The 13th of December feels like the luckiest day of the month for me.
I awoke feeling utterly surrounded by swarms of friendly people. Peter and Jana took me in last night (we met via Couchsurfing.org), and as last night was planned as a very social evening for them, they invited me to accompany them to both parties they attended. The first was a “soup potluck,” or something of this sort, where a dozen or so people convened in a neighbor’s home, many bringing their delicious homemade soups as well as side condiments and written directions of what goes well with each soup bowl.
Attending the soup potluck was an introduction to their most merry and convivial community of Mission Springs: a former camp and conference center which dates back to 1926. Many of the quaint hillside cottages their have been converted to homes, and Peter and Jana spent years gutting and completely refurbishing their cottages– which is now nothing short of a true gem of a home. They have a noticeably rich rapport with their neighbors, which is surely reinforced through continuous contact.
After the soup potluck, we advanced out of Mission Springs to a large home where dozens of people were gathered for a white elephant gift exchange. Peter and Jana thoughtfully wrapped a third gift, which allowed me to participate. Of the 25 gifts, my opening of a heavy candle, ultimately to be “stolen” by someone after me, allowed me to follow Jana’s adroit advice and steal the Jamba Juice gift card! The gift exchange was preceded and later followed up by great conversations with pleasurable people. What a treat!
We returned later in the evening back home, and my accommodation was a super-cozy little guest room at the bottom of a steep outdoor staircase. As was the case with much of the rest of the house, the room was sparkling new. After a few minutes of meditation, and a steamy shower which set off the smoke detector, I snuggled into a peaceful, uplifting sleep.
Jana’s parents, Fred and Twila, were in town and had spent the night upstairs. We all got the chance to meet in the morning, and as other neighbors and family members also came into and out of the house, fun and lively conversations filled the morning hours up till our noon departure.
Peter & Jana had contacted friends and informed them of the Walk. Many were interested in hearing more about it, and a handful of them made time to join me on it today. We started at noon from the place I left off last night. Peter came, and so did his friend Ryan– a great guy with volumes of local info, history, and perspective alive in his mind. Both remained all the way to the heart of Santa Cruz. ( http://img238.yfrog.com/i/98565939.jpg/ ) Zack and Rachael, and their young kids Sophia and Jenison, each of whom had colored beautiful pictures for me, walked with me through Scotts Valley. Rachael and Sophia made it the farthest ( http://tweetreel.com/?6fhh3 ), bravely persevering through the rainiest portion of today, before Zack picked them up so they could resume with prior plans. Matt and Cassie, who were at last night’s soup potluck, joined shortly thereafter, and the five of us hoofed it the remaining miles down the Old Santa Cruz highway and into town. The hours on the road allowed for plenty of time to chat with everyone.
Ryan and Peter treated me to delicious Afghani food before we parted ways. What a great group of people they all are. A great deal of peace is to be found within the eyes of Peter and Jana– peace present in the smoothness of their voices as well. They and their fantastic friends’ synergistic effect collaborate to create one of the richest community vibes I’ve ever witnessed.
Tonight I sleep in the Santa Cruz home of Ian and Christine. A cute guest cottage has been made available for me for two nights. Very nice people who still own a home in Washington state, Ian and I surprisingly graduated from the same high school (he in 1991 and I in 1994; we never knew each other). I may or may not walk to Watsonville tomorrow.
I can smell the salty marine air, but have yet to see the rocky shorescapes in daylight, and look forward to doing so tomorrow, when I may or may not walk all 20 miles to Watsonville.
December 13th: the day the rains dried up, and I walked and talked with some of the most pleasant people in the world, again…