Day 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 New Mexico

Our time in Santa Fe...

Day 4 we were happy to have a home cooked meal waiting for us, Josh's dad's special pasta and red sauce. It was a welcoming place to spread out after a cramped 8 hour non-stop drive. New Mexico is about as different as you can get to life in San Francisco. A state of only 2 million people, parking everywhere, dry and warm, spacious and open, big sky, relaxed, slow, and lots of bright sun.

We woke on day 5 ready to get things in order... car wash, laundry, cell phone shenanigans, a NM green chile lunch. Latter that evening we went to a event called music on the hill where the kids played with soccer on the grass.

Day 6 we tooled around canyon road art galleries and got food for Janie's (my mother in law) Birthday dinner. We planned a small gathering of Marianne, her friend Gordon and the gang of us (grandparents and BB's). At dinner hearing of our rogue journey Gordon shared his tale of how he wandered around Italy looking for a place to start an artist recency program. He told us of how he toured by car around Italy and finally found land in umbria. The purchase then took two years to buy from the catholic church. You could see on his face how wonderful his memories of seeking were. Gordon then explained how he felt let down after the purchase. He had so enjoyed the presuit. Hearing this was validating. Maybe we arn't crazy to just wander around as an family. Seeking might be the whole fun of it.... The no plan plan. I have to remember to embrace this fluidity we have given ourselves since I

know that settled life has many plans and obligations waiting for us.

We all rose early the next day. Josh, his Dad and the big kids were going rafting down the rio grand. They came back all excited, telling of cold water, perfected paddles and a cook out. While they were away Janie and I went to my favorite place for lunch, Casa Sena. Set in an old adobe courtyard you feel like a part of wild hispanic NM. I know i'm a sap for old ghosts but I love Santa Fe.

That evening Josh and I went out for a date with his SF friends Charlie and Karen. We were supper glad to get open table reservations at the new hot spot in town, Restaurant Martin. Special because the owner Martin had battled on iorn chef. We are food dorks and got a kick out of it. So nice to have undistracted conversation with friends.

Day 8 we had Tago and Odessa for brunch and then went with Nini

and Popop to the Thirsty ear Music festival at an old Western movie set. What a fun atmosphere, we all got blown around by dust storms, learned to two step, and Josh got to sit in with the african drum circle.

By the time the sun rose next morning it was time to leave. Josh and I felt nostalgic and sad to leave the old house for sale. We knew that this might be our last time to spend with all those smells and sounds. We left town and then decided to stay around for one last farwelle night.

This turned out great since we had a chance to take the kids to Bandallier National park. This a park with the former cliff homes of the Pueblo people. At the trail head some hikers pulled me aside to say they encountered a mama bear with two cubs on the path. After this news Josh and I took a moment to decide. I looked at him and said, "in our old life we wouldn't have gone on, F@#* that." I picked up a big walking stick and of we went on our new life of adventure. We didn't run into any bears and likely the bear ran from our noisy family. We sure did have fun doing the exhilarating clim up eight ladders on the cliff face to get to the ceremonial cave. Durham sleeping and hanging in the front pack around Josh was a show stopper.

After the hike we stopped at the tesuki village market and had a bite on the veranda. After we went for a run in the sculpture gardens and made it home in time for one last dinner at home.

It felt epic to leave the family home in the morning of day nine. What a great family home to miss. I know Josh feels similar to I that it will be a big loss for the kids. Out the slow gate and on the road to Colorodo Springs.

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