Barter and trade

Yesterday I received a well needed haircut. The woman who cuts my hair is a beautiful soul, yoga instructor, gardener. Married to an artist, living in their own patch of woods. Since I left my old life, she has refused to take money from me. I have paid her in plants, I have paid it forward. Yesterday I paid her in cabbage, kale and lavendar. That was my favorite so far. When Anna was dying she would come to our woods and cut our hair on the porch, just for goodness sake.

Tomorrow I will receive a sure to be delightful massage, from my dear friend Lindsey. Smart, funny and a talented massage and bodywork therapist. I spend time with her beautiful baby boy in exchange for massage. I like to imagine a world where more of this takes place. Where people share what they have, share their talents, their gifts and their love. There is a website Justfortheloveofit.org that is dedicated to doing just that. Connecting neighbors with skills or tools to share, no money involved.

Yesterday I sat writing in the sun. That too, is a trade. A trade off that at times is quite hard for me. My children are with their father for the long weekend. Every other week they go to him for four nights. The following week its two nights. Four is a challenge for me. It is said that children of divorce do best when they have enough time with each parent. Love from each parent. And so they go. This too is a trade. I have had to trade days away from my children for my freedom, happiness and peace. And I think, my life. In my old life, unhappiness was robbing me of my health. So now the time that i do have with my children is truer, and happier and healthier. They have their mother in full spirit. And i love that for all of us. I am thankful they have a father that is so involved in their lives, even though we lead such different lives. But oh, I do miss them.

This morning we worked on the compost, two neighbor friends and I. James uttered the phrase "lets blaze a trail of compost through this place." I love that. Yes, lets. Then sitting, talking, enjoying the day. I used a buzzsaw for the first time and made a new seat for a beautiful old chair I found in the garbage. I have a thing for saws..

I am finding how much I love our communal areas, how much i love sharing. The garden, the swing, the fire pit. The fire pit sits in my front yard. We discussed moving it near the garden, but chose to leave it for its proximity to sleeping children. I love waking up in the morning to find a neighbor sitting in my front yard. I love having spaces that are meant for sharing time together. I love the feeling I get when, from inside my home at night, I can see friends gathered around a fire. Im so glad to experience this life.