Tag: #cambria

Live Like a Warrior

Posted on May 3, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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

Swimming Solo

Posted on December 3, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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I am, at last, an almost-nomad. I have been on the road since August. Not exclusively. I’ve had some much, much-needed layovers here and there; Kauai, Malibu, Rancho Palos Verdes, New York, for example. Not too shabby real estate, I’d say. But I’ve been picking… Continue Reading “Swimming Solo”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #cambria, #camping, #centralcoast, #dogs, #eurovancamper, #grandparents, #hope, #lessonsfromadog, #love, #loveeverymoment, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #sologirlcamping

The Library

Posted on September 13, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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This is the third time I’ve been to the Cambria Public Library on my trip to nowhere, my pause, before the next step. I am surrounded by masters. I am in a sanctuary of accomplished and one-hit (maybe) wonders and writers who got their… Continue Reading “The Library”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #cambria, #cambriapubliclibrary, #education, #grandparents, #hope, #love, #loveeverymoment, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #teachers, #teaching, #thewriterslife, #travellingwithdogs

Week Three Without a Home

Posted on September 8, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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I don’t know why I’ve been avoiding this. Writing. Figuring things out. The Scary Silence. The deadline-less lifestyle. The lack of traffic and noise. The simple, simple life I lead. Surely, in this floatation passage of Week Three Without a Home I have figured… Continue Reading “Week Three Without a Home”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #beachlife, #California, #cambria, #education, #grandparents, #hope, #love, #loveeverymoment, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #teachers, #teaching, #thewritinglife, #writers

It’s all a matter of perspective

Posted on May 13, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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Just saying, RV generators are the enemy of quietude-seekers I’ve had some brilliant, peaceful, coastal windy camping days. All of my neighbors have been kind, quiet and respectful. The woman to my right, Clarita, lives in San Luis Obispo and is on a fixed… Continue Reading “It’s all a matter of perspective”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #cambria, #campinggrandma, #campinglife, #centralcoast, #grandma, #hope, #joy, #love, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #vweurovancamper

Writing is Prayer

Posted on February 17, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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Some people kneel. Some people chant and sing. Some people bow their heads and cup their hands. To me, writing is prayer. It’s the way I connect. It’s the way I listen. It’s the way I distract my mind with lists and events and… Continue Reading “Writing is Prayer”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #annefrank, #cambria, #change, #faith, #grandparent, #hope, #love, #loveeverymoment, #prayer, #redondobeach, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #teaching, #writing, #writingisprayer

Sitting in an alcove of reverence

Posted on November 1, 2021 by JANET L BARKER

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Dark blue tent. White Eurovan Camper Home. Turquoise folding chair. Watercolor paints. Edna Valley chardonnay. Cornflower-blue sky. 1,000-day Gouda. Mushroom brie. Multi-seeded Norwegian crackers. Handy portable generator powering up my LifeIZGood laptop. Layers of blue. Layers of green. Layers of quiet. Translucent breeze. Crashing… Continue Reading “Sitting in an alcove of reverence”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #blessings, #cambria, #centralcoast, #eurovancamper, #Godislove, #hope, #ilovecalifornia, #loveisGod, #Nature, #oceanpeace, #retiredteacher, #travelinggrandparent, #winetasting

Finding Peace

Posted on October 8, 2021 by JANET L BARKER

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Don’t expect great writing. Don’t expect interesting character development and twists and turns. It’s just me. My laptop, my 2001 VW Eurovan Camper, the trees, the Pacific Ocean, the squawking jays, the stained blue sky, the chiffon ribbon breeze, a chilled glass of chardonnay,… Continue Reading “Finding Peace”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #befree, #bigsur, #boisset, #cambria, #campinggrandma, #camplife, #coastalcalifornia, #goodfriends, #loveeverymoment, #pasorobles, #retirededucator, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #solowomencamping, #wine

just had to break free

Posted on August 15, 2020 by JANET L BARKER

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I need to be wild. I used to be B- wild. Now I’m D- wild. I am cautious and predictable. I like order. Not a fan of environmental chaos. I need coffee-specked kitchen counters wiped down and shiny. I like to sip mad-hot French… Continue Reading “just had to break free”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #cambria, #coronavirus19, #daughters, #donoharm, #enjoyeverymoment, #grandparents, #lovelife, #newperspective, #newyorkcity, #pasorobles, #teaching, #writers

School’s out for summer

Posted on June 13, 2020 by JANET L BARKER

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Living in a cloud. Neither here nor there. Yes or no? Travel plans? Maybe not. Hustle and bustle. I make my own calamity. Engage? Alone? I have to change. It doesn’t feel like school’s out. Today is my first Saturday post the 2019-20 anti-climatic… Continue Reading “School’s out for summer”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #boisettwines, #cambria, #centralcoast, #education, #gardening, #grandparents, #loveeverymoment, #nationalroseday, #parenting, #summer, #teachers, #teaching, pasorobleswineries