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