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| This particular mom, one of the larger in the herd, is very bossy, snorting and pushing the others away as I feed them by hand. It took quite a while for the alpacas to get to this point of trusting me enough to partake. Now, they seem comfortable around us. |
We never made the assumption that traveling the world would insulate us from the realities and sorrows of life. Without a doubt, we feel the pain, worry, and concern for those we know and love in our personal lives and also for our many readers worldwide who often write privately sharing their personal stories.
Then, of course, are the stories we see on the world news when we have access to a TV, as we’ve had in the past six weeks. While living n Fiji, we didn’t have a TV and with metered wifi, it was difficult to do much more than read a few favorite online news outlets.
Luckily, Facebook, which we didn’t use as much in our old lives as we do now, has the ability to keep us attuned to what’s happening in the lives of family and friends. As for events in the news, we find most comments influenced by each individual’s views and opinions.
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| “Got any treats?” |
In a perfect world, people would keep their political views out of Facebook, leaving those for the more politically inclined websites where they can have at it to their heart’s content. I cringe when I see bashing and bullying of anyone regardless of their political affinity, their personal choices, and their opinions.
I entirely shy away from expressing any political views on Facebook or on this site other than my occasional soapbox ranting about unhealthy chemical-laden food production and manufacturing. Even that, I attempt to keep under control.
This website is not intended as a political arena nor will it ever be. Sure, we’re glued to the TV during the US primary elections/caucuses, staying put today as the primary ramps up on “Super Tuesday” as citizens of many states vote on their choices for presidential candidates for November’s upcoming election.
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| The alpacas respond well to being herded into a different paddock. |
We’ll order absentee ballots to take responsibility for voting as many traveling citizens do. We don’t take this responsibility lightly. Our concern for our home country hasn’t faltered these past years living outside the US.
In many ways, our concerns have escalated as we’re deeply concerned over the state of the economy and the rapidly growing risks of terrorism and disease in the US and worldwide.
This life we live isn’t a “vacation” or “holiday” during which one gets themselves into a playful, festive state of being as an often well-deserved means of escaping the realities of daily life and world affairs.
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| It’s fun to hand-feed them their special grassy feed. Some are too shy to participate. |
Some travelers go as far as avoiding their social media and news as they “escape” into what is often a one or two-week respite from daily life. It’s no wonder it was always so hard to return to “normal” life upon returning from a vacation.
For us, there’s no escaping nor is there a need or desire to do so, perhaps by choice, perhaps by design, perhaps by a certain sense of responsibility we carry with us. It’s not a burden, no more than acknowledging birthdays and special occasions of those we love and left behind. It’s all a part of this reality.
Yesterday, when we spoke on Skype with our accountant in Nevada, our home state of residency, we began the preparation for filing taxes in the US by April 15th. Many people have commented how surprised they are we still are obligated to file and pay US taxes.
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| I’ve spent so much time outdoors with the alpacas and walking in the area, I’ve definitely got a “farmer’s tan” having never once put on a swimsuit since our arrival. |
Wherever we may travel, we remain citizens of the US which doesn’t make us exempt from filing and paying taxes. In other words, you can “run but you can’t hide” which in essence, as a favorite expression, is the ultimate basis of today’s observations.
This is not to say that our daily lives revolve around world affairs more than that of many of our readers. We awake every morning excited for a new day, grateful for good health and the unreal opportunity to travel the world that we’ve been fortunate enough to bestow upon our lives in our retirement years.
Last night Trish and Neil moved the alpacas back to the paddock surrounding our house. I can’t wait to fill the colorful baskets with their special food and feed them by hand while sitting on the veranda. Interacting with all of them, both moms and babies feel as if we’re on vacation, lost in the pure joy of the experience.
Photo from one year ago today, March 2, 2015:
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| Hand-feeding chickens in Kauai. .It’s no wonder the chickens proliferate and hang out at the beaches in Kauai where surfers and bathers can’t resist feeding them. No one seems to mind the chickens and roosters, instead, finding humor in their presence, as we did during our four-month stay on the island. For more photos, please click here. |