A few years ago, I left Texas, an existence I had known my entire life. I was 39-years old at the time. My father died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and two-years later my husband and I ended our 18-year marriage. I was in the midst of a major life change. After several turn-of-events, I found myself living and working as a volunteer at a retreat center on the Island of Hawaii. Coming from Texas, I found my fellow retreat center volunteers were a different breed, unique and interesting. Yes, very different than Texans, but who isn’t different than Texans? We are a breed of our own, yet I was also a member of this new different tribe. My new co-workers and friends were not following the normal societal rules or routines, many were in transition, like myself, post divorce, death of a loved one, snowbirds, the newly retired, vagabonds, back packers, rich, poor, some young, some old… so many people from around the world looking to live life a different way. We lived, worked and adventured with each other; approximately 100 volunteers living together and working 1-month, 3-months or longer stints.