A note from NZL about beautiful pluralistic living

[Posted to my person Facebook page on August 28]

Im part way thru a two week tour of New Zealand, and helping me get over my cold is the heavenly Koru Riverlodge (thank you Jenefer Duane!), where I woke up at a peaceful pace in a big ol’ bed with my woman, and then took a tea and a towel out to the swimhole, hammocks, and jacuzzi to chill with the ducks and other birds and spirits, before checking out and taking the most beautiful drive between Coromandel and Hamilton. Oddly, I’ve been a bit fuzzy amid a full spectrum of emotions watching current events at home from afar. Today, I decided its mostly nostalgia, from sharing the road with all kinds of utes (utility vehicles) and the occasional motorcycle, motorhome, and classic car, along all the switchbacks through mountainous farmland and coastline. Like my childhood in West Virginia, here people preserve the environment, wave to each other, and are actually happy, not just faking it as they aim to out-hussle the next guy. Like a lot of Americans, I’ve forgotten what its like to be happy, but here foods are way healthier, and better, and so is the music. Everyone’s just so cool - the kinds of kind, simple living, mostly pagan wearers of metal band shirts that american hipsters wish to be like. Last night, over mussel chowder and local beers, we overheard a table sing happy birthday in Te Reo Maori, and talked about how there is tremendous ethnic diversity here, yet kiwis make it work under one beautiful culture. I wish more of my country(hu)men could see this, feel this, make this our reality. Anyway, good talk. Book editing continues. Next stop - Napier, NZL. #partbogan #thefuturewedaretocreate