Apr. 5 Restless in Paradise

     The lazy life in Florida is stirring. Major changes may be on the immediate horizon, but things could also stay the same for a while. For now, I'm waiting to see how job opportunities pan out. I've just used my savings and tax return to pay off the last of my credit card debt, so it's nice to be debt-free, but it's also a little unnerving to be broke. I've got enough work for now, but I need a plan.

     Plan “A” has been that I would return to the Canadian border in the spring and re-start the walkabout as originally planned, tracing the eastern coastline all the way to the bottom of Argentina. A few weeks ago I met a man named David Lewis who has probably changed the course of my entire life. David has traveled extensively around the world and seems to have intimate knowledge of every significant location on the globe. When he heard my walkabout plan, he suggested that I forget about walking through the Americas and look towards Europe instead. I brushed it off at first. I already had a plan laid out and a route mapped for my trek to the far end of South America; I usually prefer to stick with a familiar plan rather than change things up mid-course. But, the more I thought about it the better the idea sounded. I still haven't thought of a good way to circumvent the dangerous areas in South America where I'd be likely robbed several times a week. In Europe, that wouldn't be such a major concern. Walking down through the United States would be fun, mostly because I have many friends to visit all along the way, but that's only the beginning of the trip; once I left the US, I would still have many thousands of miles through unfamiliar jungles and wasteland in Central and South America. Europe, on the other hand, would have more frequent towns and villages where I could resupply and find odd-jobs. Survival can be a very persuasive factor, but the biggest advantage to me was the historic land marks. From the very beginning, this whole adventure has been about studying the Bible and learning more about God and Christianity. Walking South America would be an exercise in solitude and jungle survival(not exactly conducive for scholarship), but Europe is packed full of ancient churches, significant landmarks, and historic sites. I'm mostly interested in literal Bible scholarship rather than church history, but the history does reveal how Christianity came to be so off-base and contrary to the original Bible. If I can grow to better understand how we got to be this way, maybe I will understand how to restore our beliefs back to the pure teachings of Christ and the true messages of Scripture. This has been my life's passion for many years, and a walk through Europe and into the Holy Land would give me the best possible education for that mission.

     After much thought, prayer, and deliberation I have finally decided that I want to continue my walkabout on the other side of the puddle, but this introduces several new factors to consider. The first is expense. Not only do I need a way to get there, but general expenses in Europe would be higher. It's also unfamiliar territory, and I won't have a string of friends to visit along the way. With all these complications, I'm feeling like I am not ready to leave right away. I need time to plan this out and I need to save up some finances to pay for it all. So my plan is to wait a year and travel to Europe next spring to start in England and work my way to the mainland and south toward France and finally east toward Israel visiting historic Christian sites along the way.

     That leaves me in another dilemma. Where should I spend this next year working? I could probably get my summer job back at the golf course in Maine, so that's one option, but even in the summer, the climate in Maine is a lot cooler than I prefer. To be honest, I'd really like to stay here in Florida. I love the community here at Sunsport Gardens and I love my church here where I've been getting involved. I feel at home here like I can't remember ever feeling before. I could make a home here and finally start a family. Honestly, if I spend the next year here, it's going to tear me apart when I have to move on next spring. I can easily see myself settling down right here and forgetting about the entire walkabout. I've thought about it, and it's tempting, very tempting. But then I think about all I'd miss. The people and places I'd never see and the lessons I'd never learn. It's easy to give up the unknown in favor of security, but I'm not ready to do that yet. The fear of a stagnant life keeps my heart on the horizon. As much as I long for a settled life, it's too early. Someday I'll settle down, maybe, but not yet.

     So, the new plan is to head to Europe next spring. Mary-Anne doesn't think she will have enough work to keep me fully employed all summer, so I'm trying to get a regular job in the area, but if I can't find work here, there's still a possibility of returning to Maine for the summer. Right now it's all up in the air. As usual. Please pray with me for wisdom, guidance, and provision through the coming months.

Jan. 19 - Hibernation in Paradise

                As of today, I’ve been here at Sunsport Gardens for a month. It’s been a very leisurely life; very different from the grueling 30-mile a day grind. Part of me wants to settle down and live like this for the rest of my life, but deep inside I know this is only for a limited time. Maybe someday I’ll come back to this life and settle down here, but for now this reprieve is only temporary. At least that’s how I’m feeling at the moment. Honestly, my life could go any direction from here. Most of all I want to study the Word and grow spiritually; where or how that happens is yet to be seen.

