It's official...

A herculean effort over the past week has finally resulted in an official new mailing address! Keep those postcards and letters coming to: HCR 74, Box 21409, El Prado, NM 87529 I had wanted an official Taos address; however, El Prado is a neighboring area just outside of Taos and the good news is that there's a neighborhood box at the end of my physical address on 19 Wisdom Way Rd so it's convenient way to collect mail from all you well wishers and bill collectors...
Now I just have to get a library card (later today) and I will really feel settled in and ready to begin work on the reason I am here in the first place! Tomorrow's the official day of beginning on compiling interviews and turning recordings into a book. My last "nesting" investment was a new southwest designed/colored tablecloth and napkins purchased yesterday in the retail mecca of Santa Fe - and that was a colossal effort as well but I won't bore you with the details of retail withdrawal in Taos and the mystery tour of finding the perfect tablecloth in SF. I had made the trip to Santa Fe to my new orthodontist to finish up the last haul of my braces. Dr. Cook married the same year I was born - if that gives you any idea of his age! He chuckled when he met me - he said that he's a pediatric orthodontist -but would swear to the fact that I'm only 18 - and made me promise to keep that secret as well.

I also just found out this morning that I will begin training at the new health club on Friday am and Sat afternoon - the recent hire did not work out (not because she didn't like it but she was already overcommited with graduate school, etc.)and I will be working 3 shifts per week: Weds, Thurs, and Sat afternoons from 1:45 pm to close - about 20 - 22 hours per week. Given the workings of the stock market lately and cost of living in Taos this is a welcome experience - to at least cover groceries and gas each week.

Speaking of the stock market it's a challenge to not get freaked out by recent events... Especially if you're investor and you don't have a clue (probably nobody does)how long this downturn will last and what it will take for the market to recover. I have had the privilege of living off the interest from my investments -and up until about 6 months ago that wasn't affecting principle that much. Now it's a different story - one that gives me pause about appropriate next steps and how to keep my "nest egg" safe in these volatile times. Of course banks can declare bankruptcy (many smaller ones have) - do we buy bonds or hide cash under our mattress like in the old days? I know that buying into fear and the prospect of scarcity doesn't help bring abundance and the flow of money into your life. Maintaining calm and positive thoughts is a spiritual practice especially when "reality" and the media focus on its opposite. Perhaps having a TV right now is not such a positive development - I've lived without one for almost 3 yrs - it will take discipline to only "tune in" to entertaining and hopefully thought provoking movies versus the "doom and gloom" of network news stations.