This post, America’s Serengeti, is not one of my ordinary stories about Africa and animals.
Instead it’s about listening, as songwriter Cat Stevens says, “to the wind of my soul.”
In my case, listening meant downsizing, simplifying and moving.
Photo of Moose by Tim Mayo
As many of you know, over the past thirty years I’ve been traveling to Africa as often as I can.
In the African bush I find the kind of silence only wild places provide, the wide open spaces with no human made obstacles, the feeling you get from knowing you are in territory belonging to wild animals, and the simplicity of living that comes with being in the bush. That combination re-wilds my soul.
Upon returning from each Africa trip I immediately start planning the next trip back, going so often I joke
I’m an Africa addict.
The more I listened to my soul the more clearly I heard that my soul needs more of what Africa gives it, but on a consistent basis. I contemplated moving to Africa but for various reasons -the crime, malaria, politics (not to mention I don’t want to abandon my beloved pets) – ruled out the idea for now.
I decided to find my Africa in America.
When I told people I was selling my home and packing up my 24 year life in Santa Barbara, California to move to a cabin in the woods in Moose, Wyoming, the one consistent response was:
“But it’s so cold there” (along with: “you’re crazy”, and “WHY?”).
The decision to move did not come from my brain. My intelligent, reasonable Self agreed with the naysayers – it’s cold in Wyoming and I have never lived in snow, my dog and cat will hate it, there’s no Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s or Farmers’ Market (except for three months out of the year), and I will be living 20 minutes from the nearest town of Jackson Hole.
And, did I mention, I barely know only two people there?
What am I thinking, my brain would ask. I’m not thinking, I would say. I’m listening to my soul and taking a huge leap of faith to do so, I told my brain, while I sold most of my stuff and put the rest in an 8×10 storage unit, said goodbye to my dear friends and mother, and my dog’s favorite canine playmates, and drugged my 15 year old cat to make the 21 hour drive North.
My new home is a 650 sq ft cabin within Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.
The Tetons are called ‘America’s Serengeti’.
Why? Because the number of animals, and variety of different species is like nowhere else in the United States. There is more contiguous protected land here than any other area in the lower 48, all of which makes this place as close to Africa as I can get while remaining in the U.S.
Compared to Africa’s Serengeti America’s Serengeti has bison instead of buffalo, cougars instead of lions, fox instead of jackals,
and bears, moose, elk, and bald eagles.
I wake to the sound of hundreds of migratory birds, and go to sleep to the sound of the Snake River in my ‘backyard.’ Deer, moose and fox are frequent visitors around my cabin while the Grand Teton’s 13,770 foot peak stands guard outside my bedroom window.
There is nowhere else like Africa, and I will continue to go back there as often as I can. I will continue to work to save its wildlife and wild places and encourage others to do the same.
Meanwhile, I’m sure Saving Wild’s future posts will be inspired by America’s Serengeti.
What is your soul calling out for? Have you taken the leap of faith to follow the call?
I’ld love to hear in the comments below.
37 Replies to “America’s Serengeti”
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Sounds good and quite sane to me
In the heroines or heros journey the first phase of separation and a yearning for the extraordinary is always met with resistance from oneself and more ESP others who do not have the courage to listen to their hearts deepest desires and act on it
Not only that but you did a “rekkie” a while back so this was a well considered move
What’s more you still get to have your African fix. (I need that too)
Go well with it
Love
Dave
Thank you oh wise ones for your wonderful words of support. Glad someone thinks this is sane. 🙂
I totally understand why.
Way to go girlfriend.
Love you premula
Hi Prem, thanks for your support and I know you are about to falling your souls calling too. Way to go.
Lori,
I’m so happy that you didn’t buy in to the ” ….we live in Paradise” story.
When we are fulfilled …..anywhere is paradise.. We take paradise with us.
Xxoo miss seeing you,
Nancy
Thanks Nancy. So true what you say about taking Paradise with us. WHen you listen to yourself and what your soul needs, it always works out.
Lovely, Laurie, very inspiring…way to follow your soul’s calling…and yes, keep us “posted”!
XOJanet
Thanks Janet, nice to hear from you and see you on the blog.
Lori
I am so glad that you opened yourself up and had the courage to listen to your heart!!!!!!!
Libs.
I do not think you are crazy for moving and the place they call “paradise” is Santa Barbara whereas my place is called “Paradise
Valley” :-)… similar four seasons place that is part of WILD… I love
Santa Barbara but it is not WILD. Give a kiss to a Griz Lori
hugs, gary
I praise the honesty of the “call” to venture out. Listening to your heart and deepening the soul takes courage so I commend the willingness to enchant ones dream.
I went to Tuscany and lived after selling my house (that’s how I met you!) – instead of seeing animals, I gained 29 pounds through culinary delight – ahhhhhhhh the joy.
xoxo – I miss you!
Awesome, Lori. I love it. For many years I wanted to live alone in a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness for one or two years. I doubt it will happen now (husband really isn’t keen on the idea of me leaving for a couple years), but I live in a house on the edge of a forest and also have bears, moose, foxes, deer, raccoon and other critters (recently a bobcat) stroll through my yard. It really does do a soul good to be close to nature. I loudly applaud your decision to follow your heart and soul … your brain will soon discover their wisdom. 🙂
So taken with the resemblance between the safari tent and your cabin – what a clear reflection this post is… I pronounce you stunningly sane!!
Love you, ~S
Yes, may we all find our soul’s right home on this magnificent planet! Still searching … many glorious glimmers!
