Tag: #California

Who do you think you are?

Posted on March 9, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

I’ve finally figured out my problem; the reason it’s hard to forge on, dig deep, actually do the thing I need to do, which is figuring out how to write this novel I’ve been pecking away at on and off for months: Drum roll….my problem is….I… Continue Reading “Who do you think you are?”

Category: #central coast, #centralcoast, #lifeizgood, #teachingTags: #almartinez, #California, #cambria, #cambriacolony, #centralcoastcalifornia, #centralcoastwriters, #creativity, #ilovecalifornia, #losangelestimes, #love, #mayaangelou, #procrastination, #rainbows, #raybradbury, #theartistsway, #writerslife, #writing, books, creative-writing, fiction, life

The Three Bears

Posted on February 24, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

Leave a Comment

For those who have never lived on their own, might be afraid, anxious about silence, worried about fixing things, the idea of cooking for one, being responsible for paying one’s bills—-don’t be. You can do it. You can handle it. I know because not… Continue Reading “The Three Bears”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #cambria, #faith, #grandmother, #hope, #livingmybestlife, #peace, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #roomofmyown, #thelittlethings, #vanlife, #writerslife, #writing, @retirement, blog, coastal-california, family, life, love, mental-health, retired-teacher, san-luis-obispo-county, tiny-home

Seasons Change and So Do I

Posted on October 18, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

Leave a Comment

It doesn’t always end like this. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Sunny skies. Cool, light breeze. Crows cawing. Sparrows singing. The ocean tumbling, tumbling, tumbling despite the Nation’s troubling political cliffhanger. But today, as I leave to return to my Southern California peeps, it is perfect,… Continue Reading “Seasons Change and So Do I”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #cambria, #hope, #joy, #lifeizgood, #love, #seasons, #solowomencamping, #thejoyofoldage

Just one more day….

Posted on August 23, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

Leave a Comment

It was just the start of Summer. The boys were out of school and we had six weeks of exciting adventures ahead of us. And now it’s back to school and in a month, it will be Fall. Each season is welcomed, necessary, but… Continue Reading “Just one more day….”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #education, #grandparents, #hope, #love, #retirement, #teaching, love

And so it begins …

Posted on August 8, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

Leave a Comment

I’m here, by my lonesome, which isn’t so lonesome, in the shade beneath my awning, typing away, tummy filled with a healthy salad, a glass of Albarino half-sipped, sunscreen-slathered, listening to the crashing waves, sheltered in my cozy van, away from the summer tourists;… Continue Reading “And so it begins …”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #camping, #findingjoy, #findingpeace, #grandparents, #hope, #joy, #love, #loveeverymoment, #retiredteacher, #solowomentraveler, #travelinggrandma, #vanlife

This Life of Mine

Posted on May 10, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

Leave a Comment

The Last Breakfast. The Last Sunset. The Last Frog-choral Midnight Concert. The Last Dinner with Friends. The Last Patch of Starry Quietude before heading south toward family and the past. “You could have stayed there forever, a small child in a corner, on the… Continue Reading “This Life of Mine”

Category: #camping, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgood, #teaching, @retirementTags: #California, #cambria, #camping, #centralcoast, #findinghope, #hope, #maryoliver, #Nature, #peace, #retiredgrandma, #solograndmascamping, #solowomencamping, #travel, #writersontheroad, @retirement, birding, birds, love, photography

Eclipse

Posted on April 8, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

Leave a Comment

What links all these magnificent environments I’ve been blessed to visit? The common thread? Birds. Their song, while vocally unique to their breed, are joyous, unsolicited and a call to all to stop what we’re doing and listen. If you do, for more than… Continue Reading “Eclipse”

Category: #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgood, coastal camping, unconditional loveTags: #cachumalake, #California, #eclipse, #faith, #findinggod, #findinghope, #grandmascamping, #Nature, #peace, #pleasureway, #santabarbaraparks, #solowomencamping, astronomy, love, nasa, solar-eclipse, sun

The Gift of Change

Posted on September 13, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

1 Comment

My new, next life begins today. I’m sitting at the edge of San Simeon Creek alongside the best campsite I have ever had watching the ducks and native birds enjoy the early evening sun. I am in my happy place. Another happy place. I left Happy… Continue Reading “The Gift of Change”

Category: #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgood, #teaching, @retirement, coastal camping, stepupandtakeactionTags: #breconwine, #California, #cambria, #centralcoast, #harvesthost, #hope, #lifeizgood, #myhappyplace, #newlife, #pasorobles, #portofinoapartments, #rvlifestyle, #sojourn, #travelinggrandma, #writing

Live Like a Warrior

Posted on May 3, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

1 Comment

My microscope these days zooms in and out with the speed of my unsatiable van’s fuel tank. I feel everything. See everything. The blue jay that feeds from Monet’s dog bowl, the bushy tail of the red fox weaving in and out of the damp, Oregonesque fauna here… Continue Reading “Live Like a Warrior”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #bestlifeever, #betterdays, #California, #cambria, #camping, #change, #hope, #lifeizgood, #livelikeawarrior, #newlife, #peacelikeariver, #retirement, #vanlife

Life of Pie

Posted on April 3, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

Leave a Comment

I’m getting a suntan. Yep. Sun. Is out. And I am back. On the balcony overlooking the Marina. A dad and son are kayaking past, fishing for something, enjoying this spectacular thermal blanket afternoon. The little boy, I’d say he looks about 10, just belted… Continue Reading “Life of Pie”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #, #alicewalker, #California, #grandparents, #hope, #love, #loveeverymoment, #music, #noregrets, #offkeywhocares?, #pie, #PortofinoMarina, #redondobeach, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #thecarpenters

1 2 3 … 5 »