You can't hear much out in the wind, wearing hearing protection while cutting plywood with a circular saw. Unless it wants to be heard. And if it doesn't want to be seen, you may have to look closely. It may be looking back.
Adventure comes in different forms. Most of you following us for a while know we've never been on a zip line. Nor a rope bridge swaying over waterfalls, and we've yet to jump out of any airplanes. I'm an urbanite, and Christina likes her cozy spot in the family room. So adventure for us has been pretty easy. Without one to come home to again, moving out of the house had my heart in my throat for weeks after our full-timing departure. But once we settled into Luna, we realized security is found in trust, not four walls. At least not house walls. Living in our little coach, we find ourselves so close to the outdoors; animals are frequently a part of our days. Our first winter living in Luna here in Kansas, we stepped out the door one evening to 4 of the tallest coyotes we'd seen. They seemed as big as Doberman. During the many stays at Clinton Lake since then, hearing coyotes in the evening all around stirs a place inside profoundly, and inspires awe. When staying in New Mexico, we wake up to 50 or more elk standing around Luna. The elk are close enough that when I lift the window blind, they look right at me and step back a little. Elk move like magic in fog.
Last night while cutting thin plywood with my circular saw and wearing hearing protection, I heard an animal suddenly "HUFFING" at me. It was loud. So loud, I set the saw down, took off my hearing protection, and as I moved my headlamp up into the dark woods, two glowing eyes were looking straight at me. Almost as tall and in full broad view was a deer. Dropping my tape measure, I walked straight toward the door to get Christina; she was already stepping out to see what was going on. The deer huffed more, staying in its place, while I eased back over and dared some more cutting. I made one more cut and looked up, and the deer was gone. We both laughed in amazement at the power of that "huff" and the advantage the deer had at the moment. Big, fast, and fully hooved. Later while putting my tools away in the van, I heard "huffing" again, across the road and in the prairie grass. The world was alive all around. We were outnumbered and less capable. It was exciting and another adventure we will never forget.
