About a week ago, I departed my week-long dwelling in Ft. Myers Beach for several days of driving and really wonderful stops, which I’d like to share with you now.
I first drove 2 hours north to Sarasota to visit Sharon, my dear friend Rafi’s aunt, who is always so kind and lovely to me whenever I pay her a visit (typically in the Berkshires). She treated me to lunch and stimulating conversations for a couple of hours, and then I was on my way.
My next stop was 4 hours east to Miami Beach. A group of my friends from NYC were coming down to celebrate Haley’s birthday, organized by her partner Sol. I had initially intended to skip the event, in order to minimize my COVID risk (although everyone in the group agreed to test themselves before traveling, the travel process introduced too much risk for my taste). My plan had been to be in New Orleans by the time the crew arrived in Miami. However, I realized a week before the celebration that Sol was intending to propose to Haley. I decided to surprise both of them with my presence (while taking COVID precautions for myself).
Enlisting help from my man on the inside, Charlie, we planned a surprise entrance. We remotely rehearsed a rendition of Nat King Cole’s L-O-V-E, and then we set up a performance space in the alley behind the AirBnB. I’d spoken with Sol a few days earlier to learn about the logistics of the evening (under the guise of pure curiosity). So shortly after Haley said yes, Charlie gathered everyone and brought them to the alley, where I’d set up my camping chair and my guitar. Charlie seated himself and began playing the song, at which point our Wandering Mystic emerged from behind the minivan, to everyone’s surprise and delight.
I spent the rest of the evening masked, distant, and outdoors, but happily reconnecting with these lovely friends. I slept in the van and departed the next day.
From Miami, I drove to the Gulf Coast of Florida – sort of in the armpit of the state – to a spot I had picked out where I could sleep in the van. It was a beautifully built-out recreational area for the Tide Swamp Wildlife Management Area. There was a boat launch, plenty of pavilions, and even a bird watching post. There were also many bird watching trails nearby, which I didn’t have a chance to explore.
In the morning, once I’d meditated and begun to journal, I was approached by two undergraduate students from University of Florida, who were staking out for the day to survey people about how they were using the site. It was from them that I learned that the four men I’d seen walking from half a mile out in the shallow bay carrying rifles and dragging gear had, in fact, been duck hunting.
I had a nice long chat with Carly and Nico that morning. We talked about my journey, their futures. We talked about radical ideas, about intentional community, the radical nature of food, and much more. I felt myself so eager to share my wisdom with them that at times I didn’t even know what was the best advice to give on any given topic. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to have a real conversation with these curious young folks. I hope I made an impact on their lives. I’m glad they came over for a chat. I offered them some fresh coconuts, and off I went.
My next stop was the Gulf Coast of Alabama. About a week before, I discovered that my friend from NYC, Hannah, has been living in Alabama with her family for the past year, and the location is directly on my path to New Orleans! What a stroke of luck. I pulled up to their beautiful home, where I would be sleeping in the van in the driveway, for COVID safety. Hannah and I had a very nice dinner by the fire, and took some time to catch up.
In the morning, I meditated and journaled on their dock, where I countenanced the wonders of nature, including a dolphin sighting that nearly brought me to tears. Before I moved on, we took a delightful kayak around the bay. It was very nice to move my body and to be in nature. On my way out, I stole a peek at Hannah’s mother’s ceramics studio, and I was reminded of my own ceramics habit that I developed in the months before COVID, and which I look forward to revisiting one day.
I set out from Alabama on the final leg of this journey to New Orleans. I made a stop along the way at one of the several roadside stands I’d seen around the south advertising “p-nut brittle” and “bold p-nuts.” I picked up some p-nut brittle and candied pecans, both made by the seller himself. I broke into the brittle myself, so that’s nearly gone, but I do hope to be able to gift the pecans to someone later in my travels!
I also made a small detour to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, which I detailed in my last post. I am now in New Orleans, and I’m very fortunate to have found a space to stay, quite by chance. I had been on the search for a COVID-safe place to stay, and had cycled through 3 or 4 options. Then, as I drove out of Florida, I just happened to reach out to a long-time friend to catch up. He informed me that his parents have a vacant home in New Orleans, and that I would be welcome to stay there! What a beautiful piece of synchronicity; and I’m extremely grateful to be COVID-safe and to be staying somewhere with indoor plumbing.