This week presented the challenge of compressing 5800 sq. ft. academy/second home and almost 27 years into a modest 10×15 storage unit. I liken it to the natural birth of our 9lb 2oz baby. While the later culminated with embracing a gleaming cherub, the former not nearly as attractive, both seem to have defied the possible and given a great sense of triumph. Although we premeditated well ahead of time the contracting of these past few weeks, the forethought did not make it any less agonizing.
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The arduous process of sorting through administration has a way of pulling you out of the emotional and into the rational. There is no sentimentality in sorting through ancient receipts and maturing paperwork. Although, I will say that the stacks of paper set for destruction and shredding gave a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Just like a home, one seems to expand into the space, and we sure did at PAMA. I have been known to be zealous when it comes to shedding and giving away unnecessary items. There is a certain sense of bliss in that it for me. (Anyone need any picture frames?)
As you can tell from the video, the collections and collections of martial arts weaponry (all of which are NOT included here), personal equipment, books, and memorabilia are immense. I am thankful that we all share the same enthusiasm for the Martial Arts so the collections will continue to be appreciated. After moving everything into storage our daughter’s only protest was that she wanted her wooden dummy back!
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For Rick, I applaud him for his poise and grace as we undressed the walls of his numerous certificates, honors, and magazine articles. All of which must have given him pause, as it did me, to deconstruct a lifetime of accomplishment and dedication. Stripping not just the physical but also, the attachment that is held in all of the honors and titles that he rightfully earned through years of sweat and determination. I admired one last time the wall of his honored instructors/teachers and stood in awe at the boxes and boxes of private lessons and seminars videos that he has retained as well as his massive amounts of personal notebooks.
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Interestingly, as we delicately packed the moving truck with collectables, weapons, historical martial arts periodicals and photographic memories one would anticipate sadness but there was lots of laughter and our hearts were light. It is freeing in a way to know that the “stuff” is just material items and really does not define us.
In closing, I would like to quote one of Ricks all time favorite artists Paul McCartney from one of his solo albums. It is very fitting for Rick at this time.
“It’s the same me that stands here now
When I think that all this stuff
Can make a life that’s pretty hard to take it in, that was me”
Current and past students came from far and wide to reunite and live the experience one last time as a master, Guro Rick taught his last seminar as owner of Princeton Academy of Martial Arts. It was an excellent seminar, as all of us have become accustomed to as students of Rick. Taking advantage of the unseasonably beautiful weather, the attendees worked through various knife work drills outside in the sunshine. Later in the afternoon things progressed inside the Academy with knife disarms, tie-ups, and Rick guiding people to brainstorm their disarms issues, using it as learning experience for the students. The last elements covered were Kali/Silat entries and takedowns. There was much information shared but Rick’s intention, which he made clear, was to give the attendees something that they could take home, practice, and progress with.
The mood of the day was uplifting and high energy, one could feel the electricity about the room. The mood was blithe with over 50 attendees, many of which could not help reminisce throughout the day. And yes, at the closing there were some eyes welling. As I perused the group, watched Rick teach during the seminar, and spoke at closing to the group, it was difficult not to get teary and get choked up.
I believe that many others feel just as I do. It has been nothing more than magical. For almost 27 years Rick has made PAMA a place of solitude. Within a group one is truly alone with oneself while training. Uniting the mind and body daily, because no one can help, as you are getting punched and kicked or the weapon being wielded towards you. You must be in that moment with yourself, feeling the life surge through the physical body as your human instincts kick in. Not that of maiming or harming another but, that of self-preservation and preservation of life. More and more in this world there are very few places where we can truly feel, understand being alive and in control of that life right down to our core. And sometime even shaking within that core from the sheer bliss, release, and relief.
Living and breathing the warrior’s path even till his departure; Guro Rick over the years has shared not just the physical parts of the arts but analyzing and discussing the details of the human psyche. Altering students not just in the flesh, but also in the dark corners that most people do not want to explore. No one is truly losing Rick as an instructor, every time people train they will be able to hear his voice and visualize the motions and hopefully, more importantly, live through his guidance as courageous warriors.
