We built our vardo because we knew one thing about our changing life: we need a small nest of a retreat, a restorative world, where sleep would take us safely to a place of peace no matter what the rest of the day or night was like; and we knew from experience many unforeseen experiences could/would happen. The nest of a place, Vardo for Two, on wheels, has been that for us. The learning curve involved in evolving life with Environmental Illness requires befriending time. The small and nurturing space that could move if necessary, like wings on birds who fly on seemingly fragile hallow bones, has been a platform for growing and creating home over time.
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| Vardo for Two as we prepared to move from under the pines |
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| The Hale |
As we rooted into the woods of Langley sharing land and life with our friends we built two complementary rooms: one for showering, laundry and dish washing, hanging our clothing, and listening to tunes; the second room is a Quonset hut recycled from framework used for friends' greenhouse, this shelter is where I write (it holds the computer), store our pots and pans and dishes, a small RV refrigerator and things you'd find in a comfy living room. Both of these shelters were built from materials that I tolerate, but are not as fastidiously built nor did they cost as much to build. We have given these spaces names, and treat them as living entities who do indeed share themselves with us. Pete's talent for building and his application of fifty years of construction and job knowledge incorporates his knack for networking: a big truck helps attract help from like-minded craftspeople. The Hale (pronounce ha-lay) and The Quonset serve us very well and complement the needs of our life with a variation on what a home or a room ought to be. But for a sleeping nest they have their limitations; that's what Vardo for Two is for.
We envisioned our life from Vardo for Two to be one with community. The interview with Julie Genser in 2009 addresses that in some depth. It was never our intent to be self-contained when we built the vardo; we knew our resources at the time had to be consolidated. Therefore, we built a small and beautiful nest meant to be part of the rest of a beautiful real world. The discipline and practices of adapting to the episodes that challenged our physicality and our spiritual body is a learned practice; and it evolves. Like life in general, we learn something(s) every day. Living as a couple in this lifestyle we are a community already. To live in these small spaces we learn so much about give-and-take and the messiness of mistakes. Inseparable and vital to the journey is the spiritual practice of makua o'o, a daily paying attention to become kupuna (an elder); to journal this practice I kept a blog.
Link here to find us on "The Ledge" in Tahuya, WA, the first place we landing after our nest was built. There is an interview with Julie Genser on this link. The interview was conducted shortly after Pete completed the work on Vardo for Two. The Q & A is an excellent investigation into the process, both spiritual and physical, that went into designing, reflecting and timing the building of our home over time.
Find us here in Bend, OR, Everett, WA, and South Whidbey Island, WA.
As the spring of 2017 unfurls we consider what it will take to prepare ourselves for a migration that will place us somewhere warm and welcoming especially during the wet and cold winters. Our plans are developing. If you're on Whidbey Island this summer get in touch and join us for one of our Front Porch Aha.
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