Palm Springs is where gay men come to open galleries and old people come to die.

why am i here?

dropping my friend off at the airport tomorrow, picking up little bro, and then here's the itinerary, with maybe (probably) a few stops in between:

Quartzite, Arizona - i've always wanted to go here, for a few reasons - rockhounds abound, and i like rocks, and there's a big honkin' legendary flea market and i love sifting through junk. plus, it's on the way from here to the Taos area, where i'm supposedly going to end up. Also, a good place to stop for the day/night so we can drive the rest of Arizona during the day and hit up things like the Saguaro National Monument and stuff.

Tucson, Arizona - mostly i'm stopping here because i need a pair of new Chaco sandals and they were out of everything in my size here in Palm Springs. If you've got any friendly contacts in Tucson who could put two people up for an evening, that would be awesome. we will have plenty of smokey treats and dinner to cook for the favor.

Aravaca, Arizona - this town lies between Tucson and Nogales. I had some really lovely campmates in Joshua Tree who told me about this town (when the campsites in Joshua Tree get full, people often ask if they can share with you. We said yes, and got REALLY lucky). Aravaca is home to a group of workers from No Mas Muertos, aka No More Deaths - check them out here - www.nomoredeaths.org/ - this is an organization that offers humanitarian aid to migrants on the Mexico/US border, and those crossing through the Arizona desert. I'm especially touched by the work that this organization is doing.

Los Cruces, NM - because duh, dude, it's the lowrider capital of the United States. This I gotta see. Besides, if any of those vatos get too fresh with me I know how to curse 'em out in Spanish.

Silver City, NM - surrounded by nature, hippie communes and hot springs. Worth checking out since it's on the way.

Truth or Consequences, NM - I've got a friend here doing fantastic eco-work. I wanna say hi and see what she's up to. Plus, more hot springs and all that...

Santa Fe, NM - mostly to toss it out there that i've arrived; Santa Fe has a really great community of freakfolk and more opportunity for finding work than the Taos area.

Arroyo Seco, NM - my little spot outside of Taos where the beautiful, freaky people gather.

that is, at the moment, my little southwest tour, as by the time i get to northern new mexico it will probably be time to get a little hustle going to feed myself... also, i am putting it out there to the universe and who knows, perhaps some friends of friends - what I really need in my life right now is four walls to call my own for a while, at a rate of free or dirt cheap. Ideally this place would be close enough to my friends and an internet connection that I could deal with the world when necessary but not at home. In the MOST perfect situation, it would come with a friendly dog (a crazy res mutt or blue heeler, or a hound that howls at the moon) that I'd need to take care of for a while.

and that, my friends, is as far as i've gotten for now...