2020 Vision of Peace & The Peace Chair Scavenger Hunt has begun

January 23, 2019 was the last time I shared anything with you in my blog. I’ve missed You. It’s been a very bumpy ride to say the least. It was certainly the year of new stories for me. How about you? What kinds of stories have you been sharing with others? Most of mine are amazing!!! A few of them terrifying!!! Before I catch you up to date on what’s been happening with us/me, I just want to say that the year, 2020 Vision of Peace was, is and will be, the most spectacular year ever! Why you might ask? Because I said so! My Ego likes to be heard, acknowledged and experienced, as equally as does the Spirit Within.
I began the year 2019 with some serious mental health issues. Some of the most terrifying experiences of my life. Just when you think you have life mastered; it throws you a cure ball. Shortly thereafter we returned to Durango and with the help of family, friends, strangers, the local medical and Spiritual communities I sought help, welcomed it, embraced it, internalized it and am eternally Grateful. I visited a shrink for the first time in my life, so that combined with a local Native American sweat lodge the healing process continues. Thank you all.
Growing up as a child I was taught to believe everyone that has lots and lots of money are bad. I grew up thinking they were just a bunch of selfish, greedy, self-important people. And as for all those righteous religious people, I never had time for them either, pious bastards! I always perceived them all as a bunch of do-gooders acting as if they were the happiest people in the world because of their bags of money and this or that religious institution they belonged to, while deep down I sensed discontentment, uncertainly and a profound unhappiness deep within them.  Or was it within me? I now realize I was simply reflecting my own ignorance, intuitive thoughts and insecure feelings alongside my childhood programed beliefs about others, thereby creating a reality I perceived and believed to be true. As I began to explore various religious and spiritual disciplines as a way of examining, contemplating and understanding my life, it became, is and continues to become even more bizarre, miraculous, and mysterious within each passing moment. What is true? What is illusion? What is real?
Life is amazing! Life is scary! Life is a gas, gas, G.A.S.!
While the beginning of 2019 didn’t start out so good, it finished very well indeed. I’ll begin by announcing that Josie and I have become Grandparents and now understand what all the hype is about. We can’t get enough of that new beautiful little soul. Josie continues being and doing what she is and does best, a bright beautiful luminous presence and my anchor to this world. This past Spring, Rosie the Silver Wolf (our past home on wheels) found a new home. A very nice couple from the Durango area now own the Silver Wolf and so the Adventures with Rosie continue. We look forward to hearing some of their stories in the future. Happy G.A.S. Adventures you guys! While one the road, Josie discovered a website called trustedhousesitters.com (THS) and we’ve had and continue to have incredibly rewarding experiences. We’ve stayed in and cared for a wide variety of homes and pets around the country ranging from a small cozy cabin in the woods, to an enormous luxurious beautiful log home overlooking the mountains. Some had indoor and or outdoor pools, hot tubs or saunas. We’ve found ourselves near lakes with sky blue waters, fishponds or bordering a cold crystal-clear river filled with monster sized Rainbow trout (where I learned to fly fish with the assistance of our next-door neighbor. Thanks Doug). Most have had breathtaking sunrises and or sunsets. We’ve loved meeting and spending time with our new feathery, fury, hairy, etc.… friends and most times enjoyed the people too. Seriously, we’ve made some great new friends and acquaintances through THS and it has allowed us to more easily integrate within the community we intend on living in for a while. The place we’re currently staying at is a cozy log cabin with a fireplace where I like to sit in one of the comfy chairs with a book or capture my thoughts and share them with you in this blog. One of the homiest feeling places we’ve stayed at yet. It comes with a view of one of the many magnificent snow-covered peeks that surround Durango out their living room sliding glass door. We immediately felt very welcomed here the moment we met the owners Randy and Kristen and that gut feeling was confirmed as we quickly settled into their sanctuary. Wishing you guys the most wonderful Nature’s G.A.S. Adventures! No worries, we’ll keep the home fires burning.
