Dam Kids Ranch

Had a lovely day at the Summer PEEP Party here in La Mesa. Saw lots of great friends, old and new. The AtkinsonnPlumeria Farm is a kind of magical place, and it was very cool having chickens and ducks and bunnies all nestled among sweet smelling flowers. We snuggled baby kittens, talked chicken, and had a great time. Sold a few birds and only came home with one more (listen, the struggle is real).

Thank you Butcher’s Chick Chickery for the cute little chocolate boy, I can't wait to see how he matures.

Massive thank you to Sarah Violet Atkinson and Atkinson Plumeria Farm for hosting this event. Investing in local community has such deep rewards, and this was a lovely expression of our community.

We've been quiet this past week or two. Life has been lifing pretty hard, and its taken a ton of energy (that we didn't have to start with) and time and sweat and swear words. It has me thinking of all the people we call on as our community, and how grateful I am for them.

When Rebecca and I were first together during Covid, one of the goals we set was intentional community. Its something neither of us really had and something we both believe in strongly. The human species is not meant to "pull up our bootstraps" and do everything ourselves. We've literally evolved in close knit communities for hundreds of thousands of years! I'm really proud of how far we've come, and thankful for the folks who have invited us into their lives.

Sarah Violet Atkinson has been a champion of community as long as we've known her, and I love that we can work together to fill gaps for each other's families! Beckett Boggs is our constant third parent, the maker of grilled cheese sandwiches, and frequent school shuttle. Alaina Jacobson has shown up a thousand times for a thousand reasons and I love that her family feels like our family, too. My sister Amy Muse has shown up in person and stepped in SO much with our mom lately, and its taken a lot of the mental load. Heather Mathis keeps me slightly more sane by listening to my rants and telling me that I am in fact right and people DO suck. Our neighbors Angelica Killion and Frank have kept us alive with soup or enchiladas a dozen times at least when we have some plague or another. Lisa Clement and Khara, who I've known for over 30 years (holy s**t), are those friends who are ALWAYS there, no matter what.

Community is family, friends, neighbors - anyone who gives and receives support, food, labor, and energy.

Who is in YOUR community?

(Pics from our cruise with 2 of our lovely community!)