Naked In The Woods

 
Shackteau, i Love You!

Bears live in the woods. i live in the woods. Bears take the proverbial dump in the woods. And i, from time to time, shit in the woods, too.

But my woods come with, not one, but two - perfectly pristine and fully stocked blue outhouses. These babies are sparkling clean... Not to be confused with Sparkle Clean, the matron of which, is and ex of mine... Four unused and perfectly dry rolls of TP in each. Only one cobweb and not one turd between them. At least that's the way i found them when i arrived...

Suffice it to say that, on rare occasion so far, i find a need to visit one. Now, keep in mind that these are not the geothermally heated deluxe water closets at the main plaza... So, being as how it gets nippy here at times, as wonderful a blessing as the blue houses are, there is a difference. A difference worth waiting for sometimes.

But the difference isn't really what i was planning to write about. Nope. Tonight is the fifth nearly-full moon in a row here on GIN. After as many blessed days and nights as i've spent here, you might think i would have broken some habits by now. Trust me. i'm working on them! The primary habits i have to break are: Knocking on the blue house door when i want to use it, and Reaching for a light switch when i walk into Shackteau.

There's nobody here. Knocking ain't gonna help. As for the light switch... NOT having a light switch is part of what brings me here. And every time there isn't one there when i reach for it, i am glad. To the point of tears at times.

i find these two habits to be, perhaps, the most ironic of reflexes to discover. At least so far. Just thought i'd share.

Like i mentioned, it's the fifth really nice moon in a row. And i'm grateful. The weather could not be more cooperative. Somewhere between pleasant and fantastic every day. Cold at night. It froze pretty good last night. The only heat in Shackteau right now is my lantern, my stove when i cook, and my own hot air. There is a wood stove ready to install... All the flue, storm bracing, and cap are here. Just need the roof jack. Which i will pick up in town sometime this weekend on a supply run. Expect to be able to say Shackteau is wood heated by Monday or Tuesday.

Want to make it a full 168 hours here on GIN before going to town. i got here Saturday at 6:30pm and town is over an hour away. Which means it will have to be Sunday, then, doesn't it? Lots of soaking to do between now and then... SIGH... It will be interesting to compare the hours spent my first week to my permanent schedule...

168 hours total per week

 20 hours eating and eating related activities

 56 hours sleeping and sleeping related activities

 12 hours soaking and soaking related activities

 40 hours absolutely fucking off

 40 hours building an ecovillage

i figure my first week spent largely, but not entirely, dealing with organization - Building cabinets and other sundry items... Setting up my living and blue-collar retirement quarters... Nice long hikes on mountainsides... Hayseeding a field. Movie night. Needs and resources inventory. Soaking, sleeping, and eating - Is pretty in line with the schedule. If you count building cabinets and setting up living and shop quarters absolutely fucking off. Yeah. That has been a lot of fun, so i can say that!

i have my favorite hot tubs at just the right temperature now. Took a couple days. Getting the cold water flow from the creek dialed in is the key. But the valve is an old globe valve that's about worn out, so it's not exactly able to hold a precise flow. Even with just gravity pressure. The challenges of having to walk past what amounts to your private hot mineral spring tubs half a dozen times a day... At least i know how to fix it. But i'm not gonna just yet. Not 'til next month. i want to live with it all in the most basic of states for awhile. Feel the soul of the land.

i've averaged about 2.6 soaks per day since arriving. Just guessing. i gave up spreadsheets about a month ago. If i haven't invoiced you for something, it's probably not gonna happen. Cheers!

Today, so far, it's been three soaks. In three different tubs. First one was before coffee. About 6:15 or so. Outside it was dark and cold. Clear sky and air. Clear except for the steam coming from the Mother Source. As viewed from that hot tub, the sun comes up in a spectacular way over the horizon this time of year. Once was with local family. And once less than an hour ago. On the way home from having a nice dinner with Yomunko. i made the picnic lunch for our hike today, and he made supper. Awesome day! i brought over a pint of Lexi Applesauce for dessert. 2009 vintage. And it was spectacular! i only brought two pints with me. Left Miss E with the big supply.

Hope you love every bite, sweetheart :-)

One of our neighbors is heading to The City tomorrow. He'll be there with cuttings to start fruit trees. And he's going to stop by Lexi and get cuttings from the apple tree. GIN should <hopefully> be a good climate for that tree's offspring. She makes the best apples ever and she was a volunteer from Miss E's compost many years ago. We'll find out!

i've been writing this post at a picnic table in a moonlit woods. It's time to put the computer away now. Guess this won't go out 'til tomorrow... When me and this laptop get back to somewhere there's an internet connection. Time to get naked in the woods and soak under this beautiful moon! To not do it would be a shame.

And i'll never take this place for granted like that...