Tag: west

July 10, 2018 – Petaluma, California

Thus begins the depressive slide into normality. Living with family, working a cush job, spoiling myself with television and increased alcohol consumption. Not for a lack of trying: I’ve sent messages to hosts listed in the Petaluma area …

July 4, 2018 – Sausalito, California

BOOM. CRACKLE, CRACKLE, CRACKLE. When it comes to bartending gigs, I’ve had much worse in every sense of the phrase. This one in particular comes with the occasional “banquet” shift, consisting of an outside-the-event-room setup right on the …

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 …

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 …

June 5, 2018 – Sausalito, California

“So…what is this ‘Jubilee’?” …I ask Jeff as we sip our drinks at the local Starbucks. Unable to bring myself to adopt his methods (borrowing a newspaper and using their hot water to make tea), I purchased a …

June 2, 2018 – Sausalito, California

A Day in the Life of Nicholas “North Bay” Miller: I wake up from my bench-bed on the starboard side of Jeff’s twenty-six foot sloop (sailing boat with single mast and only one head-sail). He greets me and …

May 28, 2018 – Sausalito, California

What a nightmare. It’s Memorial Day in Sausalito, California. Countless tourists flood the streets. They come to see the sights, visit the shops, enjoy the weather. With this view of San Francisco, who can blame us? I’m walking …

May 19, 2018 – Sierra Foothills, California

Sweet relief. I feel a welcome sense of accomplishment as I watch the guests tour Meibao’s farm. We’ve worked many hours getting this place into shape. Weeding, mowing, brush and manure removal. Spreading compost and wood chips, building …

May 18, 2018 – Sierra Foothills, California

God, I hope to be half as good of a father. …if I ever am a father. It’s a Friday night, and Meibao brought Cassidy (a new “WWOOFer”) and I to a local musical performance. The band is …

May 13, 2018 – Yosemite National Park, California

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom… I think to myself as I jam my left foot into the crack. At least I talked to her the other day. With no cell service at the farm, and certainly none in this …