the first step? toss out the cell phone. too expensive and poor in quality anyway, never in range of a signal, and overtly frustrating to use in conversation. after this afternoon it’s toast.

the second? avoid the drive to town as often as possible.

the third? breath deep the mountain air (try not to cough on the smog) and relish in the view.

the fourth? avoid the satelite tv your roomate hooked up and play guitar instead, but stay impressed at what six measly square feet of solar cells can provide power for.

the fifth? laugh at the fact that there is a house/shed to use as your kitchen/living room/bathroom/workshop and then go back to your tent to fall asleep.

the sixth? sparingly advocate the use of email and computers, launching instead into the grit and reality of letters and mail. besides, using the computer requires breaking the second step.

six easy steps for ‘wilderness’ living, as best as i can manage currently.

heh.

so the job has brought me into the realm of sequoia national park, the travels have taken me through the depths of the southwest deserts and california’s southern end, and the need to communicate has brought me down from the mountain into town (a two hour drive on one-lane, ratty roads that covers only 24 miles and tests the brakes and transmissions in any vehicle willing to give it a shot).

perhaps some email, then a return to writing upon an adjustment to the flat concrete of visalia, ca.

three hours out from the mountain valley that will be home for the next three months and i’m already missing it…