necessities

Staying with a wide variety of complete strangers over the past month has added to this trip an unexpected element of practical insight.  (Thanks couchsurfing.org!) We marvel at the luxury of privacy and space when we luck out with a guest room!  At the other end of the spectrum, we have been hosted by young, single people who possess microwave, three items of furniture, stacks of books against the wall, and a singular dedication to some purpose.  The comfortable trappings of the well worn home are missing, but they are not missed.  These occasions remind us of how lean our basic needs truly are, and with what ease they can be completely satisfied.  It is a meditation of simplicity to unroll our air mattress on the bare floor, a pleasure to share a humble meal from mismatched dishes.