As we have been planning for our upcoming adventure, one of the dilemmas that had to be addressed was how to make the cat comfortable living in a small camper space with two dogs, the parrot and us.  As fate would have it, Leo decided not to go. He sadly passed away recently and will now join the journey in spirit only.

Whenever we have lost a pet, we like to reflect upon the lessons that that creature has brought to our lives and ask ourselves how we are better people for having the privilege of sharing part of our lives with them. Those who arouse intense feelings in us are potent teachers.  Leo, like all of the others, had a lesson to teach and we want to be sure to learn it, especially at this time of loss. We would like to share that with you what we think we have learned from being with Leo. Appreciating his gifts to us helps us to cope with the loss of his cheerful  and loving presence.

There is a backstory to Leo and how we all came to be together; a story of Chance Encounters.

Arnie and I were in the same class in high school. We were dear friends back then who took different paths in life. We each were married 25 years, single about 10, and then found one another again as a result of a Chance Encounter. As we grew closer and considered making a new life together, we faced a bit of a dilemma. I had two little dogs, a fussy old African Grey and a couple of cherished Bearded Dragons. Arnie had a huge orange bachelor cat; an only child who had not been exposed to many other people but him. We were unsure how we would combine all of the step children and be fair to all. Our commitment to our animals was uncompromising and we would not sacrifice anyone’s safety or comfort………..but we had to try. Animals and people sometimes get second chances for happy lives and, after all these years, this was our second chance for a happy life together.

Enjoying my second chance!

Fear not! Despite the fact that this formerly feral guy had to scrap and fight for the first part of his life, the bachelor cat walked through the door and took command of the household with a very Buddha nature.  Leo set the tone for tolerance and acceptance from the first moment in his new house with his new family members. He walked in, not with typical kitty arrogance, but with a curiosity and zest for exploring these new relationships. His gentle and sweet manner of introducing himself to everyone established a balance of equals among all of the other species. He intrinsically knew how to behave to be in right relationship with each and every creature he would now share a home with. He adjusted his demeanor to make everyone comfortable with the biggest guy on the block. He became the 18 pound gentle giant and not the feline bully that he could have chosen to be.

The Bachelor falls in love with the Princess.

As an added perk, Leo fell head over heels in love with one of the dogs, appearing not to understand that he was a cat and she was a Princess. He never gave up trying to win her affection, lying next to her, tapping her gently on the rump, chasing her joyfully down the hallway. Despite her typical Japanese Chin aloofness, it was enough for him to get up each day and see that she was there. He generously needed little from life other than to be quietly close to her. Here are the lessons we learned from our time with Leo.

THREE LESSONS FROM LEO

Lesson One:       Leo moved past his history and right into the present moment, seemingly grateful to be able to set a new norm and create more positive karma. He came to his present situation open and accepting that today is a new day. He taught the lesson that baggage from the past does not define our lives going forward.

Lesson Two:       Leo modeled how to choose to be a peaceful participant in his daily life and each of the others followed his example. He was the feline embodiment of, “As ye sow, shall ye reap.” Despite the challenges of living with all of the other animals, he chose never to be cross at anyone and always to be willing to step aside, taking their well-being into account.

Lesson Three:    Leo loved Hana. If Karma follows intention, he intended only to be in right relationship with the one he loved. He must surely have created some great Karma! What better lesson could we all learn?

Oliver is a confident soul for such a small  fellow without much experience in the Wild Wood.  Nevertheless, he set out one day to see what there is to see in the wide wide world. He probably left home, trotting off with much enthusiasm  for what the trek would hold for him. He probably never glanced back, because he was so excited by what lay ahead of him. With his eyes on the horizon, he just followed his nose and began a new story.

In our story, The Wind in the Willows, Mole took just such a trip for himself. “It all seemed too good to be true. Hither and Thither through the meadows he rambled busily, along the hedgerows, across the copses, finding everywhere birds building, flowers budding, leaves thrusting- everything happy, and progressive, and occupied. He could only feel how jolly it was to be the only idle dog among all those busy citizens.”

