Common Culture

Common Culture PART I

"There is magic in the moon, sun, soil, and rain. Native living will ease and solve the majority’s pain.

Painful separation of land, animal, and man. The painful complexities of this day’s modernized scam.” – Moon & Magic

“We stand as individuals collectively.” - Peter Massas

One of my biggest fears and aversions in life has been encountering and having to interact with those whose ideology or spirituality is overtly in opposition to my own. My mind’s tendency toward aggressive and intolerant thinking was never more apparent than during the pandemic, as we saw compassion and community wane with each tick of the COVID clock. Indeed, my thoughts were so dark toward others whom I judged “wrong”, that I finally mustered the courage to begin attending meditation and dharma classes – just in the nick of time.

When I took my leave of the sticks and bricks lifestyle, I knew I would have to be around people more. This was both a goal and a challenge – a real leap into the fear and anger that was well embedded since childhood. Aside from the few, I had determined people hadn’t particularly done me much good over the years (and I felt I hadn't done them much good either), and as my innate introversion grew, so did my complacency. The walls in my house weren’t benefiting from my practice – it was time to take this show on the road.

This place, this “undisclosed location” campground that I have had such great fortune to find, provides a rare opportunity for daily meditation, study and solitary reflection as well as the chance to meet and commune with a wide variety of people. Many are like minded, which makes my transition toward a more community-based life easier, and which also increases my awareness of the common threads which weave their way through so many seemingly different ways of living. I have met a psychedelic life coach in training, the founder of Circus of Purpose, a wolfpack, and Rainbows. I have learned about the land share movement and intentional communities. And, I have learned about the different ways people express their compassion and love by taking care of one another, and the earth, in an unequivocal and absolute way. Mama Donna and Dan, owners of this place, are extra-ordinary examples of people who take care of others in countless ways – from a warm meal, to a place to live, to a much needed conversation or hug – without ever expecting or thinking about the return. It is organic, authentic living that embraces our interdependence and prioritizes the needs of others. And, they provide others with the space to do the same.

My first weekend at this campground, the wolfpack arrived. As I got to know them (there was no escaping!), I learned that this unique group had come together through their shared love of the outdoors. They are a group that is diverse in all ways imaginable. These folks speak to me on such an emotional level. What they are saying, even if it’s not intended, is – we are together, our commonalities are stronger than our differences, and we choose community over division. By weekend’s end – guess who was their newest cub? I am dubious about the initiation, however (LOL).

Undisclosed location is much like being at an outdoor show or music festival, with all the fixings. There is a communal outdoor kitchen, a stage, a fire pit where folks gather in the evenings, nature trails, an outdoor shower, and plenty of space to spread out. Music is the theme (they have their own radio station!) and at night – oooh the lights make this groovy place vibe even more. On any given day, spontaneous live performances occur around the fire, or on stage. And, you can have as much or as little of it as you like. Convenient if you embrace the 10 p.m. bedtime as much as I do. Most days are like being on retreat. But when it bustles – it bustles!

Many people who are drawn to this place live what we mainstreamers consider a non-traditional lifestyle, living off grid in a sustainable, eco-conscious way which also allows space for helping others. Through the eyes of songwriters and nomadic travelers Moon and Magic who played for us here a week ago, I was awakened to a deeper way of living an interconnected life – one that fulfills our obligation to the earth through a continued day by day, hour by hour awareness of consumption. Their goals of sustainability and caring for the earth are reflected in “Circus of Purpose,” a not-for-profit that focuses on “performance, education, permaculture, and community building.” They are members of The Garden (actually we are all members of The Garden if we wish to be), an intentional land share community in Tennessee which offers anyone who wants to stay a home and a place to contribute to sustainable, off-grid leaderless (leader-FULL) living. The Garden collective is designed for low impact living, re/learning earth and bush skills, and allowing nature to show us how to live. It is a place where everyone works and everyone eats healthy, organic food.

Each day that goes by here, I am open more to other people and feel the soft spot in my heart become a place of connection and understanding. I also further my awareness of my own personal consumption and waste and try to adjust my actions accordingly. From time to time, I catch myself in old patterns of irritation and desire to be a hermit and live in the woods not to be bothered by another living soul. But here I find that I can be both interconnected and solitary. Indeed, we are individuals each working on our own “stuff” but with the understanding that we are together. Ah…it’s almost too easy here at undisclosed location. I can even co-exist with the armadillos. Let’s see what happens when I move on down the road and seek harmony and community with those whom I don’t agree as much. I have a feeling that is when the real work will begin.

Stay tuned for Common Culture Part II…Rainbows and musicians and artists…oh my!

NOTE: Be sure to check out the newly updated GEAR section of this website if you are interested in learning what I have found useful...and not so useful on my journey so far.

