Updated on March 4, 2019
October 1, 2018 – Willow Creek, California
What an incredible group of people.
There are nine of us around the “WWOOFER kitchen” tables. It’s an open kitchen, and therefore susceptible to the elements. Tonight is a nice night. One of us prepared a family-style meal, and others will volunteer to clean up. There’s a rotation of sorts.
[I arrived at the winery mid-afternoon and was greeted by a fellow WWOOFer. He introduced me to the leader of the volunteers, and I was given a tour of the grounds. More of the workers were met; pleasantries were exchanged with all. I was then guided to my camping spot and informed that despite my initial agreement with the owner to stay for one month, they only had enough work for about another four or five days…]
There are cases and cases of wine stacked in the kitchen, of which the workers appear to be free to consume at will. I kindly refuse their offer and explain my “Sober October” tradition. Great timing, Nicholas.
[Less than a week? Better start looking for another host tomorrow… Regardless of this news, I set up my tent and retrieved the necessary accompaniments from my car. When was the last time I used the tent? Why don’t I camp more often?]
As we eat dinner like a family, I can’t help but ask everyone for introductions and places of origin. You don’t have much time here. Don’t be as shy as you normally are. Then, as if we just started a class or job together, one by one:
Johanne – France (fearless team leader)
Greg – Greece (apparent resident fashionista/comic)
Kay and Kelly – Leesburg, FL (sibling traveler combo, the first I’ve ever encountered?)
Scott – San Diego, CA (fellow-30-something-solo-guy)
Nehem – Spain (Medicine man? Ayahuasca guide? Who is this strange and mysterious man?)
Nicholas – Ames, IA (30-something-solo-guy)
Gabriela – Bolivia (spunky, sexy, single…?)
Rein – Holland (tall, hungry, thirsty, hilarious)
[Satisfied with my camping location, I decided to walk around and snap some photos of the beautiful vineyard. I’ve been a consumer of wine for years. A server of wine for even longer. It’s about time I learn something about producing it.]
My comrades then inquire about my purpose and intentions at the winery, as the owner (Miles) had told them ahead of time that I wanted to do some filming. I give them a brief explanation of my project and ask their permission to film all that I can during my time here. Everyone responds in the best way. Most of them also agree to an interview.
Could this be any better? So many people… will I even have enough time for it all?
[I just arrived, and already wish I didn’t have to leave so soon.]
“The future is uncertain but the end is always near.” – Jim Morrison
Posted on February 14, 2019
October 1, 2018 – CA HWY 1 (Part 2)
The weather turns.
No more stops for photos, I guess. Oh well.
Pass Elk, pass Albion, pass Mendocino.
The interview with Andy went well. God, that guy was hilarious. Can’t wait to put the video together. I made the trip to Oakland on my way out of Larry’s place and stayed overnight at Andy’s place. After filming, I couldn’t help but inquire about his plans for the following day. Tons of work to do, and no help, he says. Explore Oakland, or help Andy? Easy decision. Andy and I part ways properly: after a hard day’s work on the farm. He will be missed.
Fort Bragg. Newport. Westport. Merge back onto the 101 at Leggett.
To wrap up the family stay-cation, we had a nice meal at The Spinnaker. Being served almost feels foreign when you’re always the one doing the serving. This is a rare treat to be cherished. Though I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the chance to spend more time with them this year, moving on will certainly, if nothing else, highly increase my productivity. It’s just so easy to want to relax on the couch and have a beer with Jeff and Terrie, watch some football…
I drive through Garberville, Myers Flat, Fortuna, Eureka, and Arcata.
Getting close now. I feel excitement, intrigue, and relief. Excited for the new experience. Intrigued by the potential interactions with others. Relieved to get fully back to my project. I don’t get nervous anymore. When did I stop getting nervous?
Is the “routine of change” becoming too routine?
Take the 299 east toward Willow Creek.
“As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge.” – Henry Van Dyke
Posted on February 7, 2019
T50YP PROMO 2019!
For my fifth year of The 50 Year Plan, I want to do something special. This year, I am offering up to 40 hours of my labor to one lucky winner! All you have to do is “share” the T50YP Promo video on Instagram (The50YearPlan) or Facebook (Nicholas Miller, The Fifty Year Plan). That’s it! Good luck, and thanks for participating!
*CONTEST CONDITIONS*
To qualify, the winner must:
1. Live anywhere in the United States.
2. Provide three character references.
3. Provide food and shelter for the duration of time spent working (typical work exchange expectations apply – see more at https://wwoofusa.org or https://www.workaway.info).
The winner will be selected at random and announced by early March, 2019.
Posted on December 31, 2018
July 25, 2018 – Mammoth Lakes, California
…And in the blink of an eye, our time is up.
But we made every minute count. This year’s “cousin trip” locales included:
-Downtown San Francisco
-Sequoia National Park
-Tioga Road (Avoiding Yosemite Valley due to fire closures)
-Mammoth Lakes
The original plan was to camp in Sequoia and Yosemite, but it seems that each year the fires are determined to foil our plans in one way or another. We have become increasingly efficient and strategic; from shopping and meal planning to deciding what hikes and activities to engage in each day, it feels as if we grow more and more skillful as a unit each year. My brother is the wildcard this time, but he will learn and adapt quickly if he continues to join us in our adventures.
