The Secret of Arrival

Don Crites
Jun 27, 2017
3 min read

I couldn't wait for my alarm to go off at 4:30 am Sunday morning as I bounded out of bed at 4:20, eager to document Portland's 5:23 sunrise. There is nothing like a sense of purpose to overcome the lull of sleep as the city begins to yawn. With no traffic, I freely rolled from one side of town to the other, capturing quiet images and early movements of the Rose City.

I'm on a mission to capture life through the lens of freedom in expressions of beauty, joy, and connection. Like the homeless, who are the face of the city at this hour, I am free to explore the streets uninhibited by congestion. Vibrant roses in bloom, the sunrise illuminating the snow-covered Mt. Hood holding out while Portland bakes under record 100-degree heat. An empty amphitheater across from City Hall invited my partner, Linda, and I to sing Midnight at the Oasis as a 16-ton Taihu Rock from Suzhou, China looked on.

I love the fact that I am able to enjoy life as I do . . . to travel freely and start each day with a sense of anticipation. The great thing is, I did not have to wait for a lottery jackpot or “retirement”. I’m starting to discover that the life I’ve always wanted has constantly been within arm’s reach. I am writing this blog to inspire those who long for a satisfying life right now, affirm lives of integrity, and connect with anyone who wants watch the journey unfold. I see so many people shackled by soul-sucking jobs that compromise integrity, in exchange for illusive job security. The fear of homelessness, the loss of status, home, position, meaning, and security all play into this deal. As a newly appointed ED of a non-profit organization, I was faced with a dilemma as I began to uncover unethical, and deceptive practices. The Board was fearful they would lose out on funding sources if I made any changes and threatened termination if I did. Being guided by principles rather than the illusion of job security, I had to move on. I felt extremely disappointed and betrayed. Consequently, I no longer have a permanent address, yet am experiencing ever more satisfaction with life.

My conscience, and desire for freedom and connection, provide a trustworthy compass for life. I’ve decided to take this opportunity to keep life simple and full of love, joy, peace, and happiness. I enjoy travel, Playback Theatre, playing my guitar, and photography. By combining those passions, I found myself spending a week in Budapest for the European Playback Theatre Gathering, and now staying in Portland’s beautiful Alameda district house-sitting and taking care of a friendly Australian Shepherd. I’m documenting my experiences, and spending time with the people I love. We’ll spend the next four months in southern California and Baja, Mexico managing the Baja Dark Sky Inn; an opportunity we found through a house-sitting site.

The unique character of the Taihu rock in Terry Schrunk Plaza invites visitors to take an imaginary journey in and through it, to explore possibilities in the present. This was a necessary first step in my expedition; finding contentment in the moment. For now, my job as an explorer and consultant is to enjoy life responsibly. It turns out that letting go of fear and the grip of the material is the secret of arrival.