OCTOBER 2023: ONE YEAR OF ROAMIN' THE WORLD FINALLY COMPLETED! (My return to the U.S.--Sacramento, CA. and the Ananda Village)
My arrival back in the U.S. completed an entire year of my travels abroad, and as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz proclaimed so astutely, "There is no place like home!"
As much as I love to travel, I ALSO love returning home to California. Seeing the wonderful faces of my dear friends Terri and Prem--when they arrived to pick me up at the Sacramento airport--I immediately felt happiness and relief. I have spent SO very much time alone in my travels... though I met many wonderful people everywhere, it just isn't the same as dear old friends!
And... what else can you say about the good ol' U.S. of A.?!
Compared to many other parts of the world, infrastructure is excellent and there is an efficiency of functioning that Americans expect and take for granted, until they venture out and traipse around the world, as I have done.
Most of Europe is pretty clean, true... but the U.S.-- at least in the nicer parts and places--is hyper-hygenic!
There is also a general openness and friendliness to Americans... an endearing quality that foreign visitors to the States often remark upon. In this regard, it is no accident that many great spiritual teachers from the East came--and still come--to settle and teach in this country. They know that Americans have an eagerness to learn and grow and are largely accepting of the unusual and miraculous (Such was the case with Yogananda...a bit more about that below.) The qualities of Americans, the friendliness and cleanliness-- along with an over-abundance of a GREAT variety of foods I had missed!-- made my homecoming a most joyous one.
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Before the glorious arrival, though, here is tidbit about the journey back:
The view was the only truly good aspect of the 4.5 hour flight aboard Volaris, a truly TERRIBLE Mexican airline! (Unfortunately, there weren't a lot of choices for me on my budget: they had the best price I could find for a direct flight back.) There was NO food OR beverage service until 3 hours into the flight, and then there was a charge for EVERYTHING! (I myself spent nothing, having brought my own food and water with me.) Furthermore, the flight "attendants" were all but non-existent. TERRIBLE! When I asked for hot water and handed over my Starbuck's resusable cup, the female attendant who took it misunderstood what I wanted and threw it away!!! (I did manage to get it back, but of course I was NOT about to drink out of it!!) In short, the worst service EVER!!!
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| The only time I have ever paid for a seat: a window, and right over this interesting wing! it was an unusually clear day for take-off-- the sprawl below is Mexico City. |
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After spending 3 busy days at my friend Astara's house--regrouping, shopping, repacking, going through a huge pile of my mail, etc.-- I was picked up by my good friend Chris. He took me out to my favorite Thai restaurant for dinner in Sacramento, followed by shopping for food at my two favorite stores (Costco and Trader Joe's, where I spent a shocking $200 total). Finally, we headed up to his lovely home in the Sierra Foothills, on the outskirts of the Ananda Village.
I stayed with him for three nights. We prepared meals together, hauled fire wood and caught up on each other's lives.
After that great weekend with Chris, I relocated to a large house in the Village itself, where I now am at present. I will be here for a heavenly, five-week-long house sitting gig at the home of a couple other friends--Bhaktimarg and Atman. (They are off on a long overseas trip themselves.)
Here, I have magnificent views out of every window, looking at the gorgeous, Californian forest, filled with oak, pine, cedar, and myriad other varieties of trees. Additionally, there is a great abundance of wildlife enjoying the forest. (More about that below!)
I am keeping busy by hiking and biking all over the surrounding hills; teaching my online English lessons; participating in community events and visiting with all of my dear old friends.
I am, as they say, a very "happy camper"!
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| As you can see from the sign at the entrance to the Village, it has now been in existence for 54 years! The longevity of this community is owing to the TRUE cooperation you find amongst the residents, as well as the spiritual practices which are its foundation. Such practices are based on the teachings of Yogananda, an Indian saint, and brought to many more Americans in the 60's by his close disciple, an American named Donald Walters (aka Swami Kriyananda). Walters also founded this community, along with numerous other ones, throughout the world. (There were many other intentional communities springing up everywhere back in the 60's, but unlike Ananda, most no longer exist.) |
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| Sunset on the back porch of the fabulous house where I am staying |
During my first week here, I hiked through the Village; I am not sure of the total acreage, but it is a few hundred, and contains a number of small lakes and ponds. This one here is "Lotus pond", and proudly displays its beautiful lotuses and water lillies in the springtime. This may be the autumn, but as you can see, it is still QUITE beautiful!
