I left Wales behind yesterday, traveling south by bus to the town of Totnes in Devon, England. Totnes has become the center for the Transition Towns movement. It has a culture similar to Ashland’s and contains within it a split between the progressive populace and the conservative populace, in the same way that the Rogue Valley is split. It should be interesting to find out how they are dealing with this while moving towards a sustainable future.

Last night I staid with a woman who I contacted via CouchSurfing, a website that puts people who need a place to stay in touch with people who have extra couches or beds. A feedback system keeps it safe, and I had a very enjoyable experience. Clare, the woman I stayed with, runs a language school here. She was unfortunately a bit cynical and depressed about the state of the world. I may address this feeling in a later blog, as it is something that many of us who are informed about the way things are going have to deal with. Keep your spirits up!