October 2, 2018 – Willow Creek, California

Commence work day #1.

We wake up around 7am. Breakfast standard = every WWOOFer for themselves. It’s bottling day, therefore, we divide into day and night shifts. I work the day shift with Greg, Rein, Johanne, and Miles, the owner. I film the process and simultaneously have the opportunity to talk with a very busy man. He expresses his interest in my project and admits to watching a video I recommended for him. He actually took the time? That means the world. Someone on the night shift makes lunch for the day crew. Another cleans up.

Shift change.

Hearing talk of Greg and Rein wanting to go into town, I offer transport since they don’t have vehicles. I need wifi access to reach out to hosts anyway. They go shopping; I sit in a bar and rapid-fire messages to potential hosts within a reasonable radius. This is the second time this year that I’ve needed a quick host – could it be as easy as the first?

We rendezvous at the bar and I call it good on my efforts. Within 20 minutes, I get a call back from someone. Seriously? That’s amazing. Give it some time though. We head back to the winery and Greg volunteers to be the first interviewee. I’ve spent a little over a day with this man and he’s open to this. I love it.

Without much else to do with my evening, I decide to film the night crew at work. I offer to help intermittently. This could be the best gig yet. Someone from the day crew calls us in for dinner; we oblige, we consume, I call it a night.

How fortunate I am.

“Your life will be no better than the plans you make and the action you take. You are the architect and builder of your own life, fortune, destiny.” – Alfred A. Montapert