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THE CHATTER BOX

	The Chatter Box : Blathering On
	Messages 1 2  Back from the edge of the continent.... by sighthound on 20 November 2007 4:52am   Hi, guys! I just got back from a month on the exquisitely beautiful southern Mendocino coast. I thought I'd be gone about 10 days, taking care of my cousin's wheelchair-bound husband while she had surgery, but she needed more care than he did when when she got out of the hospital so I had to extend my stay. So I've been living in the redwood trees on the top of a ridge with a great ocean view, with no tv, little radio and internet access only when I went into town. I definitely went through media withdrawal (and palinstravels withdrawal) but got a LOT of reading done. Southern Mendocino is certainly unique. It is very remote; the only access is by a vertigo-producing narrow two-lane road (that is frequently one-lane as the highway drops off into the ocean with great regularity.) The coast is rocky and the land heavily forested. Despite it's rural remoteness, since it's a getaway destination for rich San Franciscans, you can get almost any luxury you'd want - at a price, of course. Wonderful restaurants and amazingly stocked grocery stores and, by far, the best bookmobile I've ever encountered. The majority of the population seems to be artists - good galleries and a wonderful Art Center with several performing venues. The resident population is very small and is mostly former hippies who moved out there 20 or 30 years ago, plus local farm workers so, for a rural area, it is amazingly liberal. (Lots of "Impeach Bush/Cheney" bumper stickers.) The only new residents are all rich retirees (or dope growers - but that's another story) because real estate has gotten so outrageously expensive. I've never been anyplace where a community takes care of its own so well. When my cousin's husband had his accident, the local Lion's Club built, for free, an elaborate bridge and deck that would allow him to get in and out of his hillside house by wheelchair. Until Karen recovers, there will be food delivered to them every day by some really good cooks. And there's a Hospice/Respite program that has volunteers coming in three times a week to do chores. It's like something out of a Norman Rockwell vision of America that I didn't think existed anymore. Met a lot of interesting people. It was a very good month.   Welcome back Geraldine! by Lounge Trekker on 20 November 2007 4:57am   I'm happy to see and hear from you. Sounds like you had a refreshing time in Mendocino and I am envious of the positive feelings it has instilled in you. Pete   Re: Welcome back Geraldine! by johnnythemonkey on 20 November 2007 5:06am   Good to have you back G. I, for one have missed you. Mendocina sounds like a great place. I'm glad that your surroundings may have helped compensate for the hard work you put in looking after your folk. John xxxxxx   Re: Welcome back Geraldine! by tucsonmike on 20 November 2007 6:46am   Glad you are back, Geraldine, even though it was for a tough reason. That is nice of the local community to take care of them.   Re: Welcome back Geraldine! by johnnythemonkey on 20 November 2007 8:03am   Don't you see how us guys love you G ? You are no sooner back and your favourite 3 guys ? have posted their thoughts to you. We all love you !!   Re: Back from the edge of the continent.... by sighthound on 20 November 2007 2:37pm   I noticed, John. It made my day. It's good to be back.   Re: Back from the edge of the continent.... by kazzzz on 20 November 2007 2:44pm   Welcome back Geraldine!!! Sounds like you had a really good time. Former hippies...nice one, I might move there.   Re: Back from the edge of the continent.... by peripatetically on 20 November 2007 2:47pm   Welcome abck, geraldine   Re: Back from the edge of the continent.... by geordiegirl on 20 November 2007 6:01pm   Allow me to be the last to welcome you back, Geraldine.Hard work but a fascinating month, by the sound of it. You describe it all so well - the community aspect is amazing, as you say. Norman Rockwell Lives! (And Bill Bryson's parents?)   Re: Back from the edge of the continent.... by suzulu on 21 November 2007 12:36pm   Welcome back, Geraldine. Southern Mendocino sounds a nice place.   Messages 1 2
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