Monday, April 20, 2015

Q is for Quest



What are you searching for?

Me, I’m searching for peace and yet,
living in the desert was almost too much peace.
Our neighbors were snowbirds—
A sighting was as rare as seeing a White-winged Scoter 
or a Red-breasted Merganser.
The only sounds were golf carts and maintenance men with grass blowers.
 
(Google images-white winged scoters)
Can there be too much peace?

Right now, we live a mile to the freeway and in our bedroom it almost sounds like the ocean. We can walk to the store and many restaurants. A hospital is one mile away. So are traffic filled roads and all kinds of realities. Yes, Dorothy, we’re not in Kansas anymore.

Before we lived in the desert, we lived a few miles from this current location and remember it as bucolic horse ranches. Ancient oaks now only a memory, the builders have stripped this romantic land and filled it with two story homes. Ours of course, is one of them.

While content in the desert, we had to move for personal reasons. Temperatures reaching 129 degrees didn't help my case. I was the ostrich with my head in an air-conditioned home--writing--thinking everything ‘rocks’ but not everyone agreed. We were at least six miles to any store, church or hospital. Oh, and nighttime temperatures didn't cool off. At 120 in the day, it would be 98 at night. The gorgeous clay mountains surrounding our home held onto the heat like an oven. Needless to say, I wasn't complaining. I’d rather be warm than cold but it was never all about me.

Our quest is not over. Perhaps we will find the serenity we're looking for here on Earth and if not, there's that promise of a place in Our Father’s house. I imagine it as peaceful, without any road noise or grass blowers. I imagine the temperature is perfect and the view divine.

 We were searching for something when we came here. Are you on a quest too?

10 comments:

  1. I think I have finished my questing - have found my last home, found my contentment I'm all ready to become part of the dust. I enjoyed deserts in my youth but always for moving through I never hankered to live there. I liked the wide open skies the emptiness and peace. I have found a place which is green but still has enormous skies:)

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  2. I'd have to agree with Alberta. I think I've found what I want and need...finally.

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  3. I have found my peace.
    And fortunately there are no grass blowers.

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  4. I suppose I could answer by saying I am a man in search of a quest.

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  5. 98 at night? Ouch. I like the heat, but not like that. I think it would be nice to have that kind of peace and serenity...for about a week. Then I need a little of the hustle and bustle of the city.

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  6. My quest for a physical location is complete. I'll be here in Florida. However, I have a mental and emotional quest that's forever changing! :)

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  7. I think for some the quest continue. But as much as I am happy were I am for me their are always places to see and possibilities.
    Health wise the quest goes on.

    cheers, parsnip

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  8. I have lived in many beautiful places. All had positives and negatives. I enjoyed them all, but then grandkids started appearing and I live within 30 miles of each of them so I hope I won't be moving again. I do quest for more peace emotional. Great post. Really enjoyed it.

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  9. I too love quiet and the desert, but I wouldn't want to live around snowbirds.

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  10. That hot weather would get to me; being close to a freeweay would get to be (been there, done that) I like where we are at right now so the quest for the present time has been satisfied.

    betty

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