A car engine stands out in this land. People look up to see which of their neighbors it might be, and upon realizing, an ineveitable story follows. I always somehow thought that people living out in the country would have distant neighbors. Indeed they do, in the physical sense, but perhaps the old saying is true about neighbors and fences. Jake and Sandy have been taking care of different neighbors' horses. I've been tagging along, remembering the too short of a time that I was working with horses. Sandy says they heal - whatever ailment one might have. I'm certainly feeling a call towards them. I've got my eye on one in particular where I'm staying, bu I haven't yet worked up the guts to ask to ride. I think I'm going to ask to groom them first.
Jake and Sandy truly are Salt of the earth people. They are very giving and humble. They have taken me into their home almost entirely. They insist that I not buy any food even. Here I am with no rent and free food. Hardly anything to do with my days but go soak in the mineral springs with Jake, meditate, practice Tai Chi. There's so much to learn in Tai Chi. I was practicing the first few postures very slowly today, and I could feel all the crinks in my body. Much like meditation, I thinks I just need to work through them, which means staying present through the shaking and pain. The pain reminds me of ballet - the difference is that ballet caused that pain by stretching the the maximum, whereas Tai Chi causes it by moving slowly through a motion. One quickly realizes all the shortcuts we take in our everyday movement- how we protect certain areas by not making them move.
Alas, it's taken me about 2 days to feel comfortable here. I am quite the chameleon. Already I feel that I couldn't live out here full time, and already I don't see how I could leave.