The highlights? Hiking the Mammoth Crest trail that overlooks Crystal Crag, Lake George, Mammoth Mountain, and much more. Driving through Lee Vining Canyon along the eastern edge of Yosemite National Park. Hiking the Tokopah Falls trail and witnessing the tallest waterfall in Sequoia National Park. Observing the beautiful, smoky sunsets at Sunset Campground. Cracking open cold beers by the fire. Deep conversations. Falling asleep to the sound of the endlessly flowing nearby stream. Above all of these, however, I cherish the opportunity to be with family. In a time when most of our relatives are more distant than ever and family gatherings are nearly non-existent, these trips mean the world to me.
Sadly, they’re never long enough.
And now it’s back to the daily grind. On a positive note, I’ve started working (through WWOOF) at an organic vegetable farm outside of Petaluma. The owner is named Andy – an extremely pleasant person to be around. He lives in Oakland, so staying with him would not fit well with my job in Sausalito. The agreement is nearly perfect for my situation: I make my own hours (typically working a half day or so), enjoy a nice meal with Andy and any other “WWOOFers” at the farm, and receive a box of fresh veggies each time I work. His produce is sold to local restaurants and schools, which provides me with a feeling of satisfaction and reward.
Simultaneously, every hour I volunteer at the farm relieves a bit of the guilt I face from living with family.
“Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.” – Voltaire
Posted on October 21, 2018
June 27, 2018 – Sausalito, California
Oh, God… Jeff got robbed.
The back hatch is open; the bow window is open as well. The second kayak and paddle are gone. I shine my flashlight around the interior of The Jubilee. It’s a mess. Papers everywhere, stuff on top of my stuff, some shoes…
Wait. Unless?
Unless Jeff is back early. I go out to the deck and look for his kayak on the public beach (as opposed to the dock, where I’ve been docking and locking the other kayak). Oh, thank God… he’s just back a couple weeks early. I hope he’s okay. Maybe I just have theft on the brain, given the recent loss of my bike and most recently having some items stolen from me at my place of work.
My.
Place.
Of.
Work.
No matter. I have more pressing concerns now that Jeff is back. When we finalized our arrangement, it came with the caveat that I would move on when he returned. Sharing one’s limited space for an entire summer with someone unable to go out on sailing trips wouldn’t make much sense. I thought I had another opportunity lined up with a fellow “Anchor Out,” but I don’t think I can count on it.
Jeff returns to The Jubilee the following morning. We talk about his trip. Obviously, it didn’t go as planned, but he is in fact okay. We head to the community garden; I water the plants. The stars somehow align and we begin some construction work (raised beds, main deck area for seating). Jeff grows concerned over limiting the space for food growth, understandably, but ultimately settles for the owner’s desires to increase her coffee shop business. We break for the day, but we return for a cookout a few hours later.
This goes horribly wrong.
In a nutshell: It’s cold and windy. And dark. Someone is overly drunk and throwing food on the ground. The last straw, however, is when a man whom Jeff invited shows up to the meal. One of the Anchor Outs immediately shares his thoughts about this man; they are not good. Other members confirm. Bad times ensue.
The gathering ends and I return Jeff to his boat. I talk with him a little about the events that transpired and convey my sympathy for the way they went down. We all know that Jeff only has the best of intentions. But I know his deeper passion for helping his fellow man when given the opportunity. Without a place of his own to prepare and share meals, he feels compelled to do so through the community garden when gatherings are held.
He just wants to feed his hungry brethren.
That being said, I decide to take a couple days away from the drama that has become my life in Sausalito. “It’s nothing personal, I just need some time,” I tell him, wishing him a good night before making my way to my family’s house in Petaluma.
“The ode lives upon the ideal, the epic upon the grandiose, the drama upon the real.” – Victor Hugo
Updated on October 16, 2018
June 15, 2018 – Sausalito, California
“Oh, shi…”
Surprise and instinct wash over me as I tumble into the bay from Jeff’s kayak.
It’s cold.
My clothes are like anchors.
I quickly glance around to evaluate my surroundings and locate the things I had with me and on me. You’re too heavy. Get on the boat. I struggle to climb aboard The Jubilee, leaving the kayak overturned for now. My sandals are floating in the water along with the paddle. Okay, now what? I manage to turn the kayak over from the edge of the boat… for a moment. But there’s too much water inside. I can’t hoist it onto the boat in order to drain it.
Damn it all.
I remove some clothing and dive into the bay to retrieve the paddle and my sandals before they all float away. Toss them aboard. Climb back up.
I’ll have to tow it…
Normally, Jeff would have been around at this time of the morning to help me in this situation. However, we recently came to an agreement in which I would “charter” the Jubilee for $375 (for one month) and he would use that money to travel to the East Coast to see his ailing father and other family members. Before leaving, he made sure to take me on a quick sailing trip around the harbor area. This adventure consisted of me helping him tidy up the boat and test out some sails. Departing from our mooring was a fascinating sight, as Jeff had to quickly navigate around the neighboring “Anchor Outs” using only the power of the wind. It was during this time that I heard him exclaim a curse word for the first time.
Since he was gone, I decided to bring my iPod out to the boat for entertainment purposes. It was in my pocket when I fell into the water. Dead, dead, dead. This, the latest frustration on my list. At the top? My bike being stolen right off of my car outside my aunt’s house the other night. Add to that list my petty financial complaints about work, and I have myself a pretty bad week.
These faults are none but your own, Nicholas.
I fasten the waterlogged kayak to Jeff’s second kayak with a bowline knot and tow it to shore. There, I drain the water and allow the sun to work its magic.
And now, it’s time to start the day.
“Of all acts of man repentance is the most divine. The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none.” – Thomas Carlyle
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