                I worked for Mary Anne for two weeks before she got word that her mother had died and had to fly immediately to Ontario. I was staying on the resort as her guest, so her departure should have left me without a place to stay, but things worked out for me to remain on the resort, and when she gets back I expect she will want me to continue work, so my immediate needs are met. Other’s here have also spoken to me about job possibilities. I applied for an online job and I passed all the qualification tests, but it’s been a week and I haven’t been given an assignment yet, so I don’t know if anything will come of that.

Until Mary Anne gets back, I have plenty of free time which I’ve spent on an in-depth study on the life and teachings of Christ. I’ve been praying about how I might start some small ministry or outlet, and the thought has occurred to me that I might be able to start up a weekly Bible study here. In a conversation with one of the pastors from Community of Hope, he also suggested that I consider a Bible study here, and just the other day Dave, the manager here encouraged me to start a weekly study group and told me that I would have full management support! I guess the message is clear, I’m supposed to start a Bible study group here. I’m a little intimidated by the thought but I’m sure it would be an interesting experience. I have had many engaging conversations here about God and spirituality. A small minority here are conservative Christians, but most who call themselves Christians track in the more liberal direction. Several who I’ve talked to mix Christian beliefs with pieces of other religions and philosophies. Despite the broad range of opinions, everyone seems to have a good opinion of Jesus as a person. They disagree about what He taught and stood for (they all seem to think that He secretly agreed with them) but was misrepresented in times since. If I’m going to organize a weekly event, I feel the best place to start would be with Jesus and what He taught, so that’s why I’ve been focusing all my free time on that. I’ve spent several days pacing the loop around the resort listening to a lecture series on the life of Christ and taking notes as I listen. I’m hoping to get a topical outline together in time to start the study sometime in February.

                When it’s time for a break from the studies, there’s plenty other things to enjoy here on the resort. The pool, hot-tub, and sauna are always nice. There’s also a variety of events put on including a weekly oldies dance, potluck, karaoke, and other activities. There are also organized games of volley ball, tennis, and Pétanque. Neither the social events nor the competitive games interest me much. I prefer the nature trails, Bible study, and my writing projects. There are several young families with children that live here and I’ve greatly enjoyed interacting with the kids. They love to catch the little snakes and lizards that live in the back woods. Yesterday I spent most of the day out there with a ten-year old girl hunting through the forest on our hands and knees. We originally set out to catch critters to put in a big plastic terrarium, but we ended up switching over to air potatoes. Air potatoes are seed pods that fall from an invasive vine that grows everywhere here. Since management wants to eradicate the plant, they pay 10¢ a pound for these seed pods. After crawling through the bushes for three hours we found forty pounds of the air potatoes. We pretended to be raccoons foraging for food. By the end of the day we were both covered from head-to-toe in dirt, leaves, and scratches, but I had more fun than I’ve had in a long time and she got four dollars toward a pet bird she wants to buy.

                A couple days ago I found a rusty old bike on Mary Anne’s lot. I inflated the flat tires and with a little WD-40 the shifter started working, so I took it into town last Wednesday to run some errands. Kasey Castle runs the student ministries out of Community of Hope and she heads up a young-adults Bible study at Panera Bread every Wednesday morning, so I went to that and then spent the rest of the morning  shopping for a few supplies and depositing my recent earnings in the bank. Though Sunsport is in a very rural area, this nearby city has all the conveniences and big supermarkets I could need, so it’s a great location. Besides the Wednesday morning group, I’ve also started going to a Tuesday night Men’s group at the church. I’m attending a membership class on Sunday afternoons right after the church service, but when that finishes up I’ll be going to another young-adult’s study on Sunday afternoons. I’ve been able to meet several people at the church and they all have been wonderful! They made me feel like family as soon as I walked in the door, and the more I get plugged in the more thankful I am that I found this group. I was at a beautiful concert there last evening. A particularly emotional song brought to the surface a great deal of pain over family issues I’m dealing with right now. When a young man I’ve never met saw me in tears he put his arm around me and just prayed for me! If all churches had such compassion for broken and hurting people, America would not be in the condition it’s in.

