Following chain reaction of ‘getting away from it all’

I am envious of my little sister for creating the opportunity to escape in a couple of weeks to Fiji. For a month. By herself. Granted, it she’ll be staying at the home of a girlfriend who herself will be vacationing with her husband, leaving the house vacant for my sibling. To be away. Way far away.

I, myself, am away (again — wasn’t I just gone?) for 11 days, house and dog-sitting for an old friend. I am grateful for this semi-regular gig up in the Santa Cruz mountains, to be by myself. I am not as by-myself as my sister will be, for many reasons. Mainly, she will likely have spotty WiFi. Ha, ha, ha. Oh, wait, that’s what makes it “away!”

Me, I chose to answer a text alerting me to some extreme sadness back in Cambria, the sudden and completely unexpected passing of a dear friend. And then I was the one who chose to call home to check on my livestock and heard news of two more Cambrians passing, longtime acquaintances. Is it better not to know these things? Frankly, where I am, amongst the Redwoods and oaks and madrones, this is the perfect place, in nature, wherein to regain composure, draw strength from the ancient forest and to touch the earth (Earthing). Besides these events, my life is good.

My sister has had a lot going on in her life, like the rest of us, but, even more so. Without any details, suffice to say, a total disconnect, a reboot, is what the doctor ordered. It’s scary at first, to be totally within yourself, but, slowly, you begin to hear your own breathing again, to distinguish the voices in your head, one from the other, without distractions of every day life. I finally have my own alphabetized.

That is what I appreciate about this little mountain getaway. Being constantly on-call for massage or hypnosis back home, never knowing when work will come, expectations, the phone. … Right now, I get up and stoke the woodstove, feed the dogs, make tea. I stare out the window a lot. I still think I can do that longer than anyone I know. Take the dogs for their morning walk. “Meditate” some more.

I am good and happy and safe and settled. But, knowing there are trails to be hiked, thrift shops to be explored, locals to get acquainted with, well, I do find myself bumping down the long, dirt road and few miles into town more than I expect.

What can I say? I love a good story, and everyone’s got one. Funny thing is, most people are in too much of a hurry, too busy, to listen. Not me right now. And people realize that, so they share. Plus, it’s winter. and business is slow.

My sister will be riding a bicycle six miles into town whenever she wants. That would probably make me stay put a little longer, given the altitude difference here. But her friend and I both suggested she do that on a regular basis, that she doesn’t get too lost in herself. We all tend to think of “out there” as infinite and “in here” not so much. I can assure you it goes on for infinity in here, too.

But, for someone with my sister’s life, perpetually on the go, doing for others, a “professional” life, a little high strung, drama abounding, being gone and off the map (well, a speck waaaaaaay dowwwwwn therrrrre…) for a while is even more critical than for someone like me who is very good at ignoring others and doing my own selfish thing.

Me, after “exploring” on and off again for six days, my muse has finally decided to show her head. And my thoughts … pretty clear and focused. I guess silence really is golden! My sister is gong to be rich when she gets back!.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 9:44 AM with the headline "Following chain reaction of ‘getting away from it all’."