Seasonal Shifts

Emptying my drafts folder from Spring

July 28, 2024, 16:05, ebb tide, third-quarter moon, Early Summer
High 90ºF/ Low 70ºF, blue skies, pressure 1016 mb, 3.93 feet

I tossed the late Spring wreath into the compost bin and wove a new one.

Eight weeks left of Summer.

What do we want to experience in that time?

Early summer wreath: rosemary (for Nana), lavender, sage, flowers from my sister, and bubble wrap from my housemates’ move out.

June: Solstice was the peak. I renewed my vows to my sweetie among many salty sailor friends in the San Francisco Bay. We had a couple of weeks to go down memory lane — reuniting, recommitting, reevaluating, and reawakening. We left the Bay to go sailing before COVID vaccines were fully rolled out and it felt a bit like slipping out the door of our old life. This return was good for the soul. Adjusting to life on land has been hard. Hugs and talks with people who knew us before we cast off have been the best balm.

July: I spent most of my days as a camp counselor and white water raft guide. These roles weren’t on my career bingo card, but it’s been the best thing for attuning to my new habitat and healing some of the deep isolation that goes along with ocean sailing and voyaging. I am reading up on the James River and Richmond and sharing what I learn about the Indigenous cultures that flourished before sailors arrived and all that happened after. I share my knack for having fun on the water and give away my gift of moving through intensity with a sense of calm.

Life moves faster and with more precision here on land. The river is a space between.

Our housemates have moved out and my job search is picking up.

August is a mix of known and unknown.

I’m grounded but not settled, looking just a bit further upstream every day.

A hand-me-down couch, two handmade blankets, and a happy cat.

It’s my practice to empty my drafts folder with each season. Thank you to the folks who support these meanderings financially, I appreciate it more than you can imagine!