Cabbage life

So things here are going well. Life at the fort is winding down, which is a good thing. The transition has not been easy, fraught with plenty of self-doubt, but the alternatives never seemed pleasing, and I like the life I've created for myself here. It seems like the right decision, despite the risk, which is primarily financial, and can be overcome. I am ready to take that leap, and am looking forward to the change. Ananda has been working lots of hours, both with her job at the fort, and helping a friend out who she is covering for at her bakery so she can take a vacation. She's very tired, burned out, is in need of rest and is almost there. A few more days and she can rest. She is thinking of taking a vacation somewhere with the money she has made, which if she wants to, I hope she does. I know she has said she would like to see Ireland, as she has roots there.

Life at the cabbage is good. Gus is becoming used to being indoors I think. We are beginning to have more cold and wet days, though we seem to be having lots of really nice sunny days, which is unusual for September, or so it seems.

I had picked up a mattress via craigslist, but it was too big to get up to the second floor. I tried climbing it up a ladder to the window, but it was too big. I put it up for free on Craigslist as I was sick of having it in my living room, taking up space, blocking the rear window into the woods. A fellow came last night around dusk, his phone number from New York, but I answered anyways. I met him at the front of the main drive, as its confusing to get back to the cabbage. Lots of different drives and small habitations. I met him down there and he was a young guy who said he had just moved into a new place and was looking for a full size mattress. Didn't think he'd be able to get one so fast. I had torn the mattress, just a little  trying to get it up the ladder, or maybe down, and was worried he may not want it because of that. But then we were just shoving it into the back of his truck which had a camper top on it and it was getting caught on all sorts of things, so I don't think my tear mattered much after that. He seemed happy and I was glad I could help him out. I have a good mattress already, one that was given to me, and its worked out well.

I also found a really nice racing bike, but its too big for me. I am going to take it to the Recyclery, a non-profit bike shop in town that fixes up used bikes and sells them again. They sold me my bike, which works really well. They also sold me my helmet. I've never used helmets, always found them distracting. But its hilly here and you get going pretty fast going downhill. Its a bit reassuring to have one as you fly down the road. I'm hoping I get to ride some more, as its been a lot of fun.

Some other things I have to get rid of, a wooden pallet that I was going to use as part of a bed frame, some boots and gloves that don't fit, an incorrect water filter, a ulock. Its been a lot of that lately. Picking up stuff, trying to make things work, and finding what doesn't. S'okay, bit disappointing, as its all been good stuff, but sometimes things just don't work.

I work today at noon in the cafe. I've been training people at the front desk last few days. Glad to help out, people are complimentary, but glad I'm not doing it anymore. It was nice not to have to run around all the time like in food services, but its also more draining. So many things to know and speak about, lots of money issues, people who are angry and agitated. This is why I'm looking forward to just getting to work with my hands, do some detail oriented work that will hopefully produce some beautiful things. I'm also looking forward to doing some odd jobs, or just having a little bit of time off, so that I can enjoy doing the things I like to do, like painting and spending time with Ananda.

Anyway, that's sort of life right now. Its not everything, but its an idea, a snapshot so to speak. I hope everything is good where you are.

love,
Jamie