You Will Sit There and Do Nothing and You Will Like It

 You Will Sit There and Do Nothing and You Will Like It

Ah, the best-laid plans. This is the second time I've had to adjust: The first was due to the storms in San Francisco (which caused a redesign of three weeks) and now my eagerly awaited layover at Gila National Forest (known for being on the dark sky registry) is a cold, soppy mess. But more on that in a moment. 

I wrapped up my White Sands visit early and returned to my hotel room early to get organized. I'm learning very quickly that life on the road requires careful planning but also great flexibility. Reconfiguring those three weeks was high on my list for the night, as well as planning out the week ahead. 

I did some laundry and reconfigured my mobile "closet" -- a weekend bag that can hold about four days of clothes and a shower caddy for personal items. Now those suitcases stay in the car, hidden under a blanket, waiting until later in the week when it's time to switch things up. Infinitely better than the two massive suitcases I'd been lugging around!  

While I was waiting for my laundry to finish I worked on planning the week. I was very excited about going to Gila. All I wanted to do was look up at the stars in a way I could never comprehend in my own imagination. I booked an adorable casita right in the freakin' forest for it, so all I would have to do is literally step outside and look up. But nooooo. Those storms in Cali were so massive that it's caused a weather event right here in Gila. Rain, cold, ceaseless, dark. No stars for this gal. Heck, no hiking either! I mean it is Gila, I had Monday off from work, but the road was flooded and hell if I was going to risk it. My only option was to return to the safety of my casita and do....nothing. 

I feel like I put some pressure on myself to have some life-altering epiphany each day that I'm on this trip. Yesterday I was thinking about that, landing on that experience itself is a life-altering event. I will say my soul is altered. I can't get over the incredible things I've seen driving from Point A to Point B. The buttes...the miles of nothingness yet everything at all...the darkness of those hills I drove through in the rain, forbidding but beautiful all at once. I was so overcome by this I pulled over twice to get out and take it in. It really is about the journey, isn't it? 

I spent the remainder of the day taking a nap, working through my itinerary, hiring movers, and just chillin'. I still feel wound up. I imagine this is going to take time, living for me. I feel a bit stronger each day, I'll say that. Still don't know the end game, but that's ok. That's totally ok. 

Getting close to Gila. The darkness of the buttes against the gray rainy sky really created a contrast that left me speechless.

So much for the Cat Walk. See that building over there? That's the trailhead. See that rushing water there? Yep, I don't want to be one of those people you yell at your t.v. for their stupidity. "Why would you walk through rushing water that's right next to a DANGER: FLASH FLOODS sign? That's what you get. Idiot."

My casita is right here in the Gila National Forest. Ain't no one in my family/friend/workgroup will ever do a pop-in here. This place takes effort to get to, let me tell you!

The road goes on forever and the party never ends.