Tense Tents

Past tense pretense

You might have read this. Read it again. The incident (actually that whole day), tested our new relationship…

In brief, my partner asked me to bring her the blue bag. I chose the wrong bag.

Almost a year later, we are still together, still learning, still compromising, and still learning to express our individual needs.

You may have read that we spend 7 months in the Arizona desert, living in our vehicles. And, I hope you have read about what we have been doing to help our neighbors comprised of over 3,000 or more folks living in cars, trucks, busses and tiny tents.

We call ourselves the Desert Denizens and our three goals are helping newcomers to safely and stabley erect tents using the proper equipment, providing showers vouchers for the quite costly showers in Quartzsite, AZ and the Thursday Meals program.

The Thursday Meals feed 40 or more people every week and we deliver each meal . It's a minimum of 6 intense hours not counting the weekly shopping and prep. A LOT of kitchen gear is needed.

Until about a month ago, all that gear was jumbled in one tent and the tent also held the craft supplies of the very crafty Seren8y. (Sewing machines, ironing board, comfy chair, bolts of fabric)

The tent also contained cases of food. Many cases of food.

Outdoors, there were two pallets more of food and supplies covered with tarps but still vulnerable to the weather, sand storms and rodents.

Because Seren8y is the chef, it was my job to find the cookware and utensils she needed. Remember how this went down last spring? I do. If it's my job to find it, I need a method, a routine, a consistency.

I needed an extra tent dedicated to the Thursday Meals program. And tables. I lobbied hard. I got my tent! I can walk into that tent and see every piece of equipment we own. I know how many cases of corn is in stock. I know how many boxes of gloves and foil we have. I know were all her utensils are located. I am at peace.

She now has her dedicated craft tent.

All is well.

Or is it?

She is a dedicated student of Buddhism. She rises at 5:00 am for meditation. She studies via zoom meetings. There are several breakout face timing groups. For many months these requirements were met outside or in her van. Her beautiful outdoor altar was covered with sand.

Guess what she wanted. A meditation tent! She now has two tents to my one.

I actually love the meditation tent, a place of peace and tranquility.

We've grown together, not perfectly but beautifully.