I just found my new favorite spot to sit and write. In the kids area. Since I added another pillow, found a good perch for the light, enough room for Rhea, and a bar of dark chocolate next to me. I could probably use a blanket for the dog and I, and there it is. It’s about the little comforts after a long day of play.
A regular morning routine inclusive of a run to fill our 7 gal water jug. Atreyu started whining and pleading early. He wanted to go to the Aquarium.
I’d gotten a hold of my friend Haley yesterday. She lives in the area with her husband and kids. I met them two years ago in Quartzsite while they were still traveling, wrapping gem stones (really Javan is much more talented than I. He makes fancy art that is intricate and elegant), living out of their RV. Now they have purchased property and are in the works of building a cabin.
They have a membership to aquarium, zoo, and botanical gardens. So I bided the kids time with books and coloring until Haley made it into town and we all entered the Aquarium for free. Javan had stayed at home so it was Haley and four kids and me and the boys. They had a blast running all around, examining all the different fish.
After the Aquarium, we went to the bus and had some lunch. Haley took her kids to the grocery store and returned with a friend named Pauline and her daughter. Off we went into the Botanical Garden which features a Bugorium.
After we got out of the creepy crawlies we were on our way to the inside gardens, but two of Haley’s kids had a melt down. So the boys, one of Haley’s daughters, and I headed into the beautifully warm greenhouses together.
The kids insisted on going into the desert exhibit first. We’ve been in the desert for two months now. I’m getting sick of it. Here I am walking around more pockey’s I’m not allowed to touch, not because they’re pokey but because they’re being grown ON PURPOSE! Go ten miles out any direction and you’d see that exact environment, but they put a glass house around it. It was actually a nice exhibit. I really like warmth and the air smelled fresher once we were through the doors.
But it was nothing when compared with the beautiful aroma of the Mediteranean green house. All kinds of beautiful tropical flowers in all shades and guess how many pictures I took? none! I was so busy absorbing the aroma grown so densly with such longed for humidity. And then the three wild children running around, getting under peoples legs. Definitely no time for pictures. I can assure you it was breathtaking and highly recommend checking out a garden near you.
On our way out, we observed a butterfly. He flew right across our path. The butterfly enclosure is still closed because it is too cold for them yet. But one butterfly in bright yellow fluttered right over the heads of the children. We followed him. And he landed, and posed for a photo. Can you see him?
It was right about 3 PM, so we had another two hours before these establishments closed. Atreyu gave a little nudge and we all caravaned over to the Zoo.
We looked at al the animals in fast forward. The thing we spent most time at was the playground. I was surprised by a Polar bear coming around the corner right as we entered the view of his window.
Haley invited us up to her property. Atreyu was by no means done playing with the kids. I oblige my kids in so many ways, I really don’t feel guilty when I do ask them for their patience.
Their property is on a hillside and finding a parking spot was pretty hard for me. A lot of this is undeveloped, espcially their little plot. They’ve owned it for almost a year now. There is a little shed, a driveway with an RV, car, and van, and a decent sized foundation for a cabin. It’s a good piece of land with lots of wood and rocks. The incline isn’t very steep walking around, it just needs some more bushwacking and some outside interest to move along some other work.
The kids played past bed time. It is lots past bed time for me now, too. I’m happy to have some adult company. The past few years of traveling I’ve been mostly alone and often didn’t know anybody in the areas I was traveling through. I went days and weeks where my human interaction was limited to the kids and then the pleasantries of spanging or jugging, but real conversations, on levels of relating were few and far in between. This year I feel I’ve been bouncing and tripping from one person to another with little time in between of being on my own. I feel this is a good balance. I need my space, and I will always be keen to see a friendly face.
I really gotta point out though that I’ve been feeling technically alone and “hermiting” (as hermity as a traveler gets) for almost six years. I’ve always been largely independance seeking, so it’s not like I’m very lonely. I’ve just had a lot of time with myself in my head. I know I’m not “normal” or special for that matter. My thoughts just have had time to loop and expand on some subjects in ways one can only understand if one has taken large amounts of alone time. Maybe this is turning into a ramble of tired. It is 11:30 PM and I’m beyond ready to eat more sweets and cuddle up with my dog.
I hope all is well in your world.
Loving you!
Matilda the Bugus 