10 Days with Steinbeck
Throughout the summer, I scheduled several coffee dates with old and new friends, sharing my hopes and dreams for my first year of retirement. You know… the plan to rent my home, travel for at least three months, and live with family in the space between. Each person I met with (and shared my most favorite beverage in the world with), offered a nugget of information or a fresh idea. These precious drops of love buoyed me as I nervously ticked off the days of September; “My plan” was kerplunking.
Fortunately, several of these conversations led to fruitful opportunities: a wise friend talked me out of my original plan to spend 3 months in Florida, a very generous friend offered a month-long stay on his sailboat docked in Longboat Key, and another friend helped me land my first house sitting job in Jamestown. The best tip of all was to try FurnishedFinder.com which is where I found my two fantastic tenants in late September!
I had a week to move out and believe living in Jamestown for 10 days helped prepare me for the next jolt: packing up and handing over the keys for a full year. The island held me as a mother holds a child before sending her off to her first day of kindergarten. There was a deep sense of peace and community.
Biking to town for coffee and writing, while eavesdropping on a nearby table of male townies, was oddly comforting and delightful!
One Sunday afternoon, I biked around Fort Getty and coasted back into town, skidding to a stop as the pulsing beats bounced out of the iconic Gansett. Without an iota of trepidation, I locked my bike to the railing and danced my heart out before heading back toward my temporary palace. Such a fantastic, spontaneous Sunday afternoon!
And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Steinbeck, a small, stocky pooch with a huge personality who became one of my best teachers. This dog was a little sage!
These are a few of the rules Steinbeck lives by: Drink lots of clean, freshly filtered water. Live at your own pace. Ask for what you need. Honor your boundaries. Move your body every ten minutes or so. Be patient. Meditate. Sit and observe. Keep a steady routine.
On a deeper level, Steinbeck’s lessons parallel many of the those from a book I’m studying titled Training in Compassion, by Norman Fischer. In the eighth chapter, The Discipline of Relationship, it states: Don’t be phony. Abandon hope. Don’t be so predictable. Don’t go so fast.
Steinbeck had carpeted steps up to the bed I slept in. However, throughout our entire time together, he tentatively slept by my side for a whole 10 minutes. My final lesson: don’t jump into bed with any ol’ Tom, Dick or Patty.
Our teachers are everywhere. Thank you, Dear Steinbeck. It was a pleasure.
So I leave you with my latest plans for solo travel:
November: Sarasota, Florida, to live on a sailboat
February: Tamarindo, Costa Rica, to attend an 8 day yoga/surf camp before transferring to an AirBnB
April: Isla Mujeres, Mexico, to attend a yoga retreat before boarding a bus to Tulum.
There have been so many angels assisting and supporting my journey. In fact, the whole universe is conspiring in my favor. My cup is full, my heart is full. I am grateful for each and every one of you!
p.s. And even if this all goes “kerplunk” I am thankful for the practice of weeding through and getting rid of old stuff: things, beliefs, and behaviors that no longer serve me. This kind of “leaving” shakes it all up and one is forced to hone in on what is supremely important.
Only Love.