                I may not be done my traveling yet; I may have more exploring to get out of my system, but when all is said and done, I feel like I may have found the home I’ll be coming back to. I love the family-oriented atmosphere at Sunsport. I can’t think of another place I’d rather raise my kids and I love Community of Hope church right down the road and the town nearby. Ultimately, my life has been so crazy and unpredictable it would be silly for me to think I can plan ahead with any certainty. But all the same, I like to have a default plan in the back of my mind just in case the unexpected doesn’t happen. My default plan for now is to wait out the winter here in Florida and then this summer re-try the walkabout from Canada to Argentina. After that I have another dream of touring Africa on a motorcycle and visiting every country on the continent. I’d like to do something in Europe too, but I can’t think just what yet. Maybe on foot again or maybe a tour in a small motor home. By then, I expect I’ll be ready to settle down, so I’ll head back to whatever place was my favorite along the way. Maybe that will be here, but I’ve hardly begun, so it’s impossible to say at this point.  I’m completely in favor of a young lady entering the picture, but I fully realize it’s not likely I’ll find someone who considers a hand-in-hand walk to Argentina as a good date. Compound that by the low chances of finding someone who shares my unusual faith and philosophy and it becomes clear that I’m praying for a miracle. Maybe the romance will come along after I’m done my travels, but my heart aches a little at the thought of waiting that long. That’s all in the Lord’s hands and I trust Him with it. My driving focus remains to seek after Him with all my heart, soul, and mind. Any logistics beyond that will be handled one day at a time. Since I’ve more-or-less settled in for the winter, blog posts will be less frequent, but don’t hesitate to remind me if I go too long again. I’ll try to keep occasional stories posted about anything of interest than happens.

Dec. 24 Community of Hope

                Palms West Presbyterian Church is having a Christmas Eve candlelight service so I finish up with Mary Anne a little early and start the walk over. It’s two and a half miles so it will take me just under an hour to get there.

                Within a half hour I pass the spot where I spent the night on my way up, and soon after that I am nearing the turn where I should go left to the Presbyterian church. Right on that corner though there is another building that looks intriguing. Much like Living Hope in Pennsylvania it has a contemporary design but still looks like a church. I can’t see a sign, but it’s Christmas Eve and there’s a crowd of dressed-up people going in. I know the Presbyterian church is having a service, and I already know people there, so I hesitate for a minute about experimenting with a new church sight-unseen. Eh, might as well…

                As I round the front of the building I see the sign “Community of Hope.” Hmmm… A little ambiguous, but promising. I definitely like the architecture, I remember someone mentioning that a church over this way was just built within the last year; this looks like the one. The front lot is bustling with people coming and going. According to a sign out front the first service is just ending and the second one will be starting in about 20 minutes. As I enter the door greeters are handing out flyers. I take mine, and almost pass by but the lady stops and takes a second glance.

                “Is this your first time here?”

                “Yes, it is.”

                “Oh! Welcome!” She points to the far end of the wide foyer. “Help yourself to a cup of coffee down there, it’s free. The service will be starting in just a few minutes.” I thank her and make my way across the bustling foyer. Screens mounted on the walls are flashing through announcements and showing a countdown to the service start. People are standing around drinking coffee and talking excitedly. There are comfortable chairs set up in circles and as I near the coffee bar there are tables and chairs set up like a café. The entire effect is a very comfortable, inviting atmosphere. The crowd is thicker around the coffee bar and there’s a short line. Several people introduce themselves to me and I end up talking and telling my story for a while before I get over to the counter and get a coffee. The people here sure are nice! The décor also says a lot about their cultural awareness simply because it’s not designed to look religious and churchy in the way that would intimidate some people and set a liturgical tone. The countdown on the TV screens is getting close, so I head over toward the auditorium. The ushers are handing out candles as we enter the large room. It is packed full of people and it won’t be easy to find a seat. Near the front I find an empty chair on the end of a row and settle in. Larry and his wife (a couple I just met in the foyer) are sitting right across the aisle from me. There’s a huge widescreen display above the platform and it’s flashing through the same announcements that were playing out in the foyer. On the bigger screen I can see that they aren’t just text thrown up on a flat background. Someone with very good graphical design skills has put these visuals together very professionally! That’s impressive, and like the design of the foyer, it shows a level of savvy and intentionality beyond what I normally see in religion. I haven’t heard anything about their doctrine yet, but I can see it showing through the atmosphere they have created in the place. I’m getting the feeling I’ve just stumbled across my church home, and it’s walking distance from the campground!

                The worship team steps out on to the platform and starts up. They’re good that’s for sure, and it’s songs I know and can sing along to. The leader is at the piano and he is beaming! He engages the people and truly leads with a contagious spirit of worship and celebration. This man is spiritually gifted! Later on I learn that his name is Billy Langley and he is the “Creative Arts Pastor” He not only leads the music and worship, but he’s the one who creates the professional graphics I’ve been seeing and he was even involved in the building design. Between songs they show a safety video about the candles. It’s home-made, but again surprisingly well done. The entire crowd is in stiches while the characters try to light candles with defective lighters and set each other on fire. The especial effects and editing show again that someone with significant skills in video editing has put this little video together. I haven’t even heard the preaching yet but I don’t think I’ve ever been so impressed by I church!

