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