The Update

I've been living on the island of Vieques for about 5 months now. I found this place through a website called "mind my house". There are homeowners all over the world who post opportunities for house sitters all over the world. I stayed in Costa Rica house sitting for three months before I came to Vieques.

I began my stay in Vieques at a casita that's down a bushy, overgrown path that has no electricity or running water. After getting to know people on this 23 mile long island, word traveled quickly. Now, I'm sitting for three houses with one waiting in the wings. Needless to say, the other houses have electricity and warm water, and are securely protected by locking gates and dogs. One house has 7 dogs, 2 cats and 15 chickens. Another has 4 dogs, 2 cats.

I have also taken over a hair salon that is huge and has a view of the ocean just a block away. (I can see it from the balcony of the salon). The woman who owns the salon is having back surgery and will be in recovery for a few months and we met through a mutual friend and the timing was perfect. I have also been painting the interior of homes which I call my second job. Needless to say, I'm keeping busy.

I have painted a body of work that I will be selling in a solo show as soon as I establish a venue. I am also selling a large part of that work to a friend. I'm really excited about it. I met a friend who has a fat pad on the beach, waves lapping right at his shoreline. I've been hanging out here because, well, I get to take a shower outside and look at the ocean, watch sailboats go by, see the beautiful tropical foliage.

Updating my blog has been the least of my worries, but I know that I need to keep it up to date. You live vicariously through me.

But I'm not always in paradise. There are shootings and muggings here, drug trafficking and lots of gossip, which is the least of their problems. There is always a trade off.

I don't know where I'll be next, but I'll be sure to keep myself safe, as always and have a way to keep in touch with my loved ones.