Now it is July and I have had to leave Tucson because it is so HOT!
I just find that when it gets to 100 degrees F+ I really can't cope with it, even with swamp coolers and air conditioners, because in any case you can't stay in the house all the time. The solution I decided was to go north, and so I am on my way to Crestone in Colorado. On the way I stopped for a few days at Zuni Mountain Sanctuary, which is a Gay Commune in the Zuni Mountains of New Mexico.
The Common House Here I met a mixed bunch of mostly Gay men with age ranges I am guessing between 18 and 60. Presently here are here are Arcturus, Orion, Mark, Shawnie, Joel, Coyote, Meka, Balance, Howard, Raif, Maqui, and Katie, plus we have a Zuni Indian lady called Kamie visiting.
Coyote, Maqui, and Mark sit and talk The atmosphere here is for the most part pretty relaxed and "laid back", with frequent coffee breaks between sitting around talking about sex and gender issues, and life and spirituality in general. No one seems pressurised into doing anything, yet at the same time there is no shortage of persons willing to cook or do the washing up, or go into town to buy more food. Some of the people here seem to have come to try and sort out their lives or their head, with others like themselves, and others live here just because they like it.
The View from Common House
This web page and the pictures on it are provided courtesy
of White Mountain Innovations - www.remedydevices.comAt the moment ZMS has a problem with lack of water because their well has run dry. This it seems is because the water table has dropped below the level of their pump, probably the result of more wells being sunk in the area, and because of reduced rainfall. As a result water is having to be brought in each day in a vehicle, and bathing and excessive water use has been banned. The solution is to drill another well, except that funds dont go to that, or maybe to blast out silt and clay from the well that may have acumulated.
Meka browses the web at the ZMS office In addition there is limited electrical power, as it is entirely generated by Solar Panels and a windcharger, but there is at least enough to run the office Computer, a few lights, and the refrigerator.
Juniper House at Zuni Mountain Sanctuary ZMS is located at an altitude of 7,200 feet and if you go there directly from somewhere lower, like Tucson, for example, dont be suprised if you get a ringing in the ears, its the effect of high altitude. Drinking lots of water is recommended, and in hot weather you want to anyway!
The indoor garden at Juniper House Juniper House has a number of bedrooms where residents and visitors can sleep, although visitors are encouraged to bring a tent or an RV. Juniper House also has a discussion area where talks can be given, and the indoor garden gives it a distinctly exotic feeling.
Happy Chickens at ZMS! The meals at ZMS are almost entirely vegetarian / vegan and so chickens are only kept for their eggs, although we will never know where the old chickens go!
The "Tea Rooms" (Home of Joel and Mark)
