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I decided to take a quick trip to Arizona to check on my desert sanctuary. It remains a magical place for me, even in the infernal heat which reached 114F one afternoon this week. The best time to take a walk is around 6:00 AM, before the sun realizes you’re out. I hope to catch…

I’m feeling guilty for abandoning my responsibilities as a blogger. Partly that’s been because I’ve been busy with things that don’t seem blog worthy, or too personal even for me to disclose in so public a forum. Mostly I’ve been enjoying showing my friends and family the wonders of the Sonoran desert and feeling grateful…

At the risk of sounding pedantic, I feel like I am staring at the proverbial elephant in the room and choosing to step around it. I’m not quite sure how to deal with this elephant, but there it is, taking up an entire room in my psyche. I’m talking about the evil that’s taking over…

The past few weeks have been a combination of summer camp for older people (pool time at the recreation center, Italian classes, riding my electric bike through the neighborhood, desert walks) and health hassles and doctor’s appointments. I’m not letting it stop me. Savanna and friends from the north have been swarming down here—everyone eager…

The volunteering has slacked off due to the administration’s inhumane border policy. Casa Alitas is closed and even bus loads of migrants arriving from the US to Nogales, Mexico are slowing down. A group named Salvavision was having volunteers hand out hats and gloves, backpacks and snacks in Nogales at the repatriation center but the…

That was certainly the case for me last week. But though I’m back on track now, some might wonder where I’m headed. I’ve been standing in defiance of our new administration and continuing to volunteer at Casa Alitas (welcome center and clinic for asylum seekers) and Humane Borders (which provides water stations in the desert).…

I decided to join some actual nomads and play at being a mendicant (instead of the bougie owner of 2.5 homes that I actually am). So I trekked out to Quartzite, AZ, which acquired some fame due to a book and film entitled “Nomadland”. Many truly homeless people come in their vehicles to boondock in…

Well, it’s been a minute so what better way to ring in the New Year than to exhume the blog. Horrific politics and health issues notwithstanding, like the Everyready bunny (how many of you are old enough to remember that one?) I keep going. This has been a week! The weather in Cannon Beach has…

This year, in order to commemorate the 11 year anniversary of Miles’ passing into the Land of Peace and Repose, I decided to take the Nomad Moon out camping with my cat Dobby.  I always like to do something contemplative and private. Since I have taken precious few van trips this summer, I thought it…

Living on the Pacific NW coast brings its share of beauty and ruggedness, desolation and introversion. Some can hack it, some can’t. For my part, having experienced the stormy extremes of weather on the Oregon coast, I have joined the ranks of the fair weather coasties. Though I consider myself pretty independent, there is a…