                When it does come time for the message, the pastor steps up and shares a beautiful Christmas message. I’ve been going about my walkabout and worrying about work, finances, security, and a place to sleep. I haven’t bought a single Christmas present and it’s been mostly over 80 degrees, so it hasn’t even felt like Christmas time, but suddenly I feel overcome with Christmas spirit and celebration for the coming of Christ to this dying world. I have tears of joy and thankfulness in my eyes. I couldn’t have asked to have found a better church and such a perfect place to live in a beautiful, rural Florida neighborhood! My life is just about perfect right now.

                

Dec 23 Mary-Anne

                The morning dawned cold and wet. My sleeping bag and the grass around me is drenched in dew. I can’t decide if skipping the tent was the right choice. I have to meet Dave at quarter to nine for church, so I hurry boiling up my breakfast and packing my things.

                When Dave picks me up I meet his wife Becky, and we head off to Palms West Presbyterian Church. They have a traditional service at 10:30, but we’re going to the 9 o’clock contemporary service. Dave says the traditional service is quite formal, so I’m glad they have two services. It’s a lovely building with beautiful floor-to-ceiling glass walls on each side of the sanctuary. In his usual jovial fashion, Dave eagerly introduces me to many of his friends. They’re certainly a friendly and joyful group of people and it’s a blessing to be surrounded by Christian family again.

When the music starts up it’s mostly songs I’ve never heard before. They aren't exactly chart-toppers. The cadence and rhythm just doesn’t flow smoothly. I’m usually a really bad judge of music; I just don’t have the refined taste to notice the subtle nuances, but even I can tell that the lady on the microphone leading the singing is not a talented singer. Maybe it’s just the songs, I don’t’ know, but something is off. When she reads through the announcements for the week I can’t detect a personality. There’s a pair of large screens displaying the words for the music, but the video guy seems to be struggling to keep the words centered on the screen or even on the correct slide. For nearly half of each song, he’s flicking through random verses and choruses trying to find what slide we’re on. For friendliness and hospitality this church gets an A+, but not so much in the media department. No biggie though, that’s not a major issue to me, but I know it often makes a strong first impression for visitors; especially in my generation and younger.

                When the young pastor steps up to the platform, the fourth Advent candle is lit and he preaches a topical sermon on the theme of the fourth candle. He has a solid exegetical style and a faithful adherence to the text. He seems like a really nice guy too, with a humble, personable attitude. The sermon closes with a chorus where we all hold hands and sing a song. There’s a half hour of refreshments and fellowship before the traditional service starts, so I meet several more of Dave’s friends and enjoy a few snacks. His wife, Becky needs to stay through the traditional service to sing in the choir, so Dave brings me back to Sunsport and drops me of at the front office.

                I’ve just got a half hour left till I have to either sign out or pay more, so I need to go find this “Mary Anne” that supposedly has some work for me. Her lot was pointed out to me earlier. It’s a large lot, actually just about the largest in the whole village. It’s hemmed in thickly by broad palm fronds. There’s a mid-sized RV and a Volkswagen camping van in the parking space. Behind them in the thick trees there’s a camper trailer that looks like it’s been parked there for 50 years. There’s a rotting deck built most of the way around it, and old cedar shingles have been nailed directly to the aluminum shell of the camper. I hear a circular saw running out back so I work my way around to find a middle aged man building a storage shed out back.

                “Is Mary Anne around?”

                “Uh, yea, she should be right inside.” He starts toward me.

                “Theresa at the office told me Mary Anne might have some work for me.” He opens the door to the camper and enters calling out her name. There’s no answer.

                “It looks like she must have gone somewhere. She’s probably not far. She’s easy to spot too. She’s the only person here with multi colored hair.”

                “Multi-colored?” He nods. “Like… natural colors?”

                “No.”

                “Okay, Thanks. I’ll see if I can find her.” As I turn around a see a large older lady pulling into the driveway in a golf car. Her grey hair is filled with highlights in purple and pink. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess this is Mary Anne.

                “Hello, Mary Anne?”

                “Yes!” Her smile is almost explosive.

                “I’m Aaron Frost, Theresa at the front desk told me you were looking for someone to do some work for you. I’m looking for work in the area, so I’m available for hire. Are you still needing someone do to that for you?

                “Why yes! Absolutely!” Wow… she’s… spunky!

                I’ve got several years’ experience in both grounds maintenance and carpentry…” she interrupts.