He is not leaving martial arts completely nor will he be leaving his students floundering. They will be taken care of carefully by the new Sifu Mike Lee and Lao Si Mike Wolhfert and the rest of the assistant instructors. This blog was created as a meeting point for us to all to remain together on this journey. I imagine that Rick and I will continue to talk about Martial Arts daily as we do now and continue to train but, I do look forward to what genius may come out of this transformative process.
The original estimates notwithstanding, here is a glance at the actuals:
10 Nights
8 Hotels (Including a pre-trip Newark Airport hotel)
20 Stops (Meaning a meal, coffee, or sleeping)
And a whopping 1123-Miles when we dropped of the rental car
A Visual
So why the healthy jaunt through Cali? It was a multi-faceted excursion and very practical (in theory only). We wanted to catch up with some old friends while simultaneously cramming in every part of California we could possibly explore for future inhabitance. This petite window helped us to rule out some parts of California for future living. SEE RESULTS LATER IN THE BLOG
We are exploring California intently because there are many things about the state itself that we appreciate. As a resident of the state, Bill Maher summed up many great points via his “New Rule” method. Beside those points the weather and alternative public charter school funding and support are both sizeable pluses.
Every day 1 of traveling amazingly our daughter goes to sleep at 8:00 PM, even during travels into a different time zones. This trip was no exception. Over the years several people have asked if that is when we, the adults, turn down. Oh no, no, no. Our secret hide-away, especially in warm climate or in this case not so warm, is always a room with a balcony or when not outrageous, a suite. In Cali this time of the year, balconies consisted of layers, a scarf, and one night, a very strong contact high. A friend with 2 children once suggested always get a hotel room with a big closet and make it a special treat with lots of pillows and blankets to tuck her in but I would feel too guilty and besides 3 in a king size bed is not bad. After one early rising, I did do something I promised as a parent I would not do. The unthinkable, a bribe of a gluten-free cupcake or treat that day if she went back to sleep and it worked like a charm (OK, more than once). Alright, so it was a win-win and in California these are easy to come by.
Checklist of the abundant accomplishments this excursion included:
Trip to see amazing healer in Fullerton. Ancient Chinese secret – our lips are sealed!
Watched the remarkable Alberto Villoldo PhD speak to his organization, The Four Winds Society, and reuniting Alumni from his classes. The consummate orator Alberto never disappoints. Also got to sit with him and his partner Marcella and reconnect with some other people that we have met through the organization.
Bruce Lipton lecture – WOW! Simply astounding. Oh just a little epigenetics and cellular biology defining the molecular pathways connecting the mind and body.
Time spent with the Drunken Taoist, Daniele Bolelli a favorite Italian Martial Artist of ours. Daniele, an author, was originally introduced to us when he wrote the Martial Arts book On the Warrior’s Path. It was great to catch up and have our daughters meet for the first time.
Santa Barbara – Lovely, lots of elements that we enjoyed. Along with other spots in Ventura County we appreciate it for the Arts, Culture, and greenery.
Monterey Bay– This was just a stopping point for us on our trek. Great vistas but wow the pier restaurant hawkers were bordering on belligerent! Sorry we don’t want your chowder sample or to eat at your tourist trap. We did however as you can see from our last blog Enter the Travel Guru enjoy some tasty authentic Brittany-style crepes on the pier at the Crepes of Brittany.
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Here is where things start to get blurry. Onwards towards the Bay Area, the rest of our trip, which was supposed to be more investigative, was somewhat transformed into touring time. We could tell right away that it did not feel right for us permanently. Berkeley, which was supposed to be 2 days, we changed just to a lunch, too concrete jungle. Petaluma – nice but obviously very San Fran suburbish. Wine Country – Beautiful but touristy. Los Gatos – Nice to visit but can you say Stepford Wives? We did manage to squeeze in a visit with my artist friend Tara de la Garza and family but bummed that it did not line up for a visit to my author friend E.V. Anderson. By the end we realized that we were way to ambitious but got the information we were looking for.
Although we love travel and seeing new places switching hotels that many times is crazy and unadvisable unless running from the law or driving cross country on a deadline. Contrasting hotels in other countries, most American hotel breakfasts include a personal hell filled with over-processed, high-carb foods so that is a pass for us and we head out early. Our plans for big travels include renting places for a few weeks to a month and ah yes, breakfast sitting in our PJs.
