A Quiet Return

It has been some time since I last posted here. Nancy and I have recently relocated to Corvallis, Oregon, entering what feels like a spacious and somewhat mysterious new chapter of life. We packed what we could into our old Subaru and drove north, not entirely sure what awaited us. We found a small apartment, furnished it simply, and promptly wore ourselves out

I experienced an unexpected illness, along with a brief hospital stay followed by a time of quiet recovery. In retrospect, the move and the stillness that followed feel very much like a quiet initiation and the beginning of transformation.

We are slowly discovering Corvallis — walking the tree-lined campus of Oregon State University on quiet Sundays, feeling the damp Oregon air after rain, and discovering little shops and a wonderful French bakery. There is something gentle here, something unhurried. We find ourselves listening more than planning.

At eighty-one, I am increasingly aware of both the fragility and the grace of being alive. I find myself less interested in defining “what’s next” and more willing to watch and listen for what wishes to unfold.

One thing, however, has become clear: I miss the direct exchange with readers and students. I miss the shared inquiry into what it means to live contemplatively in unsettled times. I miss the depth that emerges when we pause together and turn toward what is Real.

In the coming months, I would like to reconnect. I am open to individual conversations and small online gatherings. If interest arises, perhaps retreats here in Oregon or elsewhere may evolve naturally in time. There is no grand design — only curiosity and a willingness to see what grows.

In unsettled times, I find myself drawn less toward noise and more toward depth and connection. If you feel drawn in this direction, you are welcome to reach out through the email link below. We can explore together what form that connection might take.

With gratitude for the many paths we have already walked together,


Bill

(The best way to reach me is at william@williammartin.org)