Field Note #2: Rain Time

Today is our first Rain Day since we left the farm almost two weeks ago. Which means we not only changed time zones, we are adjusting to Rain Time.

A steady, hard rain lasting longer than a day completely changes how time works on the road. If it’s a travel day, it can bring hidden gifts. It can be a great opportunity to go for a swim or enjoy a spontaneous visit to a little roadside art studio. This is because our normally hot van is magically transformed into a cool van. If I were in motion, I might plan a leisurely grocery shop, or stop for a couple hardware items. I’d do something requiring browsing. I would most certainly do a longer drive if I had somewhere to get to fast. Which is never, so far.

These on-the-move Rain Time scenarios work because Pippa and Cornelius make themselves invisible to me while rain is falling. This is an effort to decrease the risk of being taken out into the rain. Both of them burrow into their respective blankets and don’t even move until the windshield wipers stop, and the grass outside is dry. Ah, the expansion of time available to ME! What freedom! I could shower at any time of the day and use two loonies instead of one! I just realized I could even go to a restaurant if I wanted!

Today, however, I am not on the move and am set up at a delightfully over-the-top camping area for three nights and have no plans to come and go. I have set up camp, and I’m here till Monday. I will not be taking advantage of my “In and Out” privileges. This combination of factors create a very different kind of Rain Time. You have to keep an eye on this kind. Time can squeeze you like an anaconda if you let it in the bus.

I’m struck by how similar stationary Rain Time feels to being on an airplane with a toddler, except the flight is expected to be 24 hours, and I’m both the parent trying to navigate forever, and the toddler needing another cracker to crumble on the person sitting in front of us. Although I do have two four-legged ones to care for, they are behaving like I gave them the maximum dosage allowable for Gravol.

So, for Rain Time in Place, it’s me, myself and I needing the intervention. The risk for Pippa and Corny today is only that I will accidentally sit on one of them.

One thing I don’t recommend for experiencing Rain Time in place, is counting hours. Sucks the potential fun right out of it. Because waking up at 4 am, and immediately determining you have approximately 15 hours until you can put your pajamas back on, can be a bit daunting. That’s 15 hours seeming to require my ideas, initiative and follow through. It wants a plan. Is this a thing? When you have so much time available it starts to feel like the opposite? Like the sheer vastness of it all is a bit paralyzing?!

It wants a plan because I am inside a van. And it’s raining hard. And the doors are all closed because it’s also windy. And I have 16 square feet of floor space. Huh, interestingly that’s approximately an hour of activity per square foot.

I’ll start with my square foot of coffee. Ah, yes. Perfect.

Now only 14 hours and 50 minutes till pajama time.See? Not good. Time doesn’t work like that here.

Rain Time requires more of a “following your feet” sort of approach. No lists. No must do. Too much pressure undoes the magic. Maybe I’ll just move through each of the square feet and see what happens. I could alphabetize books in one block, clean corner cupboards in another. I could consolidate and confine animal items to one area or I could learn how to use google photos. I could take time to care for my nails, or my feet. I could extra floss with all this time!

Sometimes rain time is good for writing. Or art. Right now, as I am still getting settled in, it might mean seeing how long I can comfortably sit at my perfectly crafted, ergonomically measured for me writing bench and desk before my core muscles collapse from exhaustion. Has someone been propping me up with pillows for years?! How come sitting up straight is so painful?! I’m thinking watching Muppets In Space would be a great way to use up at least three square feet of time this afternoon, and maybe I’ll go full rebel and leave my PJ’s ON.

Rain Time is awesome for daydreaming. I’ve been fully immersed in mythology these last few weeks and this morning found myself wondering if Pippa and Corny have some sort of heavenly Benevolents who help them with their day-to- day lives. Maybe there is a Patron Saint of Italian Greyhounds advocating for Pippa’s whip cream on her latte. A hairless Demi-god advising Corny …. gosh, I’m really not sure entirely what he is up to, but I am starting to suspect he is receiving advice.

I occasionally wonder if my team of cosmic helpers occasionally find itself at odds with Corny or Pippa’s teams. Do they negotiate decisions on their respective mountains, deciding who gets their most treasured needs met first? Are there lotteries? Expectations for sacrifices? Curses?

I’m now imagining a full Pantheon of whiskered Celestials advocating for my four legged friends, duking it out on the bus. I don’t think I require a whole Team of Deities anymore. I’m happy to have one consistent B-side, Off-Broadway Goddess responsible for providing generalized services to 60 year old women. Let’s just call her Chin Hair. At this stage in life I don’t seem to need a whole pantheon.

I’m just grateful she lets me know when it’s time to pluck.