I can picture Oliver, wandering and prancing on his way to nowhere in particular. What a fun first day he must have had with all of the new sights and sounds! But, as the day came to a close and the sun began to rest for the evening, his tummy must have begun to speak to him and the shadows must have begun to creep closer. Car sounds, a lawn mower, golf carts whizzing by him……everything took on new proportions and Oliver must have begun to realize that he had been bewitched, entranced and fascinated with his trek that day, but as night drew near, it was no longer spell binding to be small, lost and alone. Tired at last, he curled up under a bush, wishing for supper.

The next day and the next and the next unfolded into a worrisome situation for a Oliver. Clearly, many days passed and things were getting grave. He had become pitifully thin and his hair had matted completely over his eyes, blocking his sight. The world, which originally seemed so welcoming and safe had become a maze of fields, fences and people shooing him away. His trusting nature was now more guarded and his anxiety was running high. Then, just in the nick of time, he had a Chance Encounter.

Chris is a friend of ours who always has a eye out for an animal in need. Her cohort, Judi and she rescue small dogs through VIP Rescue. One right after another they comfort them, clean them up, provide veterinary care and place them in loving forever homes. So, how coincidental was it that day when Oliver went skittering by Chris’s house looking lost and scared? Chris convinced him that she was one of the good guys and he came cautiously walking into her arms. After weeks of TLC to put some much needed flesh back onto his bones, Oliver now has the twinkle back in his eye. He’s healthy and happy again. He appears to be very grateful for his Chance Encounter with Chris!

What have I learned from Oliver? Well, Mole’s friend Ratty said it best, “Nothing seems really to matter, that’s the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don’t; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all. ”  I think Oliver’s lesson for us might be that we do not know yet where we will find happiness tomorrow. We seek and sometimes happiness is illusive. But when your instinct tells you that the Chance Encounter before you is one that will make you happy; walk into those symbolic open arms and be happy. We all deserve that, especially little Oliver.

Just for today, Oliver is safe, sound and happy where he is. If you would like to be a part of his continuing journey contact Chris at coopersmithchristie@gmail.com for the details on how to adopt this rollicking fun filled little grey beard who makes everyone he encounters smile.

Orlando, Florida is home to an amazing variety of ethnic eating.  Armed with a spirit of adventure, yesterday, we hit the road and ventured over to a local gem, Pho 88, a great Vietnamese restaurant in the Little Saigon section of West Colonial. Their Spring Rolls are just fabulous! While there, we stopped by our favorite local Asian grocery right up the street where we spent an hour lost in the world of exotic teas and sauces and scents.

We were specifically on the hunt for fresh Ginger root that can be found for literally half the price in the Asian grocery vs. the local  Publix. Ginger root imparts an earthy flavor to foods and we use it in our homemade chai tea concentrate. That’s another savings brought on by retirement. I’ve sworn off the syrupy Starbucks version of chai latte bought on the fly at the drive-through. Now we have the time to cook and eat more mindfully and the house is rich with the aroma of simmering spices.  Ginger, cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, coriander, peppercorns, vanilla bean and green tea all blend together to make an amazing drink. Almond coconut milk makes it latte and we use good old New Hampshire maple syrup to sweeten it in place of the traditional honey. Folk remedies often use ginger root to treat nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, colds, weight loss, rheumatoid arthritis and other ailments.

We brought home about three pounds and now will use the Florida sunshine to dehydrate it. If you are up for a challenge, here is how to go about making your own:

1. Rinse the ginger root in cold water to remove dirt and debris.
2. Remove the skin off the ginger root using a potato peeler.
3. Cut the ginger root into paper-thin slices, using a sharp knife or grate the ginger root, using a cheese grater. Spread the sliced or grated ginger root in a single layer onto a baking sheet.
4. Put the baking sheet full of ginger root right out under the sun. (Because we process so much at a time, we actually will spread the root out on a table covered in tin foil.) It can take from three days to a week depending upon the humidity. We turn the pieces a couple of times a day. You can also use a dehydrator or a convection oven set at 200 degrees for about three hours if you are doing smaller quantities. When you are finished store the dried ginger root in an airtight container in a dry, cool and dark place. You can use the whole dried strips or grind them to a powder in a coffee grinder or food processor.

