Jennifer and I spent another day together, going to lunch by the beach, walking out to the water and feeling it soothe me on many levels, getting facials, and running errands while talking constantly when we weren’t laughing. It was another sunny day in the low 80s … until about 8pm when the sky opened up for a at least a half hour – long enough to flood my counters beneath the screens and drip down to the floor.

I was sitting on the other side of the garage all that while, in a wonderful conversation with my host that ended with me giving him his first tarot reading. He couldn’t figure out why the cards all made sense. I credit spirit.

He just shook his head when turned down the kind offer of water and electricity, saying I was practicing serious boondocking. Retired from the Army, he camper has way more creature comforts. Last year I would not have chosen a place without being able to plug in. It’s been four days now that I’m living off the sun and I am so excited. It’s almost like a game: How long can I live on the three 20-volt plugs, cold meals, quick showers and limited computer time?

Also tonight, a wonderful neighbor who is a law enforcement officer tried to help me with the bus weight verification problem, but with no success. One more try and I will throw in the towel for the sake of my sanity. 

Thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow, I get to do laundry and shower at her house. Saturday I will check out a market near where I’ll be parked in Cassadaga before heading west to Trenton, to a smaller version of the Jesup camp. Starting February 21, I will attend a weeklong Skoolie Swarm, boondocking with something like 100 other skoolies at a youth camp where I will most likely fall off the grid. I find myself looking forward to it as a birthday present to myself. (Aren’t they sometimes the best kind … when we allow ourselves to do what makes our hearts sing?)