Panajachel, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Walking away from the lake, take a right just before El Rancho Grande at the green alley, last door at the end. Yes, this is my new home! Hold on, don't start mailing me things just yet, I am only here for 2 weeks... but for these wonderful two weeks, I have a room with a bathroom (and two beautiful roommates, Anna and Amanda, so lucky am I =), and our little home has a kitchen, a living/ dancing space, a lovely woman, Dona Francisca who cleans and does our laundry, and a courtyard (with flowers, a hammock, a hula hoop! and a papaya tree, bursting with ripe papayas! yumm!) for one small price of 27 Quetzals a day, or $3.50 if you will. Yes, I am in heaven, gratitude to the universe for making this possible! Boom!
To have this, albeit fleeting, sense of stability is allowing me to really feel freedom. Backwards as that may be. After flying free for some time, the sensation of sinking my roots has allowed my weary wings to unwind. And exhale. Almost, if not more important as the inhale, the exhale is purifying, detoxifying, cleansing. Tension and release. Home sweet as Home. Family... familiarity. So I've compiled a little list of all the things that signify a home to me, things not to take for granted for those of you blessed enough to have one of these magical little places:
1) The sound and smell of onions and garlic simmering in the pan. Yes, this is number one. Special Thanks to Steve for this signifying a home for me.
2) Making a cup of tea in the morning, in the same mug, the same way, every morning. This one is dedicated to my Mum, the Master Tea Maker, because it always tastes the best in the "I Love Mum" tea mug.
3) Living room dance party for two. When it's dark, the windows become mirrors from the inside light, we have speakers with a sub to make the music sound right, a wiggle turns into a wobble turns into a dance party all night! Anna gets a fist pump for this one ;o)
4) Hula Hoops, holy man, hula hoops! Nothing spells home like a Hula Hoop. I didn't realize how much I missed that fine glistening sweat worked up by a good house track and a hoop! I'm aching, bruised, bashed, and beaten but I can't put the hoop down. Extra Super Duper Thanks to Miss Lovely Lauren Shaw, HoopThereSheIs owner and Lady Halo Herself for strapping one of them bad boys to the girls' backpacks. Man, I have cool friends.
5) Walking to the store, buying food, bringing it home (in a fun, reusable bag), putting it away, bringing it back out, chopping, cooking, eating, and saving the leftovers. Amazing how much joy that brings me! Or simply pulling a banana off the bunch and eating it on the couch, ahhh. Which brings me to the next point...
6) Having a couch! Especially falling asleep on the couch. Which is really a loveseat, so my feet hang off the end. Yes, I am Couchsurfing my own house, that's how I know it's home!
7) Neighbors! So far our most familiar neighbors are the roosters, the turkeys, the dogs barking, and the little boys two houses over who terrorize a puppy and wear Shrek masks. There's also a happening Tortillaria around the corner who make truck loads of food and blast music on Sundays.
8) Watching the flowers grow, the leaves fall, the papayas ripen, the bees pollinate, the clouds change, the clothes dry on the line... being still and being able to hear my heart beat. This is when you know you're really home.
I really am in my element, present, at home here at this lovely lake, one of the deepest and most beautiful lakes in the world. I feel more available and alive than I have in a long time, and maybe because of it's expiration date I am truly appreciating every minute. Bringing it all home for all of you happy little home makers out there, stay grateful for that which makes you feel present in your own little nest!
Happily hoopingly yours,
Homie Jo
To have this, albeit fleeting, sense of stability is allowing me to really feel freedom. Backwards as that may be. After flying free for some time, the sensation of sinking my roots has allowed my weary wings to unwind. And exhale. Almost, if not more important as the inhale, the exhale is purifying, detoxifying, cleansing. Tension and release. Home sweet as Home. Family... familiarity. So I've compiled a little list of all the things that signify a home to me, things not to take for granted for those of you blessed enough to have one of these magical little places:
1) The sound and smell of onions and garlic simmering in the pan. Yes, this is number one. Special Thanks to Steve for this signifying a home for me.
2) Making a cup of tea in the morning, in the same mug, the same way, every morning. This one is dedicated to my Mum, the Master Tea Maker, because it always tastes the best in the "I Love Mum" tea mug.
3) Living room dance party for two. When it's dark, the windows become mirrors from the inside light, we have speakers with a sub to make the music sound right, a wiggle turns into a wobble turns into a dance party all night! Anna gets a fist pump for this one ;o)
4) Hula Hoops, holy man, hula hoops! Nothing spells home like a Hula Hoop. I didn't realize how much I missed that fine glistening sweat worked up by a good house track and a hoop! I'm aching, bruised, bashed, and beaten but I can't put the hoop down. Extra Super Duper Thanks to Miss Lovely Lauren Shaw, HoopThereSheIs owner and Lady Halo Herself for strapping one of them bad boys to the girls' backpacks. Man, I have cool friends.
5) Walking to the store, buying food, bringing it home (in a fun, reusable bag), putting it away, bringing it back out, chopping, cooking, eating, and saving the leftovers. Amazing how much joy that brings me! Or simply pulling a banana off the bunch and eating it on the couch, ahhh. Which brings me to the next point...
6) Having a couch! Especially falling asleep on the couch. Which is really a loveseat, so my feet hang off the end. Yes, I am Couchsurfing my own house, that's how I know it's home!
7) Neighbors! So far our most familiar neighbors are the roosters, the turkeys, the dogs barking, and the little boys two houses over who terrorize a puppy and wear Shrek masks. There's also a happening Tortillaria around the corner who make truck loads of food and blast music on Sundays.
8) Watching the flowers grow, the leaves fall, the papayas ripen, the bees pollinate, the clouds change, the clothes dry on the line... being still and being able to hear my heart beat. This is when you know you're really home.
I really am in my element, present, at home here at this lovely lake, one of the deepest and most beautiful lakes in the world. I feel more available and alive than I have in a long time, and maybe because of it's expiration date I am truly appreciating every minute. Bringing it all home for all of you happy little home makers out there, stay grateful for that which makes you feel present in your own little nest!
Happily hoopingly yours,
Homie Jo
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