Yes, I have been less motivated than I should about posting on my tiny home experiences. I see an enormous amount of information on the internet and television extolling the values and simplicity of tiny home living.  And, there is no doubt, it offers some of the most sublime moments, as you realize everything you need and want are within a few feet.

I continue to live in my tiny home, now situated in Palm Sprngs.  I do not wish to change my living conditions. I do wish I could take my tiny home elsewhere. But, I gave up my pickup, because, I do not feel I have the driving reflexes to tow a 12,000 pound tiny home.  Too much traffic, and too many bad drivers cutting in front of you.

So...instead of driving with my tiny home across the country, I have opted on traveling, simply, overseas.  Thus far, I have traveled throughout South and Central America, Southeast Asia and Canada and Alaska.  Nest up is Central and Northern Africa, and the Middle East. 

Life can be full of adventures, you need to pick and choose what meets your needs, your desires and passions.

Over the past few days, we have met with the City of Santa Rosa and Petaluma Public Services groups and the Red Cross to discuss temporary housing for those displaced by the  fires in October 2017.  Thus far, two RV storage yards have cooperated with us by contacting owners to determine whether or not they will loan their RVs for one to three months for use by the displaced fire victims. Fortunately fifteen RV owners have agreed to loan their vehicles. That makes a total of twenty-five RVs ready for use.

Both Cities of Santa Rosa and Petaluma are donating storage yards where the RVs can be stored.  Fortunately, there a showers, running water and toilets at each facility. The Red Cross is coordinating the selection of which families will use the RVs based on need.

We'll continue to contact other RV storage yards to obtain as many RV units we can.  Below are photos of typical RV storage facilities.  There's over sixty such facilities in Sonoma county alone. We're working with a separate group who's addressing the needs in Napa Valley

Small steps, however, we're building momentum!

Aerial photos of Santa Rosa neighborhoods destroyed by the recent fires.  This is just a sample of the many areas in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake counties devastated by the fires.

In Sonoma County, 5700 homes and buildings were destroyed. Over 10,000 homeless in an area where housing was essentially non-existent, affordable or not. Shelters are turning back donations, since they are overwhelmed with clothing, blankets, food and water.  What the homeless need is temporary or permanent shelters.

Several groups have started projects that gather donated RVs, campers, 5th wheels and even yurts to provide temporary shelter. Thus far, we have collected ten RVs, each will host a family in need. If you possess a RV or similar vehicle, contact us (see telephone number below), to donate your RV.  Housing is the biggest need at the moment.

The expected length of the donation will be 1 - 3 months until FEMA and in the insurance companies can provide a more permanent solution. If you been think on how to help, take ten minutes and call us at 707-765-8488

Settled in Palm Springs, and surviving the heat. 

Early organic, vegan lunch consisting of baby romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, sprouted chickpeas, kimchi, sauerkraut, pickled avocado slices, vegan cheese shreds and a lemon herb dressing. All homemade with the exception of baby romaine lettuce that I purchased from the farmers market. And, two glasses of watermelon, mint and lemon kombucha.

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by Lao Tzu  (604-531 BCE)

Beauty and ugliness have one origin.

Name beauty, and ugliness is.

Recognizing virtue recognizes evil.

Is and is not produce one another.

The difficult is born in the easy,

long is defined by short, the high by the low.

Instrument and voice achieve one harmony.

Before and after have places.

That is why the sage can act without effort

and teach without words,

nurture things without possessing them,

and accomplish things without expecting merit:

only one who makes no attempt to possess it

cannot lose it.

Excerpted from: The Poetry of Zen

translated & edited by 

Sam Hamill & J. P. Seaton

Remarkably cool, and windy in Coachella Valley; it will last for a few days, then the heat arrives. Went hiking with a group of people on the hills on the eastern side of Palm Springs. Great vistas as the sun set. The clouds, not fog like I'm use to in San Francisco, drifted and clung to the hills. Made me nostalgic for the SF Bay area.