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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Starting Over from Scratch

Just over a year ago, I traveled with my children across the continent with a van-load of musical instruments, art supplies, camping gear, cooking tools, a cooler full of food and a few special treasures (mostly rocks).  Since the route closely mirrored the path of the Oregon trail, across the Great Plains and over mountain ranges, our auto was dubbed the "Vanestoga",  commemorating the Conestoga covered wagons of the west-bound pioneers from the late 1800's.


















We had no pre-established arrangements, no specific destination other than the State of Oregon, no home base, no employment, no friends....yet.  
Attitude is the difference between an ordeal, and an adventure!




We made the cross-country drive in six days and arrived at the Oregon Coast.  Now what?! 
After a couple of weeks meandering the state and exploring various locales, we found a lovely community in the Willamette River Valley, both kids enrolled in school and the rains came.  We were still camping.  For the first time in the deGaia family history, we were bound by a public school schedule and considered "homeless" by the established order.



















Cost of living here is much higher than the land we had come from and Magic Mama was an unknown.  It took us 7 months to procure a temporary physical address.  It's challenging to get a job without an address and even more difficult to secure a rental home without verifiable local employment.  This was compounded by the fact that I have been self-employed for YEARS as Magic Mama, Eco-Edu-tainer.  My resume looked a bit like this: 


Master Bricoleur and Eco-Edu-tainer. Mother, Artist, Musician, Educator, Ecologist, Visionary Activist, Guerrilla Gardener, DIY Diva.
Performer,recording artist,engineer, booking agent, creative director, web manager, merchandise production, sales, song writing, roadie, set production, transportation specialist, educator, photographer. 

LOL! 

Fortunately, we met some local angels who were willing to take a chance and trust me.  I did some substitute teaching at a Montessori school, painted a couple of murals, and held out for a job I didn't need to sell my soul for.  I wasn't willing to work for any-ole corporate chain store for minimum wage.  Enter GTF: Gathering Together Farm.  



I wanted to put myself smack dab in the middle of the local organic food economy.  Working a wage job has to come with certain added benefits to make it worth-my-while.  I felt good about what and who I was supporting with my time and energy, it provided my family with the best food, my son (the aspiring chef) became a part of the kitchen crew, and it catapulted us into the local good-food community.

One year after our Oregon landing, we finally found an actual home; a tiny little duplex in town that has a bit of yard where I can do some gardening.  It was a year of challenges and blessings, new friends, hard work and beautiful hikes.  

Now, feet on the ground, Magic Mama is ready to rise!












Magic Mama is an Eco-Edu-tainer who performs Organic Hip Hop & World Beats for all ages. Through her music, Magic Mama delivers an empowering and hope-filled message of love and respect for all and inspires creative thinking and Earth-friendly actions.
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