And to John who told me that he would await this post with a cod in his mouth (baited breath), come on over and we ‘ll give you a sample!

Arnie just posted the ad for my beloved truck on Craigslist. Thought you all might get a kick out of it.

Toyota Tacoma Prerunner SR5

This is a rare buy. This single owner vehicle belongs to my obsessive wife who has pampered it for all it’s years. She has religiously changed the oil, maintained it like she might need to live in it someday and kept it hand waxed. She added running boards, an updated tow package, bed liner and fiberglass topper. God forbid anyone might ever even think of lighting up a cigarette or anything else in it. She’s kept the cloth upholstery and dashboard covered, so the interior is as clean as her kitchen. CD and cassette player, but you wouldn’t like her music.

It’s hard to think about camping in the heat of the summer. Actually thinking about it is really all we can do in the middle of the Florida June scorch. There was a day, when I would happily go into the woods and sweat it out any time of year just to be following the passion to camp. But time passes and so does the enthusiasm for sweaty nights in a hot tent. These day, I’ve traded in the tent for a big girl camper. I’ve become a traitor to the primitive camping lifestyle that I used to cherish not so long ago. Go ahead and throw tomatoes if you want. I don’t care. I even have a Margarita machine aboard, so I really care very little about anything those camping purist have to say now. I have abandoned my people for AC, a real toilet and a bed.

What I have not lost though is the hunger for new camping gear. I adore the anticipation of using a new gadget or tool. The L.L. Bean fall catalog arrives and I pour over it. I subject my dear friend Judi to stopping at the Bass Pro Outlet so I can ohh and ahh over the latest and greatest gadget. Because I am an undeniable gear head, some interesting new piece of equipment is usually added each season. This year’s new addition will be collapsible silicone dog bowls with suction cups to keep them from spilling. I am on the hunt for them.  But the very best gear year was a few seasons ago when I found a heart-stopping new toy in an unlikely place. Here’s how that memorable day went:

My friend Penny and I were scouting out the local Goodwill store and I spied the beast on an end aisle. Be still my heart. It’s a screen room that is brand new, never been used, still in the box and a beautiful shade of blue. The box says 6 x 6 and roomy enough for four people. The description brags, “Just pops up right into place.”  It is described as, “easy to fold and comes with its own compact carrying bag.”  My eyes glazed over like most women do when they find that perfect pair of shoes.  I was in shopping heaven. I couldn’t get to the cash register fast enough. Penny and I raced home with the anticipation of trying out how it “pops up right into place”. I simply couldn’t wait to see it spring to life in all of its big blue glory.

Saturday was a sweltering day, so Penny and I decided to take Big Blue into the living room where we could check it out in air conditioned comfort. We broke into the box and pulled out a tightly wound, spring loaded circle in a carrying bag. It was folded up exactly like the silver reflective sunblock screen that fits in your car’s windshield. The principle of the spring was the same. Easy, neat and compact. Penny prepared to read the directions while I just dove in with my usual reckless disregard for unnecessary instructions. After all, the box says, “Just pops up right into place.” And guess what………that is just what it does.

Who knew it was 6 x 6 and SIX FEET TALL TOO. In a millisecond it burst the confines of the tight fold that kept it in the bag, vaulted to full  size in my living room and took a beating from the ceiling fan. While Penny dissolved laughing on the coach, I dragged poor Big Blue away from the pummeling it was getting from the fan. Well, that was a good start.  In typical fashion, I had moved right on past the fact that the box clearly said, “CAUTION, do not open in a closed area.”, to get to the fun part.

