Getting Settled in Sequim

Originally, our plan was to camp around in California for a month... I thought that that would get us out of the habits of all the luxuries of life that we get used to (long hot showers, gourmet meals, eating out, Internet, etc) and it would help us simplify our life and our needs and it would get us more in tune with nature and natural rhythms and it would help me build up my routines of sleep, meditation and exercise. I thought that this experience would benefit all there of us in just decluttering our minds and moving forward... freer. 

And I thought that that would help us in our transition to India.

Well, it didn’t play out exactly like that. 

However, as we made our way to Sequim and camped along the CA and Oregon Coast for 10  out of 13 nights... it slowly happened. I was able to build up my routines of meditation and yoga in the morning. My sleep pattern became more regular... and as a family, we started building better patterns of communication. I started disconnecting from my phone and technology a bit... even though we had service.  I started writing more frequently. 

In Sequim, as we stayed with Ankur, these habits continued... connecting with Mother Earth, meditating, Yoga. Consistent sleep patterns, Etc. In addition... we started meeting Ankurs network and seeing what a local economy based on friendship and shared values could look like. Ankur and his network meet so much of their food needs through each other... bartering, gifting and selling goods to each other -  bread, vegetables, eggs, grains, etc... everything grown or produced locally. Our own food habits were changing... eating out less, eating less junk... and I started becoming more motivated to get involved with the cooking. At the same time, I worked a little bit in Ankur garden, and other farms.  Internet-wise, I was noticing that random browsing and all that was starting to increase, though. 

For the past week, we have shifted to Ankurs mom, Bharti Auntie’s empty home on Lost Mountain. It has a gorgeous view... and no internet and no phone service. For a few days, I tried to figure out how we could at least get internet up there so we could be connected... we make plans with people and all... and it’d be much easier if we could at least receive and send messages and things like that. Astha... from the beginning... thought that maybe it’s a good thing that we’re disconnected up there.

After a few days, I realized that it was a blessing. We could just get back home, and focus on family... cook together, eat together, clean up together, play together, read together, sleep together (and on time) and then be able to get up to do my morning routine. 

We’ve slowly shifted from being in “vacation mode” into “life mode”.  Amaani is in a forest school here called Magnolia Forest School and she goes twice per week. I started volunteering on a farm called River Run farms twice per week. We also go on Sundays to a community farm and help out there. We have hiking play dates and have made friends with some on Ankurs friends. Amaani has met lots of different kids that she hangs out with and plays with.

And our food life is amazing! We’re making roti with local wheat... Amaani and I made roti by ourselves... first time ever! (And she ate 5 of them!) Probably over 70% of the food we’re eating is local. Family cooking sessions are awesome... 

Growing your own food and as a community... is the modern-day “charkha”. Why did Gandhiji spin cotton? It was a protest against buying foreign clothing from Great Britain. It was a powerful symbol of self-sufficiency. Today... growing your own food is that symbol of self-sufficiency... not being dependent on the multinationals for what goes into your body and sustains you, building communities of sharing instead of isolated silos, and taking care of the Earth through sustainable practices. It is environmentalism , spiritualism, social justice... all rolled into one. 

It will be important to see how this goes as we stay here for the next month and half... will we seek “escapes” or will we deepen our connections with ourselves, each other and the Earth... and feel fulfilled?

- Raj

Gratitude

As mentioned before, we are in Sequim, Washington. I guess we didn't post about our adventures here yet. While I won't go into full detail, our friend Ankur brought us here. Raj first met him in India and then I met him as a part of Inspire. I still remember him walking and showing us around with his cloth bag on his side and his love for mangos. We didn't end up keeping in touch regularly but were connected in spirit. We reached out to him after having many different changes to our plan and had a lovely phone conversation. He described what his family and him were doing up here...the intentional community, nature and farming and we were called to come! We've been here almost two weeks now and what a journey! Ankur is married to amazing Miriam who is an amazing French teacher, anti-racist educator/facilitator (see her work here), cook, mom, wife, musician and the list could go on. They have a beautiful daughter Jasmine who give me my daily hug that fills me with warmth everyday :) They have a view of the mountains in front of their house, the ocean is nearby and an endless amount of nature. Ankur bakes 4 loaves of bread everyday and sets intentions to give them to his friends from wheat that is grown and milled here! It feels like someone they know or the other grows what is needed and there is a barter system that is really nice to watch. Lots of details but we are slowly setting our intentions here. We will be moving into his mom's old house that she is putting up to sale. We've reached out to Ankur & Miriam's friends that have their own farms and are coming up with schedules to build in work. I would love to learn wood working while here and am trying to make connections with that. Amaani is slowly making friends and each day is full of nature, purpose and connection. Pictures can be found here. 

With that, I'll segway into what I actually wanted to write about. Yesterday, we visited Balyn and Ellie's farm - Joy Farm. Balyn shared his story. He's a Bay area transplant and has been up here for about 4 years now. His farm is unique is that most of the labor comes from their two horses, Bruce and Bud. He showed Amaani and I the farm and I was filled with an immense sense of wonder and gratitude of how we get our food and the amazing people that grow it that so often aren't acknowledged. I was introduced to thinking about where our food came from during InSPIRE. My whole world changed after that. Thinking about how it's grown - with or without the chemicals, how it's transported, how it reaches our stores, the environmental impact...the moving pieces in my head went on and on. Since then, I/we have had our own journey with food. Slowly growing it, focusing on organic, local and knowing where it comes from. Changing my cooking from what I want to eat to what's in season. 

