Life rarely unfolds exactly as we want it to. And if we stop and think about it, that makes perfect sense. The scope of life is universal, and the fact that we are not actually in control of life's events should be self-evident. 

The universe has been around for 13.8 billion years, and the processes that determine the flow of life around us did not begin when we were born, nor will they end when we die. What manifests in front of us at any given moment is actually something truly extraordinary - it is the end result of all the forces that have been interacting together for billions of years. 

We are not responsible for even the tiniest fraction of what is manifesting around us. Nonetheless, we walk around constantly trying to control and determine what will happen in our lives. No wonder there's so much tension, anxiety, and fear. Each of us actually believes that things should be the way we want them, instead of being the natural result of all the forces of creation.

Michael Singer, The Surrender Experiment

This eucalyptus,
with its elliptical leaves

dangling, light and dry
as an abandoned chrysalis,

with its modest bunches
of pale pink flowers

and languid pose,
is my unattainable ideal.

Of a piece,
in pieces,

past it all
and in plain view —

nowhere
in the blasted web

of stars

is there any
such beauty.

-- RAE ARMANTROUT

• 
  

On this voyage into the deep communion of solitude
I’ve casually come to know
the old and withered costumes of the sea;

I’ve walked carefully through the colors of copper
when the dusk has already conjured the last prayer of the day;

Through seasonal doorways
I’ve called upon the twilight ghosts
arched in the corners of the narrow cobblestone streets;

I’ve let my lips evade the necessary verses
to find the ending phrase for the afternoon;

I’ve disarmed the elusive equity of the night
to conceive an intimate verse from its fortified mysteries;

I’ve cast aside the grieving songs of my twilight
as the sky envelops the enamored vestments of the night;

I’ve done
        and undone
                so many things
                          in search of you…

-- Oscar Gonzales, 2007

I don’t know what seas
rivers
or secret passages
you have to cross
but I'm waiting for you today
at sunset
so we may listen together
to a Bach fugue.

-- Claribel Alegria, 1995

Several friends are near the completion of the Pacific Crest Trail, an arduous hike the length of the Sierras starting at the Mexican border and ending at the US - Canada border.  Here are some photos of part of their journey.

These past two weeks I spent ten days in Honduras visiting several cities and exploring the coast.  I've contacted a real estate agent, and started looking at properties, specifically single family homes (2+ bedrooms and baths), and condos of the same approximate size.  Homes and condos of this size sell for $50000 to 100000.  Taxes annually are less than $500. Utilities, water and sewer approximately $50 monthly.  Food, there are plenty of open air markets offering all kinds of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seafood and other meats, costs about $25 per week.

Public transportation exists, however it is not reliable nor does it cover all areas of Honduras.  Should I buy property  I will need to import some small used 4X4 SUV or pickup truck for personal use. Something five to ten years of age, with a rebuilt front and rear end, tires, wheels, brakes and rebuilt engine. 

There are large national parks teeming with wildlife; beaches are white and clean, and the ocean is free of debris and contamination.

Politically, Honduras has been relatively quiet, although, recently, accusations of government corruption and links to the drug cartels have surfaced. English is spoken frequently, Spanish remains the primary language. 

Here are photos from my recent stay: