Yesterday, Roxanne and I visited the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market.  I hadn’t been to the market in over a year and cautioned Roxanne not to expect anything “overly exciting.”

Boy, was I ever mistaken…

Apparently, in my absence our little town has flourished and now provides a WONDERFUL Saturday market with fresh produce, coffee, assorted bakery items, food, live music,  and a myriad of arts and crafts.   Oh yeah, I almost forgot – there are assorted vendors of popcorn crack (I mean kettle corn).

I love to look at the interesting and varied arts and crafts…

Silver Wear makes beautiful and interesting jewelry from antique silver flatware.  I have a beautiful hammered concho belt and a cuff watch made from spoons that I bought when I first moved to New Mexico.

These “prayer flags” are made from recycled T-shirts by women who live in Ciudad Juárez - a troubled city that shares the border with El Paso, Texas.  Paradoxically, the city is one of the fastest growing in the world as well as being one of the most violent zones outside of established war zones. 

These are dried out gourds that are then hand-painted and decorated.  You could put them on a Christmas tree or if you live in a funky “fantasy” home like me find a place to display them year-round.

One usually can’t visit a public venue without experiencing a little art, philosophy – or both! 

Then of course there is the “free” relaxing art of people (and animal) watching …

The man on the left was a colorful character with his cute little dog.

The lovely girl on the right was “most mellow” dog I’ve ever met.  She was a real sweetheart at the dog friendly event.

How was YOUR Saturday? 

Lately, I’ve been cleaning house and grocery shopping (WTF do vegans eat?) for a planned “guest.”  Suddenly, her wife no longer wants to be connected/married to her and she is in the process of “reinventing” her life as she knows it.  I “grieve” for her because I’ve “been there, done that” more than once.   There is no job or home for her to return to, and I want her to know that I support her and am always available to provide that support while she’s in transition and beyond.

God knows I didn’t always see eye-to-eye with my mother, but one thing she instilled in me is that “down home Kentucky” spirit of being a proper hostess.  I saw it again when long ago I visited the Alsatian region of France.  Everyone’s house I visited with my friend Chantal, invited us in for wine and food.  In Kentucky (Hazard in Southeastern Kentucky to be exact) is much the same – you “fix” your visitors full meals and make them as comfortable as possible.

So, the guest room is cleaned, the futon bed is made, and the refrigerator is full of “healthy” food.  It’s a southeastern Kentucky thing, my friends…

As for me, I’ve been pondering on the definition of love for the past few days.  At this point in my life, I don’t want any relationship that is “complicated.”  For years, I thought I’d be happy if I just found the “right person” and married again.  However, I know in the long run I’ll be “happier” (thank you very much) just to meet and interact with someone I can relate to.

I’m sorry for the “Tango” connection, but dancing the Argentine Tango has proven to me to be a way I can be “intimate” and still maintain my sense of self.  If done properly, Tango can be a form of surrender (as the follower) and finding the secret sensuality of another person (the leader).  Afterwards, I’m basically happy to “go home” and live my life.  However, I “do” need that human connection to survive and be content (happy).

Sad to say, I’m “girly-girl” enough to embrace the clothes, shoes, etc… that Tango brings to the floor.  I “like” to be admired and adored.  *sigh*  However, WTF – this obviously isn’t going to happen at 61 years of age.  I’m hard on myself.  Sometimes the nuances of the leader in Tango is so slight that I “wait.”  My private instructor told me yesterday – “When in doubt – move!”  However, I wrestle with the reality that I don’t want to make a mistake, etc…

Obviously, Argentine Tango is teaching me a lot about myself.  Some lessons are not taken so lightly and difficult to learn…

Sometimes, I’m a little embarrassed about how I travel.  I have a “vintage” (another word for old) 1985 Toyota Dolphin mini-motorhome.  I “do” keep up the repairs on it, and before I bought it the previous owner redid the entire inside.  (Alas, he wasn’t completely honest on the engine, and it has a rebuilt engine!)

It’s old, but it “works.”  Sometimes I wish I had a huge Class A RV with a sporty car to tow behind, but I’m a retired elementary educator.  Yeah, I could have THAT if if sold my townhome, but I’m not willing to do that at this point.  So, my RV is my “home away from home” PLUS my car when I’m traveling.

My faithful “terror-mix” Cali goes along with me, as well as my 12-foot Perception Tribute kayak on top with my Fuji bicycle on the rear.  My solar panel charges the batteries, and my inverter allows me to run the lights, surf the web, and curl my hair.  I don’t watch TV, but listen to my XM radio and iTunes as I read and have a glass or two of wine.

There’s something “magical” about being in my rig – I’m happier, I sleep better, and I worry less.  Believe it or not, I even eat better preparing my meals using my little propane refrigerator and stove.

Don’t get me wrong – I love my little townhome in the cold weather and during the holiday season.  However, the advent of Spring/Summer awaken within me the desire to travel, see, and do.  I don’t know how the summer will go with my plan to attend Argentine Tango events, kayak some easy rivers, and bike some beautiful terrain.

So, I suppose I’d classify myself as a bicycling, kayaking, hiking, wine-loving, book reading, adventure seeking tanguera.  At this point in my life, it’s a lofty goal!