Sleeping in a RAV4 - The Build

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In addition to Tom who helped me rebuild my platform, I also have to give a huge thank you to my neighbor Deb who stood around with me in my driveway for countless hours helping me figure out what the heck to do.

This week's blog post, "The Build", can be found here. It describes in some detail how I designed the re-build of The Ramper. This post is located in "The Ramper" section of the Midlife Mile website.

CLICK here for the page which includes general info on living in a RAV4. And be sure to visit the Gear I Love page for honest reviews and recommendations.

And, for your viewing pleasure...

Co-exist (the first three campgrounds)

For whatever reason, I was not built to play well with others. Whether socially conditioned over the years or just innately introverted, I thrive on quiet and solitude, and much like my own father (sorry, dad), I tend to get annoyed easily by the behaviors and, most especially, noises of others. Not a flattering quality, I assure you. However, this absolute passion for the solitary life has an upside – it makes it easy to pull up roots and head on down the avenue a piece.

When I began my meditation practice a couple of years ago, the patterns and habits of my mind started to become somewhat clear to me. I learned that I was clinging to a notion that I had to protect myself and that pretty much everything I thought or did had to do with, well…me. Along with my uncanny ability to became annoyed so easily, I also saw that I was highly skilled at making it everyone else’s fault that I was annoyed. Poor little old me (PLOM). I found that I had created an isolated life that kept me safely tucked away from much human interaction, or sound for that matter.

My meditation and reflection practices flourished under such sequestered conditions! However, whenever I took my practice out on the road (or to the grocery store), I was a big flop. Habits and patterns flying around everywhere, bouncing off cashiers and into customers. Where was this steadiness of mind I had been so carefully cultivating?

When I sold my home and moved into The Ramper, my intention was set – I was going to become less annoyed by other people (and animals) and embrace this controversial and chaotic world with a more open and gentle heart. The universe was in agreement – let’s give this woman something to practice.

Community of Consciousness – Week 1

THE DOG

My first campground was a pagan paradise. Located in Hudson, Florida and set apart from the more densely populated neighborhoods, the land was at once haunting and serene. With a labyrinth, fairy garden and trails which looped around discs of fielded water, and given I was the only camper there for most of the week, I wanted to love it. And, I really, really wanted to love the neighbor dog that barked intermittently throughout the day, but really got down to it from 10 p.m. to around 4 a.m. Even through earplugs and headphones, I could hear the little bugger. Even in between rounds of neighborly gunfire and fireworks, oh yes, his voice was heard. Nevertheless, I walked around smiling, I calmly left for the day, I sent beams of radiant positive love his way, and most of all – I didn’t yell or leave in a huff until my time was up. Hey, I even meditated at campground #1.

Citra Royal Palm RV Park – Week 2

THE POWER TOOLS

Oh, sweet universe. This place will have its own special blog post at some point. I had booked this campsite for two weeks and have to give kudos to the owner for refunding most of my stay when I left after only three nights. Citra Royal Palm is a tight knit community of mostly permanent RV, trailer, and tiny home set-ups right on the edge of the other-worldly Orange Lake, Florida. Here you will find salt/y-of-the-earth people who truly take care of one another, and you, if you’ll let them. My site was remote and set apart from the main RV park, the vast savannah of a lost lake stretching beyond the rim of land behind me in tangled, primeval weirdness. I was steps away from the abyss. I was inspired (and a little creeped out) by the jungle and the green moats of swamp that cut inland and I could feel the desolation that lay beyond. Here, I felt, I could meditate and write. And, I did. For one day. My second full day saw the start of the weeks-long chain sawing and leaf blowing project that began in celebration of my arrival.

Orange Lake

Location undisclosed as I may be staying FOREVER – Week 2 cont’d & onward

THE LOVE

Yeah. I’m never leaving this place. When things fell apart at campground #2, I watched my mind as carefully as I could and steadied my response in an attempt to just let things be as they were. Refund or no, I would be open and gentle. And, I was! (Okay, Okay…I came closer than usual.) After googling “where to next?” I recalled an offer that had been extended from someone in the SUV/Car camping facebook group I had joined. All it took was a message, and the next day I became the newest member of the tribe.

A wonderland to be sure, this campground is a true counter to the mainstream culture in which most of us dwell. It is a community, as well as a place to pass through or vacation. It is a place of rainbows, a place where the giant arms of live oak trees curve and bend around slender-ous, skybound pines and shelter magnolia and dwarf palmettos. It is a place where the people unite with nature to embrace you – whoever you are – and you know that you are already home.

Yeah…I’ll be staying a while. After all, I’m going to need plenty of time to really write about this most beautiful land and its inspiring stewards. Not to mention my new wolfpack! But, that is yet another story altogether. Stayed tuned!

My setup at undisclosed location