We are heading down a historic Sonoma road, an area rife with the aforementioned wild hog and other game.  The hunt was only incidental, notwithstanding Phill's being prepared in a large caliber way.  We were on our way to a friend’s ranch for the purpose of upgrading his nascent solar electric system.  The ranch is out eight miles along dirt road fully twenty miles from the small town of Healdsburg.  Out there utility power is at least nine miles away and you can be sure that electricity, among other things, is a do-it-yourself affair. You can bet one of the subjects of discussion was Rancho Secret Spot.

This is but one of many places where our gears mesh quite well.  Rancho Secret Spot will likely never know the double edged sword that is utility power.

Where will the luxury of such power come from?  I have been immersed in the various technologies of 'alternative energy' such as solar electric, microhydro, wind, fuel cells etc. for about twelve years.  I've done remote power systems for custom homes as well as fully grid interactive systems.  Currently I live ‘off grid’ as well and have had a utility connected photovoltaic system on my former home which fed power (yes the meter does turn backwards) back into the utility system.  These technologies are sometimes called 'distributed generation' and they are what I do.  I eagerly look forward to applying what I do in any way possible for Phill to bring his ongoing dream that is Rancho Secret Spot to fruition.

Meanwhile, back on historic dusty trail we continued on with the windows of the pickup down and the earthy smell of the countryside wafting thru the air. I ponder how much like our open window life can be.  If you are on the move and open to the world, you will be rewarded and enriched by what blows on in.

How did this particular chapter waft into existence? It was almost a year ago now, late summer '02, synchronicity, serendipity, resonance, synergy, happenstance, dumb luck or whatever the flavor of the moment is to describe when what is supposed to happen does...did.

Phill and I crossed paths in, of all places, a gas station.  Ironically, I rarely go to gas stations at all these days since my truck runs on biodiesel and I have a large storage tank at my place.  There I was, evidently right where I was supposed to be.  We struck up a conversation and recognized an obvious commonality in interests: travel, adventure, nature and, ahem.., power in remote places.  This was but the first step, a solid starting point, for further cahoots, shenanigans, or whatever blew in thru the window.