John & Anne Wiley

2013/12/06

Shadows

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 08:53

At the end of a recent flight as we taxied back to Tripp’s parking spot, I was captivated by our shadow.

6372 Tripp Shadow

6372 Tripp Shadow

Looking at it now gets me pondering shadows back into the past. Not just other flights earlier this year when our shadow passed across other people very involved in the different things they were doing, and only a rare few even notice our shadow crossing theirs.

3252 Shadows Crossing

3252 Shadows Crossing

My mind wandered back to childhood when my shadow was first so fascinating, and it crossed paths with the shadow of my departed Dad who also loved to fly. I’m often aware of the shadow his flying lessons cast forward across the decades, increasing my resolve to learn.

50 Past Shadows

50 Past Shadows

Even further back, before I was born my grandfather’s shadow as an aviator often passed across the landscape as mine now does.

36 Grandfather's Shadow

36 Grandfather’s Shadow

As they are cast from yesterday to today and out across tomorrow, how are the people and places our shadows touch, affected by our passing?

2013/11/29

Lightness

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 05:46

I’m not clear on why, but when we fly out to the Point Conception Lighthouse we always seem to return with an expanded “lightness of being.”

5841 Pt. Conception Light

5841 Pt. Conception Light

Of course, we only fly out there on calm days when the air is clear. In other words, very seldom. Usually there’s fog, haze, low clouds or smoke in the air and the wind is gale force as it rounds the point. So maybe the placid seas and expansive views as we approach the Point, conspire to shift us into deeper connection with the lightness we feel during pretty much every flight.

5843 Getting to the Point

5843 Getting to the Point

In the distance on the right is of course another point that’s within the boundaries of Vandenberg Air Force Base, and VAFB hasn’t so far allowed us to fly close enough for good pix of that. Luckily the dunes, rocks, sea caves, and heather here are quite enough to enchant the visitor.

5840 Point Conception

5840 Point Conception Enchantments

A relatively new resident on the beach, just barely visible on the narrow beach in the second pic (#5843) above, is Gingerbread. A lovely lighthearted name for this little sailboat that ended its adventures there.

5845 Gingerbread

5845 Gingerbread

As you can see from the sand that is accumulating in her cockpit and hull, she’s slowly sinking for a second time – into the beach. Yet somehow the sadness I feel in seeing this process further along every time we fly there, is transformed by the expanse of magnificence surrounding her. The dreamers who once pampered this little boat, have now moved on to other expressions of love.

Immersed in the experience of Lightness flying over this magical place, it’s easier to remember that Love is about Letting Go.

2013/11/13

In City and in Forest

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 02:36

There’s a line I like in an old Leonard Cohen song, “In city and in forest, they smiled like me and you.” I’m reminded of that theme looking at this home hidden in a forest right here in paradise.

4973 Forest Home

4973 Forest Home

It’s so lush and secluded, surely it’s in a jungle far from everything. But from the air we can see how it’s nestled among orchards, greenhouses, mobilehomes, and not far from the fascinating wetland and beaches of Carp.

4975 Well Placed

4975 Well Placed

Barely visible at the bottom of the pic, you can see how well placed this home is for a quiet life with easy access to the relaxed playground that is Carp and all the culture Santa Barbara has to offer. I relax just looking at it. 🙂

2013/11/07

New Wealth

Filed under: Aviation,by Anne,Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,SB Region — Anne @ 09:56

The title of this post is not to imply that We have new wealth – but it seems some do and are putting it into homes they will live in – or at least visit!  Though we live way modestly in this town, we counted our blessings in the air today – one of which was that we were in the air… 🙂

As we flew above Santa Barbara, I (Anne) noticed how much construction is going on. Surprised me in the midst of this economy. These are the crème de la crème of course – Montecito and Hope Ranch areas of ultimate wealth. I thought to show some construction that is happening.  For example, this is Oprah’s:

5348 Oprah rethinks her style

5348 Oprah rethinks her style

We fly over ’cause everyone knows O and her property is large & easy to spot. Though not new construction, she has been doing a major remodel, and recently auctioned off most all pieces of art & furniture – & even 5 small motorcycles? Her African school that educates girls will receive a boost in funds from the sale. On closer view, these guys are carting things out of her Montecito home, presumably to accommodate new items that she will enjoy more.

On the Hills – more challenging terrain:

5285 New Constrtuction

5285 Hilly House & Terracing

Also in the Hills, below, with lots of space to call their own.  See all the tiles sitting on the roof.   Bet the owners hoping they are in place before the rains come.

5290 Expansive

5290 Expansive, tiles stacked on roof

Now we’re along the coast from the SB Harbor to the airport.

5424 Smaller with beach below

5424 Turret and more

Maybe a mo-in-law unit in the back, above?

A pool going in while construction is happening:

5428 Along the coast

5428 Along the coast

Below is the biggest place, and we’ve been watching it develop for many months.

5433 Hope Ranch Manse

5433 Biggest Newest Hope Ranch manse

Just for context, the next photo shows the setting for the above biggest newest mansion, just so you can see where it sits:

5436 Biggest plus Lake

5436 Biggest plus Lake

It’s on the coast, see the beach below. Then note the LAKE that was developed on this property too. We refer to it as “Hope Lake” but have no idea what they like to call it.

We imagine the life these folks might have – and wonder how they came upon funds to live in this way.  And we happily fly on by!

~by Anne

2013/10/30

Escape

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,Relationships — John @ 02:16

I once yearned for Escape. Not just from urban life, but at one point from even civilization itself. Now I’m quite happy living on the edge of “Goldilocks” Santa Barbara, small enough to escape rush hour but large enough to have plenty of arts and culture. So it’s easy to understand people in urban Silicon Valley wanting escapes like this farm offering a taste of rural life.

4906 Escape Farm

4906 Escape Farm

Visitors can test their escape skills on the mazes, or escape modern life on the “hay ride” winding its way thru the fields at upper-right. Kids can escape the supermarket and discover the joy of choosing a pumpkin right from the farm at upper-left. Further up the central valley, my beloved Uncle has created his own escape.

4887 Escape the City

4887 Escape the City

Among the innumerable canals and waterways north of Sacramento, he planted rows of eucalyptus trees to escape the relentless winds. He created a dream home to escape the tensions of everyday life.

4892 Escape Dream

4892 Escape Dream

I dampened his dreams of escaping the encroaching corporate agroBiz by moving to Idaho, when I told him how global warming is making annual monster wildfires the new normal there. I decided there’s no escape during my own attempt, when the quiet valley where I once enjoyed a -40F winter morning ten miles from the nearest neighbor was invaded by hunters on snowmobiles. Until we leave this life or at least this planet, maybe the only escape is to the sanctuary we always carry within us and with our loved ones.

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