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| One of the myriad species of forest birds: this lovely, red-headed woodpecker! One hears them a lot, but actually SEEING such a bird is a rare treat, indeed! |
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| The deer feast on the hundreds of apples that fall to the ground at the Ananda permiculture farm. There are simply too many of them for only human consumption, despite EVERYONE here turning them into apple sauce, apple juice and apple cider. AND--as I do--eating at least one apple every day! So... the deer and other wildlife are happy to get the multitudinous remains! |
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| A mother and two fawns, walking by outside my bedroom window. The mother watched me through the window with curiosity, but unafraid...the babies completely ignored me! |
This magnificent, monstrous wolf spider was spotted crawling around inside of the Temple of Light! I have also caught 2 such creatures inside of the house here... I carefully put them inside a glass and took them outside.
Female turkeys. Haven't spotted any males as yet... they are more rare, for some strange reason! But the females are everywhere around Ananda. It appears they are intent on taking over the Village!
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| These guys showed up to dine with me on the back deck, where I sit when its sunny and eat my lunch! I think they were annoyed with me for not having any handouts... |
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| These two beauties were definitely gving me the evil eye! |
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As mentioned, the deer are incredibly tame around here. They are curious, though...this one paused in her grazing to look me over! Another great photo op!  Huge flocks of Canadian geese come here every winter. Lots of good stuff to eat, and no one shoots at them. They pass along this good news to all their relatives, it appears... their numbers increase all the time! |
No sight is more glorious in autumn at Ananda than the fall colors. I was afraid they might be finished before I arrived in the Village. Happily, this was NOT the case! More and more colors burst forth daily. At the time of this writing, the bright yellow, giant maple leaves are especially spectacular! My heart rejoices every time I see the trees and other foliage in such a colorful display.
At the upper end of the Village property, there is an area that is called "Sunset Ridge". There, one can stand--or sit on benches--and admire an endless array of amazing sunsets. This next series is a sample of the many I have taken on this spot.
The main spiritual center for the Village is this structure, called the "Temple of Light". Here, there are services every Sunday; community gatherings; kirtans and many other events. It is a fantastic space, to be sure!
The water in the river was frigid, but John went in anyhow...though not for very long! While paddling about, he rescued an amazing grasshopper from certain death-by-drowning! I got the fabulous photo of it before it took a SECOND dive into the river and had to be rescued yet again! But, once placed back on a rock, it finally changed it's mind about a suicide mission, and eventually flew/hopped away.
It was a truly wonderful day out there alongside the melodic sound of the rushing river, in the most excellent company of my good pal.
And finally, what blog of mine would be complete without saying something about the food served at the Expanding Light, the main retreat center adjacent to the Village? This particular photo was taken on Mexican Tuesday: the fare consisted of fajitas, along with salad, kale, Spanish rice and blue corn chips. All incredibly delicious!!! (the chefs and sous chefs are fabulous-- some are paid professionals, while others are volunteers, visiting Expanding Light for a fixed period of time.)
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| Coming back to the Village at the end of the wonderful day, I was just in time to see yet another beautiful sunset from down by the temple, complete with the half moon in the dusky sky! |
On another day, Chris and I did a nice hike along the Deer Creek Trail in Nevada City (a half-hour drive away from the Ananda Village.) It had been raining for most of the day, so the colors were especially vibrant... and the air, clean and crisp. We hiked down to the creek and back up again, crossing over the picturesque suspension bridge you see below.
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As of this moment, October 23rd, I have another 3 weeks or so to look forward to here at the Ananda Village. I am furiously networking in the hopes of somehow finding housing... it is scarce, to be sure, and mostly on the expensive side. Still, I am determined! I want to cease my travels for awhile, anyhow, and put down roots where I am the happiest. That is HERE! So... touch wood... I WILL find a way to make it happen!
Stay tuned!
Welcome home and I hope you manifest all that you are hoping to have in life! Especially a home in California! Blessings!
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