The thing that I wanted to focus on though is the sense of gratitude that was felt. It feels like each person here has their connection to the land. Some are raising cows and creating milk. Some have lots of vegetables. Some have fruit trees and nut trees. But each of these things is the start of our meals. Balyn shared a cob of popcorn that he was growing. I learned that it's a different variety of corn and learned a little of the process of drying it out and then taking out the kernels to pop. How often have I taken off a plastic wrapper and popped in a bag of microwaveable popcorn? I want to send out an immense wave of gratitude to all those people out there that are part of the system of creating food. To Mother Earth and her abundance. To all the indigenous populations in the world that started it and were in harmony with the land. To all those of African and Black descent that were forced into labor that tilled and worked this land. To the farmers, to the workers, to the laborers all over the world that aren't valued to the same level as a engineer, doctor or whatever title deemed important. Without food, there is no life. 

When Amaani was younger, we had a good habit of stopping at every meal and saying what we were thankful for. I still do it in my mind at times but was thinking should bring it back. Also, just general gratitude of having the opportunity to be here. To decondition our minds. To connect with others and learn from a different way of life. Gratitude to Ankur and Miriam for hosting us and for sharing all their friends! Gratitude to Raj and Amaani for being on this adventure with me :) And thank you to all of you that are taking the time to read this :) I love you all :)

Driving up the Pacific Northwest Coast & Camping

This post will focus on our journey up the Pacific Northwest Coast. We finally got out of Fremont on September 26th. We packed for various possible scenarios and ranging climates. All the potential things we would need for the next few months fit in our Honda Odyssey. The idea was to drive along the Pacific Northwest Coast. We hoped to camp along the way as long as fires/smoke permitted and then eventually get to Sequim, Washington to Ankur Bhai's place. 

The first destination that we were hoping to reach is Elk Prarie Campground. Raj had called and it seemed reservations were full but we were hoping to get in. We didn't get in but camped at a closeby private camground, Kamp Klamath, instead. It was about a 6/7 hour car trip but time went by really quickly in between Harry Potter readings, naps and fun pitstops. 

The first full day there, we took our time to settle in and lazily explore. The campground had a park in it and access to the Klamath River. We walked through the path and came across so many tree frogs. I played tether ball for the first time in my life. Then we biked down to the ocean and spent hours watching people try to catch salmon and the harbor seals/sea lions dip their heads in and out of the water. 

The second day was a bit comical. We wanted to try to get into Elk Prarie campground. It was part of the state parks and felt like it was more in the woods fully. However, there's no reception in these areas. We had to let Kamp Klamath know if we were staying another night or not but needed to physically go to Elk Prairie to see if there was an opening. So we went and it seemed like they would be able to get us in but not until 2pm. So then, we went back to Kamp Klamath and packed up. Then we headed back to the new campground to set up shop. This also happened to be a day that Amaani seemed to have hurt her knee. She was more cranky than usual and refused to walk. Let's just saw we were all a bit cranky this day. 

We woke up the next morning with a fresh start. Amaani hand washed her clothes for the first time. The air smelled a little smoky and we were hearing rumblings of fire nearby but were hoping for the best. We headed out to Fern Canyon and I must say, I highly recommend it! Absolutely gorgeous. There's a little creek that runs through with both sides of the canyons covered in five finger ferns. The lushness, greenness and abundance were breath taking. I tested out my new rain boots. Amaani and I felt like super sheroes walking through the water. I think Raj mentioned the Roosevelt elk show we saw. It was like National Geographic live. Full pictures here. 

Unfortunately though, the haze was continuing to get worse. We were debating to stay or not to stay. We had just paid for another night and had been looking forward to it but decided to err on the side of safety. We packed up the wet clothes, undid the tent and headed north towards Crescent City. We stayed there two nights and did town things. Re-did laundry, grocery, ran some errands, etc. Got some pool time and tide pool explorations. The struggle with going back to civilization is always diving back into the world of over-stimulation, over-eating and distraction. Amaani goes into wanting to use the phone as do we. I go back and forth on this and in the end it's part of the journey for now. Pictures here. 

The next chunk was 7 days of camping in a row! We stopped at Beverly Beach State Park in Oregon. This was definitely our longest time camping. No showers either! It was really nice to be in one spot and get to know the place. We had a rhythm, a flow. Raj and I would meditate in the morning and then I usually went for a run and Raj did yoga, pranayam, etc. Then the morning fire, family meeting, setting intentions for the day. Sometimes splitting up. Some days would be staying at the camp site all day and others would be taking day trips. We did a cool waterfall hike. Fun times at the beach. We got to know the towns of Depoe Bay and Newport a bit and checked out the aquarium in Newport. Only ate out once and had a ranch spill in the newly bought car :) Stain wasn't too bad. Did a bunch of rock collecting. I loved family art time at the campsites as well. I made Indian food for the first time during camping. Raj and I would laugh that the Oregon coast just has an endless amount of spectacular views. Full pictures here. 

Finally, a quick stop in Astoria, Washington for laundry etc. Some yummy Thai food. Watched Harry Potter 6 because yes, we finished. Now on Harry Potter 7, the last one! Pictures. 

It was a great transition into getting to Sequim. A LOT of family time. So many little joys and waves of uncertainty as well. I managed to wash my hair by pouring warmed water over my head. Feeling grateful for the opportunity.