                “Oh, so you’re a landscaper!!” Well I didn’t exactly say that, but…

                “Yea, depending on what you want, I can probably do whatever you need.” She seems elated by this prospect and hurries me over to the far side of the camper where she wants to put in a walkway with masonry blocks. You don’t’ have to be a landscaper for that. As we round the other side of the camper there is a large addition actually constructed directly into the back side of the camper and adding nearly three times the original footprint. The back yard is overgrown with native palm shrubs and bushes. Between plants there’s a variety of items that make the lot look like a cross between an art studio and a land fill. The items are strewn and piled everywhere. Some of it looks like it’s been here since before I was born. Mary Anne explains that the spot used to belong to an artist. I can see evidence of his copper sculptures and plaster casts sticking out from underneath the overgrown vegetation. Al is working away busily on the new shed out back. As we circle the building Mary Anne points out one project after another as fast as she can talk. Within minutes it seems like she’s just suggested several months’ worth of work. She’s the kind of person who has difficulty completing her sentences. She will start talking, but get stuck on a word she can’t remember, get impatient and just jump straight to her next idea. I’d say she’s one of the most eccentric people I’ve met. Ever. As we round the next corner there’s another camper that looks even older. It’s literally rotting straight into the ground where it sits.

                “This is the main project.” She informs me. “Moorley says that if I don’t have this shed emptied and removed by the end of the month, they’re going to scoop the whole thing into a dumpster and bill me for it!” I’m thinking if I was her I’d take the offer. Next she takes me into the camper. I guess I should call it a house since it has a deck built around it, hasn’t moved in decades, and has a large addition built on to it. The inside is a rat’s nest of random things in piles from floor to ceiling with narrow pathways. She points out a flooring job that needs to be done and a tiling job in another section. I’ve definitely got some job security here!

                “So are you saying here on the resort?” She asks

                “Well, I came yesterday on the free-day pass and just rented a tent site for the night, but I wasn’t going to be able to stay unless I found work to pay for a membership. If you think you can keep me busy for a while I’ll go ahead and sign up to stay for a while.

                “Oh, you don’t need to do that. My membership allows me to have one guest for free, so you can just stay here on my lot if you like and I’ll even feed you.”

                “Well, that sounds like a really good option actually. That would save me quite a bit!”

                “Hop right in the golf cart and we’ll head over to the office to get you signed up as my guest.” Within a few minutes I am officially approved to stay at Sunsport indefinitely for absolutely no cost whatsoever! And I have a job! It’s only minimum wage, but with my living expenses covered, it’s all gravy! This is a huge answer to prayer! I never even imagined something this good working out! She treats me to lunch at the restaurant and we head back to her lot and get right to work.

She sets me up emptying an overstuffed closet and setting up shelves inside. As I unpack the closet I find a mixture of tools, supplies, food, and anything else imaginable stacked into the spot. I’ve got a feeling this is going to be one of the most interesting jobs I’ve ever had. On the list of things to do I’ve got tiling, landscaping, carpentry, gardening, and more grunt-labor than I could ever list. Mary Anne may be crazy, but she’s a cool kind of crazy and a lot of fun.

As it gets dark, I finish up for the day. My hammock goes up between two trees in her back yard and the sleeping bag lines the inside to keep me toasty until the warm sun returns in the morning. It looks like I’m set for several weeks at the very least, and by the time I’m finished up working for Mary Anne, I’ll be better established in the village and more people may ask me to do similar things for them! If I ever do run out of work, I’ll have some savings built up from having lived without rent, so I would have time to look for work at any of the farms or plant nurseries in the area while still living here. I just might end up making out quite well.

               

               

  

Dec. 22 Sunsport Gardens

                I’m awake and vaguely aware that I’m in my tent, but it’s warm in here, so I cling to the night, unwilling to admit it’s morning already. Someone straight across the road owns several roosters, and they seem to be pretty excited about sunrise; much more so than I am. Time passes, an hour, maybe two. I jolt awake to footsteps approaching outside the tent, then a voice.

                “Good morning”

                “Uh, Good morning!” I push the sleeping bag down and fumble for the tent zipper. As it open a see the man come around the tent.

                “Would you like a cup of coffee?” He’s holding out a ceramic mug that’s trailing aromatic steam behind it.                 “We saw you out here last night and were worried about you.” I laugh.

                “I’m just a weary traveler on my way through stopping for the night.”

                “I figured that was it.” He holds out the coffee with a broad smile.

                “Wow! Thank you!” I struggle free of the cocoon and start to rise.

                “You don’t have to get up.”

                “That’s fine, I’ve been awake and it’s time for me to get up.” The mug is warm in my cupped hands. “That’s very thoughtful of you.” It’s delicious and refreshing.

                “You’ve been a long way?”

                Yea, I left Miami three days ago.”

