It was a long and rugged drive with civilization receding behind us the whole way.  The last stretch a soft sandy wash and sharp rocks.  As we  clinbed out of the car and stretched our legs the wall of quietness was complete.  Then the soft sound of wind in the wind turbine was audible.  Mountains 20 miles away were clearly visible  and the closest house is over a 1/2 mile away.  Not the end of the world but in sight for sure.  40 acres of undisturbed open space with solar, wind, a house, and a well.  The lizards under the creosote bushes just stared at us and didn`t even run.  Joshua Trees and barrel cacti were all over, and the washes held mesquite and other prickly bushes.    Today I  saw my first wild rattler up close.  I flipped over a chunk of sheet metal and the snake was in a hole in the corral  We walked the washes and saw over a dozen different types of tracks.   There were coyote, bobcat, cattle, javelina, and the biggest cougar tracks I have ever seen.   It is a strange feeling not being at the top of the food chain anymore.  We walked over a mile and saw no other human tracks.   The sunset looked like an old John Ford western.  That night the coyotes howled outside our door and scorpians and sun spiders scuttled everywhere.   Welcome to nature at its finest.  This blog will be a record of our journey into the desert as we leave the city behind and attempt to blend with nature for the betterment of all.   Be sure to check out our pictures of paradise and new neighbors...lol