August and September were har work, preparing one house for sale, packing, moving, unpacking, but they are also my Coca-Cola. In other works, they were “The Pause That Refreshes”. It has been over two months since I have seriously picked up my camera and over three months since I have written anything for the blog or newsletter. The break has been necessary, allowing me to continue work on the Grand Canyon North Rim Guide, focus on preparing the Prescott home for sale (it sold), and shopping for a new home in our former digs of Indian Wells, California (we bought). Everyone knows that moving is one of the more stressful events of life. So Barbara and I stressed just bit and have finally finished most of the initial phase necessary to make our new home habitable. 

While doing the required number of fixits for the buyer, packing and unpacking, removing pony walls, and patching new floor tile into their footprints, and supporting Barbara’s design skills, there has been little time photography, but plenty of time for reflection on how to direct my sometimes lessening energies in the future. Reinventing myself is something I have am used to. As my dental skills progressed, I opened new practices to allow those skills to flourish. Between each step, I took some time off from drilling and filling for planning and tanning to recharge the batteries.

In my opinion, this is a good idea for most everyone. Just know what is taking place as you transition. Accept those depressed or doldrum feelings. They actually do you good! Whether it is changing the way you work, the way you relate (or feel that you don’t) to your mate, or revisiting your physical and spiritual needs, be sure to appreciate this essential break. If you have been feeling a bit that way, look at it as a precursor to good things to come. Thankfully, it is never too late to benefit from growth. We all know the old saying “Don’t let the grass grow under your feet”. If you turn over a board or rock that has been laying over green grass for awhile, you know that the grass turns yellow and begins to lack life. A "pissy" attitude turns your personal patoh of earthly grass yellow as well.

Reinventing oneself is pretty much the same for a retired person and a person working for a living, except for the “will it pay the bills” factor. But, if you are still in that category where meeting the monthly nut comes first, don’t let your passion be suppressed completely. Yes, you may have to shoot wedding photos as you are developing your success in artistic photography. A consultant may help you fashion a plan that will get you there. A mentor or coach may help you take all the steps to accelerate and deliver success. 

In determining what my plans will be for the next year and beyond, a number of factors come into play. The most important are:

1. We are in a new location where the easily reachable photo destinations have changed. The California coast, desert and mountains are much more at hand. But I can also quickly reach back into Arizona and Utah.
2. My age is that where with a bit of work shooting my age finally looks achievable. I haven't figured out how to work on this with photography, but Living on a golf course again will mean much more effort in that endeavor. This is also an important time to work on physical and spiritual well being.
3. There is more family close at hand. We will be able to spend more time with them.

Figuring out how the photography passion fits is still a work in progress.

1. There are no current commitments for art festivals. I do enjoy the interaction and the moderate number of sales. There is a possibility I would return to Prescott in May or develop some sort of showing here in the Coachella Valley. 
2. I will definitely work on developing a more substantial portfolio of the Southern California desert areas, including Joshua Tree, the Salton Sea and Anza-Borrego. I currently plan to offer customized photo workshops at the locations I know best. These would be in April or October at Death Valley or Joshua Tree. I may repeat the private Grand Canyon August workshop.
3. I may discontinue the Caddo Lake workshops unless contacted by a small group of photographers who know each other. They have been a ball and if you have not been to Caddo Lake, you should still go! To get a bit of flavor, you can watch the new movie that came out in October, Caddo Lake. It is available on MAX.
4. Blog articles and additions to the website will be occasional. I will continue to work on photography guides that are distributed by Photographers Trail Notes.
5. There will be something else, photographically, I am just not sure what yet.

For my personality, this “whistle stop” life system seems more suitable than taking a “journey”. It is the definition of “Wanderlux.” For me, going from one place to another as I am inspired, then discovering and capturing the light as it appears, is much more rewarding than searching out a composition that simply repeats another photographer’s success. 

RS