Rye23, 74

I moved to Uruguay last year and am making many wonderful and interesting changes to my life. Especially my diet. Begin vegan is easy here; maybe it would have been easy in Oregon, too, but I wasn't ready.

I'm involved with a small group of visionaries and we are going to build a new ecovillage called Nandu EcoVillage, near Rocha. Living in the interior of Uruguay is the essence of peacefulness. Lots to do.

I tend to spend most of my time outside: dogs and horses, canoeing, gardening, archery, cooking, beach walking, hiking, reading, contemplating.... not necessarily in that order.

I was an architect most of my adult life. I built a straw bale house and lived off-grid for 12 years. It's a wonderful way to live.

Too much a Type A personality; a product of the American "can do" attitude. I move a little too fast for some Uruguayos. Want to turn it down another notch.

I like to gaze at the sun as the earth turns perceptibly toward the sun each morning. Blows my mind. Want to get my meditation practice back. Tranquillo.

Animals are as sacred, no, more sacred than humans. We humans sure know how to mess up a good thing. Animals are innocence and courage. It is sometimes hard to live in a world where so many choose to eat our fellow travelers here on Planet Earth, rather than to learn from them. I step into their world and I am in awe.

I want to learn how to dance Tango with someone who knows just how passionate andthe dance is. Whew!

I am reading Neal Stephenson's "Quicksilver"; the first of a trilogy. Read it once and am finishing it for a second time, back-to-back. Now I'm ready for "The System of the World". Amazing author.

I am a very good vegetarian, vegan, and raw cook! I love to make wonderful, nutritious, beautiful food for myself and others. I make kim chi and beet kvass. Bake all of my bread and energy bars. Made a Pear Tart a couple of weeks ago