Now, with the over sized monster open in all it’s glory, we began decorating. We imagined where we would place the camp chair, how well the small table would fit and exactly where the cooler with the Coronas would go.  We imagined how well those pesky mosquitoes would be kept in their proper place. When those important details and others were decided upon, we realized it was now time to face another challenge. Now we must put Big Blue back in the little bag. Remember how hard it is to fold up that windshield screen the first time? Make it a screen house and you can imagine what the next half hour was like.

This time I did my research first and read the directions. Penny offered to help, but I declined. I reminded her that I must be able to manage this problem because I camp alone (this was pre-Arnie). I must master this task. The directions are clear:  Walk one corner into the opposite corner, fold it like a  book, flip it upside down, bring the bottom edge down to meet the top edge, stand on the rim with both feet to stabilize it and lower it in an arc down to thigh level. Next, cross your wrists and push the corner into the center and it will collapse easily onto itself. Well, trust me, it is not that simple.

What happened next was the equivalent of an audition for a contortionist in the circus. I teetered and balanced, wrestled with it, laid on it, swore at it and it still sprang back up “right in place”. Every time I got it nearly compact enough to stuff neatly into the bag, it erupted to life again with a vengeance. With maniacal intent, Big Blue aimed for me. It meant to harm me. It meant to humiliate me. It had an evil life force and was apparently possessed. I was taking this beating personally.

After a humbling period of struggle, I did eventually manage to wrestle Big Blue into submission. I think I even learned a few valuable lessons from it. The lessons were about the importance of doing prudent research  before taking impulsive action, accepting help from others and slowing down to think through problems rather than just muscling through them.  And finally, I was reminded that most situations in which you feel under attack are not at all about you. Usually it is about  the other person (in this case, a spring loaded screen house) trying to gain their own position.

I went on to camp harmoniously with Big Blue for many seasons and finally  mastered the technique of coxing it in and out of its bag without incurring a black eye each time. This year, when I went to check the camping gear for wear and tear, I found that it’s life span had reached its limit. The heat and sun had rotted seams and it was no longer usable. I felt a certain sadness saying good bye to my old foe. But the good news is………I am now able to go out hunting for a new screen house. Penny, get ready! I’ll need your help!

Hello Folks,

For many months, we have been debating about the perfect place to cut through it all.  After a whirlwind year of turning 65, retiring and getting married, we were feeling the call of the open road and the need of a  Great Adventure. We settled on spending some extended time camping in South West Virginia and Tennessee’s Smokey Mountains,  immersed in the beautiful natural landscape. Here, we could clear our minds from the clutter of so many years of daily grind. So, that’s the destination. Now we just have to remember to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. We are glad that you’re reading along, and hopefully you will enjoy the journey and its lessons right along with us.

This week, we’ve been talking about building a supply list and contingency plans for when the chocolate runs out. How will we pack the groceries, what will we take? What food efficiencies can we create so that we keep the weight down in the camper but maximize our cooking potential? Or maybe we won’t even plan this part? Okay, problem solved. We will not be planning food in advance, as we usually do when we camp. On this trip we will be plotting farmers markets and farms along the route so that we can eat locally sourced and whole foods. It will be fun to step outside of our comfort zone and wing it. After all, the ultimate point of any Seeker taking any trip is to determine how we can be happy even after the chocolate runs out, is it not?

This is a new phase of life in which we challenge ourselves to wing it more, be more spontaneous and not worry quite so much about the “what-ifs.” or the chocolate running out.  After years of working in jobs which demanded that we be planful, thoughtful and careful, we are deliberately emulating Mole as he emerges from his den. After he finishes work, he “scraped and scratched and scrabbled and scrooged and then he scrooged again and scrabbled and scratched and scraped, working busily with his little paws and muttering to himself,   ” Up we go! Up we go! “Till at last, pop! His snout came out into the sunlight, and he found himself rolling in the warm grass of the great Meadow. That’s kind of what retirement feels like. It is an emergence from one existence to another. It sort of leaves you blinking in the sunshine.

