Phase 22

I'm calling this phase 22 because my life has been made up of many phases and this is only one more in a life of strange and wonderful adventures.

I am getting very close to one more big transition. As of August 1st, 2009, I will be houseless. I call it houseless because I will never consider myself homeless. No matter where I am or whom I might be spending time with, that will be my home. I am trading in my apartment in Sunnyvale, California for a backpack and comfortable shoes. Ok, the shoes are no different. I always wear comfortable shoes.

I had planned on doing something along these lines in the future. The future came quick. I had two important things holding me to the current phase of life - my mom and my daughter, Sam. With the passing of my mom in March and Sam's decision to finish High School early, I find myself completely unattached.

So, in possession of my health, some sight, the time, and resources, I'm off to Guatemala...again. My plan is to leave around the end of September. Until then, I will be throwing away, giving away, selling, and donating all of my material possessions.

August and September include some couch-hopping, Burning Man, and lots of family and friend time.

My first three months in Guatemala are loosely planned. I will start in Antigua, where I will reconnect with the many friends I have made from my travels there. I will spend some time getting reacquainted with the language and the culture in Antigua before moving on to Lake Atitlan. I am looking into taking some massage classes while there. Oh yeah, did I mention I will be taking my massage table? I hope to continue my practice while travelling. After Lake Atitlan, I will be headed for the northern part of Guatemala. A little more remote and out of the way. I will be staying at a wonderful place called "Finca Ixobel (ee-sho-bell)", a 400-acre farm where I will be residing in a treehouse for November and December. Yes, I said a treehouse. Since I have not been to this place, I'm not sure what to expect. But, if I had to guess, I see my days full of walking in nature, practicing Spanish, reading, eating, swimming in the local natural springs, and doing massage. This place has many travellers from around the world, so I expect I will be meeting a few interesting people, as well. And, I plan on kicking off my shoes and going barefoot as much as possible.

Here is the website for Finca Ixobel, if you are interested in seeing where I will be: http://www.fincaixobel.com/

The Road not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

- Robert Frost