With that many miles logged we could not help but play a healthy game of cat and mouse. Not with the police, mind you, but our old foe the GPS.
In park, set the destination and receive the arrival time.
Finito. Arrive at that time.
This technology is incredible and must be far more developed then we can comprehend. No matter how fast our pace the arrival time never seems to get any nearer. During the infrequent moments when it does, we are destined to encounter a speed trap thus requiring a bit more time be consumed. Is the technology really that high tech or maybe, just maybe, we are monitored even more then we realize and the Matrix already knows our speed habits? Our profile definitely fits the compulsive and competitive lead foots so we are categorize and triumphed over on every occasion. Ok, one time we won by 5 minutes but that small trophy was not very gratifying for blowing 85 in a 55 plus all of the additional energy spent praying to the police gods promising to be good if they turn a blind eye once again.
Without further ado onto the results…
For us, Southern California. We will see in the end but in contention nonetheless.
Tuckered out we returned to New Jersey with no traffic tickets and our gained wisdom of the 3rd largest state only to get catapulted right into the tumultuous packing Rick’s personal effects from PAMA and the taking apart our home. It is daunting and exhilarating all at once, collapsing and deconstructing not only the physical but also the Egos attached to it all. We are making progress on all accounts and in the mist of it all my ever resilient partner is planning out his seminar for this Saturday, his last as owner of PAMA 😦 🙂
How did we decide to become sojourners? Some background:
Rick and I do not make take grand decisions lightly. We have been contemplating a move for quite sometime. How long? Believe it or not since 2008. We think BIG. Places we have examined in detail and even house hunted and bid on houses including as near as Hopewell, NJ and as far away as Chile, Southern Sweden, Nicoya Peninsula Costa Rica, Ojai CA, Sedona AZ, and Asheville NC. Other visits and research include but not limited to Boulder CO, Brattleboro VT, and Great Barrington MA. All great places but in all cases things did not seem to click or materialize for us as they should, so the search continues………
Comments and suggestions welcomed! PS we are of Mediterranean decent, moderate climate preferred 🙂
Our Search
We began this process and intention as a couple and continued when our 2 became 3 with more fervor. We feel even more of a desire for a community with creative like-minded people, nature, sustainability, art, and culture. How can we continue the search with a 3-year-old in tow? Easily when the origin of her name is Happy Woman/Bringer of Joy. For those of you who know her, she is without a doubt just that and one hell of a seasoned traveler already. Starting at 3 months she has already racked up frequent flyer miles going to Europe 3X, Central America 3x, the Caribbean 1X, crisscrossing the US 13X by plane not to mention long car rides up the East Coast. The apple doesn’t fall far from the trees.
As I write this we are mid-trip driving up the coast of Cali. OK, READY? You may get tired just from reading this……… 10 days, 12+ stops, 6 hotels, 816+ driving miles (+ local miles) and lots of investigating and examining for a possible future location for our family after our sabbatical. Very ambitious for just two adults let alone with a little one and she does not watch TV so the car rides are creative.
Crepe connoisseur Monterey Bay
It has been a lesson for us from our little buddha. In anticipation of our trips around the world Rick and I are being schooled with some great travel wisdom that will truly come in handy.
Why not wear your favorite clothes over and over? Favorites over function, if you find them after rifling in the suitcase it doesn’t matter if they are worn and possibly with stains. You need much less than you think. Leave the rest home and this will make the packing very light.
In adverse situation with controversy between travel companions just be quiet. Testy when our blood sugar drops? Simply said, “Mom and Dad stop talking to each other.” Done, problem solved – Ferme la bouche!
No matter where you are the place where you sleep is “Home”. As in – after dinner 3-hour time difference and you are kept awake in anticipation of the 1-hour Fall Back daylight savings time change, “I am really tired, I really want to go home —- I want to go to the hotel.” Ah embracing the blog namesake.
Fitting Quote found on LA wall!
– Saving the Cali trip details for the next blog but here is a teaser: It involves world-renowned authors and friends Daniele Bolelli and Alberto Villoldo as well as Bruce Lipton.
Living Wherever We Are 