Josie and I have been using a site called Boondockerswelcome.com for the past several months now and have found it to be a very positive experience. We’ve stayed in the northwest forests of Washington near a babbling brook, to a suburb community in Sun City, Arizona next to a golf course. Basically, for a nominal yearly fee, a patchwork of paradises is shared among fellow like-minded adventurous travelers’. While few may offer electric and or water, all offer a little slice of their personalized heaven. Many are artful reflections of the owners manifested dreams come true! Others are left simple and wildly natural. First, decide if you can host (unnecessary for membership), then create a user profile, search the listings, contact the host, enjoy your stay, and finally, leave a reference. That simple! After leaving City of Rocks seeking warmer weather, we stayed at a Boondockers Welome site just ten minutes from one of our favorite places, meaning we’ve been there more than once. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was founded and inspired by William Carr in 1952 along with his friend Arthur Pack also a conservationist and Editor of Nature Magazine. Together they created this magnificent museum that has become known worldwide for its innovative presentations and interpretation for the native plants and animals in their ecological exhibits. The museum has a living animal collection containing of 4,892 specimens of 242 species, 56,445 specimens of 1,100 taxa; and a mineral and fossil collections of 16,853 specimens. Topping off my G.A.S. Tank by a wide margin goes to the Hummingbird House. While considered by many to be the most fascinating birds on the plant, I include myself among the many. The brilliant hues of color these graceful hovering creatures display coupled with their rhythmic nectar dance is pure love in action. Within Native American teachings, Hummingbird represents Joy. Are you enjoying the moment? Yes?! Great. No?! Perhaps it’s time to sit and ponder some deeper questions? Maybe you’ve been sitting for too long and its time for action?
Also in the Tucson area, we rode our bikes to the local Heirloom Farmers Market and I’m excited to share some new G.A.S. Stations with you. Our first discovery was Kind Coffee and we’re greeted by a young man with a kind and peaceful energy radiating from him, Casey Routledge. It was obvious to me Casey loves what he does, not only did he graciously offer us a delicious sample, he also enthusiastically shared a brief story behind Kind Coffee and their collaboration with a local non-profit called Ben’s Bells. I encourage you to check out these two links and read their stories, very inspiring! We then met Ariana Free and Cody Clubb representing T.O.N.E. Nutrition (Total Optimized Nutrition for Everyone). We sampled some of their local Unheated, Unfiltered, Arizona Honey and chose the Desert Wildflower; yummy stuff. Thanks guys! Thirdly, we met Carol Hawkins owner of Alpine Goat Girl offering health care products such as soaps, shampoos, and lip balms and she says with a smile, “Keep It Local, Keep It Healthy, Keep It Spectacular.” I’m thrilled to report the soap Carol recommended for shaving is the finest I’ve experienced, very smooooth! Lots of enticing fragrances to choose from as well. Finally, we couldn’t resist the delicious goat cheese products at Fiore de Capra, Italian for “Flower of the Goat”. With so many tasty things to chose from, it was difficult to decide what to get. Thank you, Mike and Lee, for sharing your “Flower of the Goat” passions with us. We recommend you sample their goods yourself and tell us what your favorite is. Until next time, be kind to yourself, it might just rub off on others. If you see us out on the road and spot me sitting in a strange looking chair, don’t be shy, come say hello. And if you’re really really lucky, I’ll Share-A-Chair with you. Remember, Luck is just love in action.
Nature's G.A.S. Station 