                “Miami!” He flashes the same shocked expression that I’m getting used to. I nod with a smile and take another sip of the coffee. He introduces himself. I forget the name. I tell him the two-minute version of my journey. “Well, I have to head to work. Take your time there and just leave the mug here on the ground. I’ll pick it up when I get home.”

                “Thanks! I sure do appreciate it.” We shake hands and he walks fifty feet to the pickup parked at the end of his driveway.

                Back to my routine. While I wait for water to boil for another pot of oatmeal, I eat my last orange and a few granola bars. Provisions are low. Today will determine a lot. The campground is just a couple miles down the road. It should be open by now. The chances that they need an employee right now seem slim, but maybe if I just want it enough I can will a job into existence. When the tent is folded back into its bag and my things are all packed up I finish the last few miles. Just inside the entrance there’s a small parking area and a modular office. A red-haired girl in her late thirties greets me with a bright smile.

                “Hello!”

“Hi! I’d like a day pass please.”

“Is this your first time at Sunsport?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then I can give you your first day for free.”

“I appreciate that.” She takes down my registration information while we chat. Her name is Theresa. She gives me a map and points out the main features of the resort. There’s a clubhouse building with a restaurant, workout room, lounge areas and a pool table. There’s a heated pool and hot tub, several scenic ponds, tennis and volley ball courts, children’s playground, nature trails out back, and much more. I can find out about the job situation later; right now I’m going to explore the grounds and spend a little time resorting first.

For the next few hours I walk in large circles around the campground exploring the hidden gardens and getting familiar with the main features. Everyone I meet waves to greet me and I learn more names than I can remember. There seems to be quite a few children running around playing happily. Apparently there’s several families that live here. I’ve alternated calling it a resort and a campground, but neither description really gives the right mental image. Many people live here year round or stay months at a time, and there’s a strong communal atmosphere that draws everyone together like a close-knit village. It almost feels like a commune. I’m going to fall in love with this place. At noon I order myself lunch at the little restaurant in the clubhouse. The food is good and priced very reasonably. Then it’s time to check out that hot tub. It’s glorious! I sure could get used to this! A tanned old man joins me, and I recognize him as the owner who was pointed out to me from a photo earlier in the day. He’s been a professor at many big-name universities for many years, and I hear he’s got quite a few stories to tell.

“Are you Moorley?”

“Yes, I am.” He closes his eyes as he sinks into the steaming water, and then turns back to me. I introduce myself and tell a little of my story, intentionally ending on the part about looking for a job.”

“Well, we don’t have much here this time of year. Most of our grounds work and construction is done during the summer when it’s not so busy, but you can talk to Dave. He’s the grounds manager, and he would be the one to talk to about that.” I nod.

“Thanks, I’ll ask Dave about that.”

I switch to the pool, then stretch out on a patio chair to dry off and soak up the toasty rays for a while. It’s still early afternoon when I decide to go ahead and rent a tent site for the night. That will give me until tomorrow and 11am to stay on the resort. Hopefully I can figure out what I’m doing by then.

Back over at the office Theresa puts me down for a primitive tent site and radios Dave to escort me to the plot. Good, this will give me a chance to ask him about the possibility of working here. A few minutes later he pulls up in a battery-powered golf cart and introduces himself. He’s greying man but in very good physical condition. He’s got a peaceful smile and seems like an especially pleasant person. He leads me over with his golf car and, I follow behind to my spot on the bank of a large pond in the center of the grounds. I’ll set up camp later, so I just set my things down as they are, and engage Dave in conversation telling my story and again intentionally ending on the part about me looking for work. He tells me, they are fully staffed on the resort, but that there’s many farms and plant nurseries close by that always need extra laborers. As I tell Dave more about my journey he catches on that I’m a Christian, and explains that he’s an elder at the Presbyterian church just down the road. I remember passing it on my way up, and I was intending to try visiting there, so I tell him I’ll likely see him there on Sunday If I’m still in the area.

I was kind of hoping to work and stay right on the resort, but since I already knew that wasn’t likely, the prospect of working nearby and still living cheaply on the campground is an encouraging prospect! It’s late Saturday though; it will be hard to go job hunting on Sunday, and Monday is Christmas Eve so Wednesday is the next day I’d be likely to make any progress on that. If I knew I had a job in the area, I could get a long term membership for a reasonable rate, but if I just keep paying day fees all the way through Wednesday, I might still not get a job but be all out of money. I can’t let that happen, but I’m not sure quite what to do. Should I save my money by camping out in the woods until Wednesday or count on getting a local job and just put down for long term membership right now? Well, I have till 11am tomorrow to figure out how I want to handle this pickle.

