Freedom

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I've been thinking about personal freedom for a while now.

I experience it every single day. For the first time in my life, my choices are really mine. I realize that there are some restraints, but in the day to day stuff that really means something to me, I relish it.

I can decide exactly when I want to get up every morning. While it doesn't sound like a big deal, to me it's huge. I do my best to appreciate it every single morning.

It is a gift

For years, I knew I had to be at work at 5:45 am, which caused me no end of anxiety. I felt happy to have a good job, but I also felt trapped. My time off sped by too quickly and I never felt as if my decisions were my own.

Now, if I wake up at 3:00 am, I can decide to read, or play on the computer, watch a movie, or just open the window, gaze at the stars and daydream (or would that be nightdream?).

I don't have to worry about getting enough sleep, or being somewhere at a specific time or anything else.

I am free.

Every morning, I wake up naturally, no alarms, no expectations. Since I enjoy the early morning hours, I can get up to watch the sun rise. Or, if I'm in the middle of a great book, I can snuggle down in the covers and read as long as I like.

Or I can just turn over and go back to sleep.

My time is my own. I am free.

When we knew we would be leaving Ghost Ranch for the month of August, we had loose plans, visiting friends in the area, staying at various state parks, some time in Santa Fe.

But then the chance to take the weaving class came up and we pounced on the opportunity, because we are free to choose. And we were thrilled that they offered us a place to stay, again free.

But then our friend offered us a chance to stay on his ranch, and we were free to make a new decision (for pictures of this glorious spot, click here).

Changing your mind on the spur of the moment is another part of freedom

Since we made the excellent choice to have 400 watts of solar put on Cholula Red some four years ago, that has added a whole other dimension to our freedom. Without the ability to live off grid for extended periods of time, our choices would be limited. As it stands now, we are usually able to stay anywhere we like for ten to fourteen days, completely unhooked up to any power source. The only limiting factor is water, but power wise, we are free.

Just some thoughts on how very lucky I feel.

And now I'm off to my first weaving class, free, excited and exhilarated.

I love my life and