I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here

Current state: hopeful, exhausted, California.

I’m sitting in my yome right now, having recently returned from a circuitous hike through the woods. You see, I forgot how dark it gets in the woods at night, so I didn’t bring a flashlight with me when I went to dinner. What I enjoyed about it though is that when you find yourself in a situation where you can’t rely on one of your senses, for any given reason, it forces you to be more in tuned the senses that are usually secondary. Human beings have the capacity for some extraordinary abilities; sometimes it’s just a matter of finding the right circumstances to learn to employ them.

Yesterday’s escapades began with a 4 am awakening. My mom (oh so graciously) drove me to Kansas City on Monday so I could catch a flight to California on Tuesday. My level of sadness at leaving Springfield was exceedingly higher than it’s ever been, but it makes it much easier when there is a world of opportunity to look forward to. After a layover in Phoenix, I arrived in the San Francisco airport at 9:42 am (with the time difference). Oh, and I feel as though I must give a shout of praise to US Airways. I’ve never flown with them before, but every single one of their employees from the man who took my baggage to the woman at the ticket center to the flight attendants was as amiable as could be. It’s amazing how little acts of kindness so quickly put me at ease about my dreaded day of travel. I waited an hour or so and boarded a shuttle to Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa and then waited another three hours for a bus that would take me to Fort Ross, about half an hour from the Ratna Retreat Center. The bus ride was along the coast, which means that it was gorgeous. Views of the Pacific Ocean never cease to fill me with awe. Leigh, the woman I’ve been in contact with from Ratna Ling, picked me up to take me to my new home. I felt like I already knew her because of the conversations we’ve had over the phone, and I was anxious to meet her because she’s so pleasant over the phone. She greeted me with a hug, which I loved. I am much more of a hugger than a hand shaker, so it’s always nice when someone takes that initiative.

On the ride to Ratna, she told me a little about what to expect. Lots of construction! That was a biggie. For a retreat center, Ratna Ling isn’t too peaceful right now. It’ll be several more years before it’s completely finished, and currently there are huge projects going on, namely, creating a reservoir. There are giant pieces of machinery everywhere and piles of dirt where fields once were. There’s a sort of sadness witnessing the earth being plowed into like that, but replanting will begin after the reservoir is finished so the end product will be worthwhile.

Once I arrived at the site, Leigh took me on a little driving tour of the facilities. Ratna Ling is located on 110 acres and, once finished, will be home to several lodges for individuals to come on retreat, a senior center for those who have been with the organization for decades and can no longer work, a health clinic for the community of Cazadero, a lodge where we eat, a meditation hall, a garden, volunteer housing, and I’m sure much more that I’m forgetting. Some of that is already up and running but other projects will take years to complete.

Leigh showed me to my yome and introduced me to my temporary roommate, Amanda (she’s leaving on Friday). The day’s travels left me empty of fuel so I hit the sack just after 8pm. On that note, I think I’m ready to hit the sack for tonight. I’ll write tomorrow and let you know how work has been going for the first two days.

By the way, the title of this blog is to be sung to the tune of the song that “Annie” sings when she arrives at Daddy Warbuck’s mansion. This environment is my equivalent.

All y’all take care.