It’s getting dark, so I head back to the clubhouse. They have a free wi/fi signal so I sit in the dining room and catch up on communications and other lose ends. I turn on my phone and plug it in to charge. I’ve got a voicemail message! It’s from Theresa and the front office. She says a lady named Mary Anne was asking about someone to hire to do a bunch of labor around her lot. That would be great! Theresa left the message several hours ago though and the office is closed now. I ask around for Mary Anne. Everyone knows her, but no one knows where she is now. I’ll have to see if I can find out more about that in the morning. Dave comes by the spot where I’m sitting with my computer.

“Would you like a ride to church in the morning?” I had forgotten that tomorrow was Sunday already!

“Sure! That would be great!”

It’s late when I pack up my computer and walk over to my campsite. The night air is unusually cold for Florida. They’re saying it will warm up again in a few days and be balmy the rest of the winter, but it’s quite chilly tonight. I’d like to set my tent up, but I feel secure on the campground and I’d really like to get to sleep as soon as possible, so I just roll my mat and sleeping bag out on the grass. Stretching out on my back I stare up at a million stars in the clear sky. It’s a half-hour before my sleeping bag warms up and my mind is busy with concerns about work, money, and living, but for tonight I’m safe, dry, and content.

Nov. 21 Ready to Find a New Home.

                I woke up feeling well rested. There’s only 25 miles left to my destination, so if I make decent time I should be able to arrive this evening. I take my time boiling up some instant oatmeal and eating a few oranges for breakfast. Once the tent is broken down and everything is stowed away I continue down the old side walk. My route, 441, continues on as straight as an arrow as far as I can see with no distinguishing features except the occasional false roadway that leads to nowhere. By 3pm the chafing under my sweaty clothes is back and my feet are sore. I’d like to take a break, but aside from flat ground there hasn’t been a place to sit all day. When I come to another one of the false roadways, I notice that the culvert beneath it creates a place to sit, so I slump down for an overdue break. I eat two oranges, some trail mix, a few granola bars, and a couple bread rolls. I enjoy sitting there for a few extra minutes, but those miles won’t walk themselves.

                When I get up and turn around there’s a man stepping out of a pickup truck right behind me! I didn’t hear him pull in so I don’t know if he just pulled in or was waiting for me to finish eating. I call out as he walks up to me.

                “Hello!”

                “Hey, on my way to work this morning I saw you camping by the side of the road and I just wanted to stop and give you something and wish you a merry Christmas.” He hands me a 20 dollar bill.

                “Wow, thank you! That’s very thoughtful!”

                He tells me about a group of friends he’s part of that was inspired by one of their members who fell on hard times, so now they try to look for people to help out and when he saw me walking he decided to stop and give me the gift. I tell him about my journey and give him the card with my blog information. And after a few minutes of walking he drives off and I continue on down the road. The hours continue passing and I head through the city of Wellington This is an upscale area and there are lots of high-end gated communities that look like they would cost a fortune. I’m definitely looking for something on the simpler side of life, so I keep walking.

                Before long I’m back out in the country again and it’s getting dark. I’m almost to the campground, so I finally leave 441 where I’ve been walking for nearly 50 miles. I turn onto a dirt road that runs parallel to a man-made irrigation canal. It’s dark, but it seems like I’m in a farming area. By 9pm I’m within a few minutes of the campground, but I expect the office will be closed at this hour, so I decide start looking for a place to spend the night.

                Eventually, I notice a patch of mowed grass away from the road but tucked away where it doesn’t look like I’d be camping on anyone’s front lawn. I’m starving so the first thing is to get myself something to eat, but I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep too. Once the tent is set up I settle in to my sleeping bag for the night. I’ll be arriving at the campground tomorrow morning. It’s more than a campground, it’s more like a commune but with facilities like a rustic resort. There are fees for tenting or RV sites and a day fee or membership to pay for use of the facilities, but the first day is free, so that will give me a chance to ask around about a job and enjoy the pool, hot-tub, and nature trails for a day. I’m hoping they need a grounds or maintenance guy, but if they’re not, maybe I can get a job at some of these farms in the area and still live on the resort. When I first set out on the walkabout, I had a purpose to walk the east coast of the western hemisphere, but now I’m just looking for a place to spend some time until I figure out the next step of my life. That takes the romance out of walking mile after mile. I just want to find someplace comfortable and settle for a little while. Tomorrow I’ll find out if I can stay here or if I’ll have to keep moving, but tonight is for sleep.

