasn't passed out in the passenger seat. She had a sweet ride, an old 5-speed Saab. She dropped me off at my friend's work in the Short North (south of OSU campus in Columbus). The past week has been a lot of fun. I've been relaxing a lot, borrowed someone's bike, had dinner with WWM and Jenny, drank with my friend's parents, went bar hopping, went to ComFest (hippie type festival Cbus does every year), fell in love with a thrift store that had many things in my size, and many more things I can't recall. I've been trying to get a ride to Nelson Ledges to no avail. My CL ride that I had arranged last week canceled and I haven't had any luck since. Oh well. I'm heading to All Good Festival in WV next weekend. Volunteering with Clean Vibes again, always a great experience. Probably ride back to Delaware with one of the friends I have going. Stay there for a week or two and hang out. Then probably up to Camp Bisco in NY and Gathering of the Vibes in CT. Then to Hawaii. I have a farm stay arranged on the Big Island starting on Aug 30th.

My new tattoo