Tag: #writing
Posted on May 23, 2025
by JANET L BARKER
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“Every time my surroundings change, I feel enormous sadness. It’s not greater when I leave a place tied to memories, grief or happiness. It’s the change itself that unsettles me, just as liquid in a jar turns cloudy when you shake it.” ~ Italo Svevo… Continue Reading “Oh, the Places You’ll Go”
Category: #central coastTags: #cambria, #centralcoast, #classof2025, #faith, #grace, #graduation, #hope, #mindset, #ohtheplacesyoullgo, #passages, #peace, #retirement, #sansimeonbeach, #travelinggrandma, #writerslife, #writing, @retirement, blog, life, love, mental-health
It’s been a long while since I blogged. I have so much to share and don’t really know where or how to begin. It’s all good. No worries there. But it’s been a jumble, a rumble, an unfolding, a sorting out—-literally—-of my entire life… Continue Reading “I Wrote a Poem”
Category: UncategorizedTags: #art, #beachlife, #cambria, #cambriacenterforthearts, #centralcoast, #dogs, #gratitude, #kauai #grandhyattkauai #summer #summervacation #georgeclooney #thedesendants #fullmoon #retirement #blessings #hawaii #advanture #lifeizgood #love #blessings #maitai, #livinglifetothefullest, #lovinglife, #maryoliver, #poetry, #poets, #retiredteacher, #thewritinglife, #writing, family, fiction, grandparent, life, love
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
Posted on February 24, 2025
by JANET L BARKER
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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
Posted on February 21, 2025
by JANET L BARKER
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I’m in my Enya phase—-again. A wispy, cloudy, bubbly, dream state of being. Honestly. Honestly. Honestly. I am living my dream, a dream I’ve held onto through all, the ups and downs, the beginnings and endings and now I’m in the Now. The Now I’ve… Continue Reading “Mermaid Cove”
Category: UncategorizedTags: #bucketlist, #cambria, #centralcoastcalifornia, #coastalcalifornia, #dreamcometrue, #fulfillingadream, #grandparent, #hope, #lifeizgood, #love, #writersresidency, #writing, family, life, livingthedream, love, mental-health
Posted on January 8, 2025
by JANET L BARKER
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I’m leaving. Again. I’m melancholy. Again. I don’t want to leave. Again. But I do. Again and again. Everywhere I leave I love. Same goes for the people I leave. Like my visit with Julie and Ken two days ago or my Littles in… Continue Reading “Simplicity vs. Elaboration”
Category: #beachcamping, #californiastateparks, #camping, #central coast, #centralcoast, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #ilovecalifornia, #lifeizgood, #pismobeach, #pleasureway, #solowomencamping, #vanlife, #wintercampingalongthecoastTags: #camping, #campingfriends, #faith, #findinghope, #findinglove, #friendship, #godswhispers, #pismobeach, #pismobeachstatepark, #solocamping, #travelinggrandma, #trust, #vanlife, #writing, campingsolo, family, life, love, lovethyneighbor, mental-health, womencampingsolo
Posted on October 14, 2024
by JANET L BARKER
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I’ve been traveling since August 8, returning to the South Bay briefly to attend my friend’s funeral. I won’t be back to my home turf until October 18 where I’ll visit, errand, and reconnect with family and friends before leaving on my Fall Sojourn… Continue Reading “Nothing is an Accident”
Category: UncategorizedTags: #apparitions, #bridgeport, #camping, #easternsierras, #faith, #forestservicecampgrounds, #gratitude, #hiking, #ilovecalifornia, #journaling, #lifeizgood, #love, #maytheforestbewithyou, #Nature, #peace, #solowomencampers, #solowomencamping, #theoppositeofpolitics, #travel, #trust, #twinlakes, #writing, fallleaves, love, nosuchthingasaccidents, outdoors
Posted on April 20, 2024
by JANET L BARKER
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Did I tell you, I’m working on a novel? I started it more than a year ago, but somehow, in my travels and wonky internet connections, lost the first five chapters. Which was a major bummer. So I ignored it, knowing I couldn’t recreate… Continue Reading “Did I tell you…?”
Category: #camping, #education, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgood, #teaching, @retirement, stepupandtakeaction, Uncategorized, unconditional loveTags: #cambria, #camping, #centralcoast, #solowomencamping, #solowomentraveling, #vanlife, #writing, book-review, book-reviews, books, fiction
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
Posted on August 15, 2022
by JANET L BARKER
1 Comment
I’ve saved the hardest until last. I’ve junked and stored, celebrated and cried. I’ve doubted and been certain. I’ve had my rounds (and rounds) (and rounds) of Lasts: last time I watered, last time I slept in a proper bed, last time I took… Continue Reading “Goodbye”
Category: UncategorizedTags: #change, #faith, #grandchildren, #grandparents, #homevshouse, #hope, #legacy, #newbeginning, #redondobeach, #retiredteacher, #sellingthefamilyhome, #thenextchapter, #thisisthefirstdayofmylife, #writers, #writing