Dec. 20 Leaving the City

                

                When the McDonalds closed at midnight I had changed into a dry pair of jeans and was feeling a little rested after being of my feet for several hours. Some sleep wouldn’t hurt, but I don’t plan on doing that in this area, so I head off into the dark. I feel sore and creaky, but the night air is much cooler. The traffic is also much lighter and there’s fewer people on the sidewalk, so aside from being tired from a long day of walking, the conditions are ideal for walking.

                By 4:00am I’m dealing with chaffing and blistering on my feet and under the pack straps. Re-adjusting only works for so long as the pain increases. I’m exhausted too and I feel like I could fall asleep standing up. I walk several more miles hoping for some secluded corner where I might be able to tuck myself away for a couple hours of sleep without being noticed, but this area is densely developed. Finally I see a patch of large bushes up against a chain-link fence. There’s a natural hollow behind the bushes, so I pull my cart in far enough so that it can’t be seen from outside. This is a perfect little place to hide away for a couple hours, but suddenly I see movement and a man at the far end rolls over and looks at me for a second before curling back up. Drat! The spot is already taken and I’m not comfortable falling asleep next to someone I don’t know. I pull the cart back out to the roadway and keep going. After another ten minutes of walking I see another small patch of bushes a few feet of the road. I duck my head in and look around to see if anyone is home. It’s empty except there’s beer cans strewn everywhere and it smells like urine. The idea of sleeping here is repulsive, but I’m too spent to care as much as I normally would. There isn’t enough space to pull my cart completely out of sight, but I pull it in as far as I can and sit down with my back up against it. Without even taking the backpack off, I slump there in the straps. It’s nowhere close to comfortable, but I can hardly move. I sit there for about a half-hour resting, but even as tired as I am the road noise from the four-lane road 20 feet from my head is disturbing and it’s not comfortable enough for me to sleep propped up like that with no place to rest my head but I can’t bring myself to lay down on the filthy ground where homeless drunks have been throwing up and urinating. I’ve only got about two hours left till daylight, so I’m running out of time to get a little sleep before the next day starts. I suddenly remember that I have my sleeping mat. I don’t need it for cushioning, but it will keep me off the dirt. I pull it out of the pack and roll it out.

                It’s nearly 9:00 when I’m aware of the sunlight and people walking by. I can’t say I slept very well, but it was something and I definitely feel better than I did when I laid down. After stowing the mat, I strap on my pack and push the cart back onto the sidewalk. Hopefully by tonight I’ll finally be out of the city. I’m charting a course for Sunsport Gardens, a campground inland of Palm Beach. Their tenting rates are reasonable and the area looks like a strong potential for jobs. There’s still two days of walking though.

                I head off and the day passes one mile at a time. My cart tires have slowly been getting spongy, but the gas station pumps all want to charge a dollar. As a matter of principle I refuse to pay a dollar for air, but as I pass a little auto-repair shop I notice they’ve got air hoses, so I walk up to a mechanic.

                “Hey, my tires are getting low on air, could I fill up here?”

                “Sure! We can help you out! Pull that right over here.” The clean one directs one of the grease monkeys to help me fill up and within seconds I’m at full pressure again. I thank them and continue on. I should have thought of that weeks ago! At least now I know how to get free air.

                By mid-afternoon the landscape has changed from run-down city to wilderness and a lot of farmland. The road is as busy and wide as a major freeway, but about a hundred feet from the road is an old paved sidewalk that stretches parallel to the road in a perfectly straight line as far as the eye can see. I’ve never seen a rural road like this with a sidewalk before, but I’m not complaining. Periodically there is a paved turn off from the main road complete with stop signs and curbs, but it ends immediately and goes nowhere. It looks like this area was prepared for development but then never developed. It goes on like this for miles and miles without any distinguishing features. With the stop signs and curbs and sidewalk the complete absence of people makes it feel like a ghost town. About an hour after sunset it becomes pitch black so that I can’t even see well enough to keep on the sidewalk, so I pull out my headlamp. I’m really enjoying these walking conditions. I’m safely away from moving traffic, I’m on a nice even sidewalk, and I haven’t seen a building or another person in nearly five hours.

                It’s nearly tomorrow when I see lights up ahead for a couple commercial buildings. I’m getting tired but I don’t want to get back into anyplace populated, so I decide to stop for the night. There’s no trees to hang my hammock on, but there’s a hundred feet of roughly mowed grass between the sidewalk and the road so it’s perfect for tenting. I haven’t used my tent since the first few days of the walkabout in Maine, so I have to pull it out from the very bottom of my cart. After a few minutes of assembly I zip myself inside and stretch out in the sleeping bag. The grass beneath me is soft and comfortable, the sleeping bag is warm despite the cool night air, and the tent keeps the bugs out. It’s going to be nice to get a good, peaceful night’s sleep for the first time in quite a while.