“This is fine! “, he said to himself.”This is better than whitewashing! “The sunshine struck hot on his fur, soft breezes caressed his heated brow, and after the seclusion of the cellarage he had lived in so long the carol of happy birds fell on his dulled hearing almost like a shout. Jumping off all his four legs at once, in the joy of living and the delight of spring without his cleaning, he pursued his way across the meadow until he reached the hedge on the further side.”  That’s Arnie and I right now! We are jumping with joy that the world has given us this opportunity to explore and grow together.

Did you pick up a copy of The Wind in the Willows yet? For those of you with children, it’s a captivating tale to read together. For those of you who are childlike (that would include many of our friends), I promise it will be equally captivating.

Step out of that comfort zone and do something captivating today!

Arnie and Barb

Planning any trip is part of the fun! While in our heads, we are imagining a slow moving and pastoral version of the upcoming trip along The Crooked Road, the reality is that getting ready for this trip is anything but slow moving. In fact it’s a bit of a frenzy right now. I’m trying out new camping recipes and Arnie is pressure washing the house. We are getting  all of the supplies for the animals collected and organized. And let’s not forget setting up this blog………….. for all of you out there’ who told me it would only take me 10 minutes to get it up and running, your confidence in me was sadly misplaced.

Still, we are enjoying the preparations. The spring cleaning is leaving us feeling freshened & spacious. there have been multiple trips to the library to drop off books and trips to the thrift shop to drop off professional clothing that we are trading in for more relaxed retirement garb. Closets are being reorganized and cupboards cleared. The garden has been weeded, pruned and fed. We are getting closer to a feeling of having some longed for order to our days; order that was impossible with busy work schedules. There will be a tipping point soon when we are more focused on planning for the trip and less on playing catch up on all the long neglected home-ownership chores.

If you are following along with me and reading The Wind in the Willows as an analogy for friendship and human emotion, I am  thinking about how, in the first chapter, The River Bank, even Mole loses patience with spring cleaning. Even before his work is done, the good-natured fellow flees his underground home and pops into the fresh air above, beating a path down to the river. He’s never seen the river before and it’s here at the river that he meets his soon to be fast friend, Ratty. It is, with the beginning of this friendship that the wanderlust takes hold and the adventures begin. The two new friends begin to spend their days in and on the river, most of the time in a rowboat. They get along splendidly while Ratty instructs Mole in the ways of the Riverbank.

Soon Arnie and I will lose patience with our spring cleaning and preparations. We will be ready to lay down the brooms, the dusters, the ladders, the steps and chairs. Brushes and whitewash will be put away. We will be ready to take our aching backs and weary arms out into the light of day and ready to fling down the tools just like Mole did. We will say what he said: “Bother!”, and  ” O, blow!” and also “Hang spring-cleaning!” and bolt out of our own little house for that something above that calls us too.  Until then we will will continue our preparation, living with that spirit of divine discontent and longing that Grahame describes, all the while looking forward to symbolically rolling in the warm grass of a great meadow.

With Patience, Barb and Arnie

It’s Monday 6/8/2015 and a pivotal day for us. We are now both officially in our “retirement”, or as we prefer to think of it       “Re-Firement”. We are fired up and re-energized to now have the opportunity to reconnect with what’s important in life.

Arnie and I have some big plans and some not so big plans to look forward to. For those of you who know (and hopefully love) us, you are well aware that our plans, no matter what their size, often come with some interesting twists and turns.

Follow us while we sort out getting ready for a trip to explore the vibrant Atlanta, Ga. area for two weeks and then head out to travel The Crooked Road in a camper with all of the creatures in tow too. We are wondering what Chance Encounters lie ahead! Along the way, we will explore the wisdom of Kenneth Grahmne’s, The Wind in the Willows. Please feel free to read along with us and use this wonderful children’s classic as a model for living a vibrant life in the company of  friends old and new.