I was in Fisterra, Spain, finishing the Camino de Santiago the day my daughter was conceived in Colorado. A few weeks later, I burned an effigy of a wax baby in Fatima, Portugal, to pray the embryo later-to-be-named H would find a suitable place in her mother’s womb. My foray into fatherhood might best be described as non-traditional. (more…)
Humor
A Different New York Times Obituary
When I woke up this morning, I couldn’t log in to the New York Times app. Regular readers know that as part of my routine, one of the things I enjoy is sitting down during the day to read the paper. Turns out that my subscription to the digital newspaper has expired, and so had someone else. (more…)
Making Time For Sleep
Last night I had one of my first deep sleeps in New York. The myriad noises ceased to be unique and the cacophony blended into an authentic city soundscape, allowing me to wake, feeling deeply refreshed. I was physically worn-out from a few recent late evenings, and intellectually exhausted from energy spent working with a new client, so a reset was much appreciated.
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Recovering Nomad – 9 Realities Nomads Appreciate When Stopping
I’ve done my fair share of traveling over the years. Now that I’m in New York, backpack stowed away, I can reflect on some of the culture shocks as I settle into the reality of western society again. (more…)
Recovering Nomad – The Importance of Community
After years of being a spiritual nomad and deciding to settle in New York, I am enjoying getting to know my new neighborhood. From the last blog post, readers might be aware that I am flirting with the different hoods in NYC, and currently enjoying getting to know Chelsea.
A strong sense of lasting community is something I missed on the road. I was part of powerful groups along the way: With other pilgrims on the camino to Santiago in Spain, in a group of international volunteers at the clinic in Ladakh, among the yogis in the rainforest of Trindade, with the Rainbow Family in Israel’s Negev desert. (more…)
Recovering Nomad – The Art of Cleanliness
After so much time traveling, I was ready for a home, and for a variety of reasons, New York called my name. I have many good and not as good friends here, and for the first time in forever I feel at home.
I knew New York from visits over the years, but wanted to see nuances of the different neighborhoods before settling in for the duration. I read an article in the New York Times which chronicled the idea of temporary stints in neighborhoods. This fit with my mindset, so I began to “date” a few neighborhoods to see if we were compatible. I first landed in the East Village, which while diverse, made me feel really old among the college kids. My sublease ended and after a brief trip to Arizona, I found a place in Chelsea, at least until the end of May. (more…)
Bilbao on the Camino
This was my longest day yet. 35 km and much of it downhill. (more…)
La Ruta del Norte
Yesterday, after walking 3 days and 75 km to Pamplona, I was called to switch routes to the Camino del Norte. The final sign was an email from an acquaintance, Mar and her boyfriend Borga, who invited me to meet them in San Sebastian. (more…)
Actively Dying 