I’ve continued to become more involved with the Adaptive Sports Association (ASA) because of the people, the smiles, the laughter and adventures, especially with those whom we serve. Come join us and get filled up! I’ve discovered fly fishing since our recent return to Durango and LOVE IT!!! Mountain Biking, Fishing, building and caching chairs all go very well together. This summer I taught some dear friends Sunshine and Moonbeam how to build their own personal portable sanctuaries at the first PC Playshop held in Bayfield, CO. We then performed a naming ceremony and they’re now the proud owners of the Gratitude Chair, the Awareness Chair and the Service Chair respectively. Josie and I wish you the best on your new endeavors. Please keep in touch, we look forward to visiting you both in the future and sharing a PC Playshop with you and your new friends.
The most recent three chairs I’ve built have all been created on Full Moon eve days or evenings to include my favorite, “Cedar’s C3 Chair”. Each were then bathed in the luminescent Full Moon energy the evening after they were built. And so, I’m not surprised by the gift I found this year for Josie, a Tibetan Full Moon singing bowl. Typically, I hate shopping, especially for x-mas. This year was different and magical. I started my afternoon holiday shopping with a haircut at Tucson’s Barber & Styling. According to Yelp an online consumer adviser, it would appear people either love’m or hate’m. Personally, I was very pleased with my haircut, T’s attention to detail, the fish stories shared and recommendations of where to go fishing. Thanks Tucson. I don’t always believe the online advisers, they like many other forms of media can be abused and misleading. After spending some time in the barber’s chair, the first shop that drew me into its space with its good vibes was Good Karma. Could it have been the powerful energy of the “G scale” Full Moon Tibetan Bowl calling to me? Thanks Sabina, what a beautiful Soul you are. Next, I stopped in and said hello to my friend Miki at her new store front downtown called Sticks and Stones handmade. There I discovered a bright, warm and beautiful setting featuring locally handmade artful creations and yes many of them crafted of stick and stone by local artists. But perhaps most importantly, they’ve all been inspired, created and infused with ”Local Love”. With my shopping completed, I stopped by Ernie’s, 11th Street Station to say hello to some friends we’d recently gotten to know while helping our Son Eric with his new business, On a Roll Ice Cream. The 11th. Street G.A.S. Stations (Food Trailers) have lots of great yummy options to choose from. Mexican, Sushi, Sliders, Pizza, and some of the best Tai food Josie and I have experienced at Chang Thai . If you’re in the mood for something hot and spicy, stop by Cuevas Tacos and ask Oscar or Claudia about their crazy fries, they are out of this world tasty. Perhaps that’s why I like them so much, I too often feel a bit crazy and from another world. In the mood for some fresh fish? Then be sure to visit Manny’s Fresh Co and see what beautiful and delicious treats Manny can slice, dice and roll up for you. You can’t go wrong with a gourmet Slider from the Backcountry Gourmet with a side salad. Don’t forget to check out the back patio where you’ll find incredible wood-fired pizzas made with high mountain sourdough and local ingredients at The Box. And baby if its cold outside, step inside and visit the Taste Coffee bar. In collaboration with Desert Sun Coffee Roasters, get yourself a cup of delicious certified organic, fair trade coffee while you’re waiting for your food to be prepared. Visit Ernie’s today and get filled up, Mind, Stomach, and Soul!  So, if our future manifests into our present moment experience by emulating the prominent stories that rattle around in our brain before being shared with others we encounter, then let me share with you how you can Be part of this past, present and future G.A.S. Adventure. I’m currently having fun creating some long overdue How-To-Peace Chair Scavenger Hunt videos and will be posting them soon. Together we’ll co-create a 2020 Vision of Peace we choose to experience together. I’ll leave you with a saying Chief Richard once shared with me after my Vision Quest at “Heart of the Woods”. “Happy wife, Happy Life!” I’m very, very happy, thank you Universe! X>