My festival life

in introduction •  7 years ago 

Hi there and thanks for reading this post.

It's my first one here and I would like to introduce myself a little bit. I'm in my 50's, a mom to four great kids (3 grown ups with careers, mortgages, loves and a teenager), and I swear they are all older than me, dabbled in alternative healing, had multiple jobs in all directions, and found my passion in working at music festivals.
The why is a longer story for some other time, but me tell you, it has been an interesting trip so far. Child of the 60's, only daughter to an artistic couple, lived in the Carribean and Spain, and living a couple of months here and there across Europe, but now back in the Netherlands for a bit.
Why do I say a bit??? Because for years now, I have tried to escape this country. There are several reasons for that but mainly because I have never really liked this way of life, I have got gypsy bones. I love to be on the move, meeting new people, finding new treasures everywhere, enjoying the changing views...... During my relationship with a yacht skipper, we got to sail the beautiful carribean sea with 3 children on a luxury yacht. If you can't stand the neighbours, don't like the waves rocking the boat, get tired of the view? Hoist up the anchor and away you go.......

Having spent more years than I like in brick houses, in rows, next to people you may or may not like, same view every day, I came to the conclusion that I need variety. It is good to have a base camp to come back to. Where you keep all the stuff you cannot drag along with you comfortebly. But, life on the road is the life for me, at least for the moment.

I am slowly getting my dream of having my own Chai shop/ Gypsy wagon on the road. We ( my ex and me) more or less lived full time in his Mercedes camper. It never really felt like my home, it was too much his place, but I got to love that way of being at festivals or at parties. When you have had enough of the noise and crazy, you go home for a cup of tea and a read, a nap or some home cooked meal. You invite people you like, share some stuff, pack up and go to the next venue when you like.
We also worked for a festival organiser that makes the biggest Goa Trance party in the Netherlands called Psy-Fi. I'm not a great fan of all the electronic music, but I love the people that go there, always nice and chill, creative souls. We were running their Chai Chill-out tent, and that was a great experience. I learned a lot there. And with the catering experience I have cooking for smaller groups and the equipment I have gathered over the years I can serve up some great soups and Chai.
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Amongs the things I bought from my earnings is a smal caravan that had 3 beds. I say had because I took the single bed out to fit my magic soup kettles and supplies comfortably. I painted the outside with the help of my youngest son, and he also helped me with rebuilding rotten parts of the structure inside. Great to have a kid that knows stuff and is not afraid to do it.
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There are still some things I need to get into place before I can hit the road, but we will get there soon I hope. And I would enjoy writing about it if people are interested. The idea is to either go Pirate selling at the festival campsites for a while, or go places where I can do Henna. Or maybe both.! There is also a huge possibility that some friends will join us on our travels, the more the merrier...

Signing of for now, greetings,

Mystic Myrrh A.K.A Miss Chievous

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  ·  7 years ago (edited)

Orphaned child of the 70's here. I too live the gypsy life, still a wayfarer now as much as I can. To be honest, having trouble, but that is neither here nor there. I'm just seeing a kindred spirit here. Ironically, one of my internet monikers is Mystical Maven and yet another is Miss Understood. I've used them both for as long as there has been internet. lol. I can't believe how much we have in common...kindred spirits I suppose. Good luck with it all.
BTW- I love chai, make my own but could use a better recipe...

Hi Santosa, good to find kindred spirits here too, not just on the road!
It's not an easy life for sure. But in my opinion the most adventurous. I hate nine to five and drudgery.
And funny how we seem to gravitate towards the same words........... Since early childhood I have been called witch, gypsy etc, so for me the mystical, the otherworldly is more attractive and familiar. Good to find you here, I will follow your posts, interesting to see where it will lead...
And regarding the Chai, well, the family recipe has some secret ingredients LOL, but depending on what you like in your Chai there are soo many different recipes. I started looking on Pinterest, great medium for loads of info btw. I tried some of the ones that seemed right to me and tweaked them to my taste. Normal black tea, whole milk (or nut milk/oatly , never soy, too bad for the environment and health) cinnamon, clove, peppercorns, dried ginger (if it sits in the mix for a long time it does not get overwhelming in the last cups) star anise, sugar to taste or any other natural sweetener, honey only in the cup, not simmering for hours....... Sometimes I add a little vanilla...... Have a try and tell me what you think!!

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

Thanks for getting back to me, yes, I know how it is to be called by many things. Add witch doctor and conjure doc to that (among others) and well...yes, I get it. Whenever I've settled long enough the rumors spread as well. Herbalist, root doctor, medicine woman, lol. I'm the girl who will clear your house of negative spirits or energies, the one with the potions and notions. Of course, with the sweet, comes the sour. A lot of folks are afraid of the chick who "reads minds" and palms, does tarot etc.
I agree as well about having a preference for tramping, I'm looking forward to getting back on the road, I'm a traveler, not meant to be settled. Once travelling I'm good, it has proven a challenge to get back on the road this time around though. I've lost much. Right now, I don't even have a car and while that never bothered me before, nor stopped me, I have a child now. Well, a nearly adult child, but while she'd love to hit the road with me, she is not the hiker I was when I was her age. I didn't need a car back then.
As to the chai, everyone says that, about their recipe's, that they are secret. I've been experimenting with varied ingredients for decades, I guess I'm just looking for something new and interesting. I understand though and respect the whole secret thing. I don't pinterest however, nor have I ever facebooked or any of that 'stuff.'
Not a fan of soy either, I read about it years ago, some article by Sally Fallon if I remember correctly, it was so sad when I watched it become trendy, how people flocked out to buy it, sad. I don't do cow's milk either, just don't have a taste for it. Maybe it's because I'm not a baby cow, lol.
I have tried the ingredients you listed but not JUST those ingredients, rather it was varieties of them, similar but not specifically those. I'll try anything though, can't get enough chai. I had to work at a Starbucks for awhile, it's insane what passes for chai there! And of course the people who order it generally get it with soy.
Anyway, glad you're on the road, keep in touch and I'll live vicariously through you so I don't go crazy. I am starting to wither, lol

Love this! Can't wait to hear more about your experiences! The festival life is a wonderful life. I've spent the last 4 years or so writing about all the amazing experiences and people I meet at shows and this just made me think of what the future will bring. I hope so bad that I'll get to run into you one day selling chai at a festival. Come to the US and go to some of our festies!

Heee, another festified adventurer, how lovely to meet you here!!!! And the feeling is mutual indeed, hope to meet up one day. Maybe in the US, although that may be a pipe dream due to all the subversive comments I used to make on the USA's foreign and domestic politics. I do not confuse the two with what ordinairy folk want and how wonderful the country is. We need less politician worldwide, now that would be a wonderful occasion to celebrate.
So tell me please, what shows do you go to and what do you do there, work or fun, maybe both???

I'm pretty attached to jam band culture. Many small festivals. Or live shows at Red Rocks in Colorado.
I agree about the politics. I wish they wouldnt trample our freedoms and our opinions.
What i do at shows is a mix of fun and some type of work. I write at every show i attend. I bring a book and pen and write the experience down . The plan is to turn it into a novel about the lifestyle. Using my notes as guides and ideas. I'll let everyone know when it turns into something.

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