Thanks for the comments and encouragement and sharing of your own callings. I love hearing from all of you.
“A more informal use of the term insanity is to denote something considered highly unique, passionate or extreme, including in a positive sense.” … HAH!!! ….
Your story, your photos and you, especially, are insanely inspiring!
Look forward to the next post!
Good for u Lori..you’re high performance mind is in its element. We left s.b.last June & use vrbo as a lifestyle. We’ve travelled and still are. Wyoming is magical and u make it your magic.
I’ll never forget Africa and how u made it possible for me to have my magic memories.
Xxaudrey &bill
Remember we went to the “Serengeti” in CA ? the Carrizo Plains>
good memories.
your cabin looks amazing and cold. it is spring and yet still cool here in SB. I could easily live in the tropics.
Paradise is not a place but is what makes you happy.
xoxo
carol
special hug to Zia:))
Geeze Louise Lori, I guess you ARE a sistah from another mother!
Hi Lori,
Enjoyed hearing your musings on your present home. I think it is good for “home” to change from time to time. Sounds you have found that the mystique which we love in Africa exists in slightly different trappings in Wyoming. Harry and I enjoy squirrels and owls as our neighborhood wildlife for now, and we think of you often.
yes my love following your heart and knowing always appears (seems) crazy to those on the outside but those that know and LOVE LOVE LOVE you know you are “ON IT”-so glad-and yes-hearing the call myself the launch into the bison business and ranch was the same-HAD TO GO NOW to silence abd serenity-when you are ready for visitors, let me know oxoxxoxo
Good for you for following your heart. I fiond that in most matters that is the most authentic and helhty way of being. thank you for the pics–now i can “See” where you are. And yes, i have followed my heart recently and although not the easy road, it is the most rewarding.
Listening to my heart brought me to Santa Barbara, so I totally understand and appreciate the courage it took to move. Wishing you much happiness in your new home. I look forward to visiting some day! XOXO
Thank you so much everyone for your heartfelt words of how important this follow your soul, heart thing is for each of us. I love you all and you are the ONE thing(s) I miss about being in Santa Barbara. Thanks for commenting on the blog page and supporting my efforts in this blogging endeavor.
You’ve shown us that there are many forms of Paradise. I’ve taken the snow-coach into Yellowstone in the winter for cross-country skiing. It was is heavenly in the snow. My little cottage on Bainbridge Island is 670 sq ft and I loved living in my little house surrounded by a beautiful viewscape. Congratulations, Lori!
Love this Lori, so happy that you have found your American Serengeti, in desperate need of me finding mine as well.
Reading your blog, brought back a lot of memories but also jolted my reality “what is your soul calling out for?” I’ve had a difficult 6 months with work – work has been slow or the jobs I have been getting are not fulfilling. Your question woke me up, why have I not done any soul searching to create what is next for me? So thank you!!! I’ll keep you posted on my the progress.
Thanks Alicia. I love being jolted into my next best move. So, once you figure out what that is for you, jump. It can only be good. I hope you DO keep me posted.
This is beautiful and so deeply moving. What a superior writer you are. Your capacity to express the essence of joy and beauty is endless.
Ironically, as I read this, I am about to obtain my boarding pass for Phoenix. The irony is that I am going to a mini-reunion of my college sorority sisters (2) at the home of my friends who just completed a 17 year sojourn in Wilson (near Jackson Hole) WY. They now live in Carefree (a charming small village/town north of Scottsdale). I plan to forward this magnificent piece to them immediately. No doubt, much discussion will ensure tomorrow afternoon when I arrive.
I, too, cannot wait for a return to Africa.
This is such s great story, Lori. I just loved reading it. Great pictures, too, that really support the points you are making. Thank you for writing it!
Janey
I so admire your guts and courage, Lori. I am trying to listen more to my soul and less to my brain as well. Miss you!
Cynthia
Lori–
I’m so glad you are moving to Wyoming! Now you’ll be closer to NYC and I;ll finally get a chance to meet you. I see Alison Jones a lot so when you’re here, we have a confab.
What a wonderful move. I so envy you!
All the best–Bonni
Nice to hear from you Bonnie. Just a little closer to NY but probably harder to get to from here.
I look forward to being with the both of you. Maybe you’ll have to come here – an animal lovers paradise!.
Lori
Hi Lori! We really miss you here. There is a definite void but we love you for following your dreams. Dreams are what make life so worth while.
I’m so prooud of you. Your chopping wood skills and keeping the fire going is so cool. You’re my hero. Hope we’ll see you soon! Emerson send you a big slobbery dog kiss & to Zia as well. Kim
Lori: I completely understand your call to the wild. I’ve lived in Casper, WY and Denver, CO and saw the Tetons on the return trip home from Whitefish, MT three years ago. As far as I am concerned you could not have chosen a better place to nourish your soul – with the Tetons as your backdrop. You’ve been doing “crazy” for 30 years, so none of this surprises me. All sounds very grounded. I can’t wait to hear your stories and I have a feeling you will continue to inspire many of us. All the best, Linda
Hi Linda, so nice to hear from you here on my blog as opposed to FB where I see you all the time. And thanks for your understanding. I know you are a like hearted soul sister. Stay in touch.
Letting go of Santa Barbara and all your familiar haunts must have felt like jumping into the unknown. One thing I know about falling into the unknown is at the bottom you land on your feet and walk away. You have landed on your feet very well and in a beautiful part of the world. Congratulations! I am so very proud of you my old friend.