Why live in a square when the earth is round?

Twelve years ago, back in our teaching days, Greg and I met a cool guy called Yannick in Japan. Yannick sold me and quizzed me on the brilliance of e-mail way back then. He was present at Greg and my first interview to get into the Santa Rosa Plaza before the women’s clothing, before the children’s clothing, but with only the infamous orange Kashmiri X-mas tree ornaments to sell!! The wedding present he sent us is the only one that made it across the ocean to our home in Thailand—A rainbow wall hanging. Gotta keep the colors close, and coming from Yannick, it’s portable and weighs practically nothing. Yannick’s a fellow traveler, gypsy, nomad—-whatever you want to call us, we like to experience new places.



Visiting him brings so many memories back to our hearts, brings it round and round, full circle. And what better place to revisit the past, enjoy the present, and look to the future, than in his perfect yurt home? Yes, it is true; his home is round-just like our small world.



I remember seeing the first plans for the yurt in Japan, the second set of plans in Santa Rosa and FINALLY ten years later I am finally visiting this amazing place. He sold me on a yurt before I’d even been in one way back then, but after visiting—-I just really gotta have one some day!! It is so cool. He’s built a loft in it and you can see the stars from the skylight in the center! Too bad it doesn’t open because we could even send smoke signals I’ll bet!! And get this: he has a compost toilet!! Really.



Deva just loved pouring the sawdust in. It’s a real home that you can feel good about being in, in every way. You may think that decorating a round house would be difficult but Yannick has done a tremendous job. Flavored with art from his travels, and constructed with Asian details that it’s hard to live without once you’ve had them (like a genkan and a Japanese shower), the place bellows comfort and warmth.







You may not think that a traditional Mongolian bed painted bright orange would work with large antique French furniture, but it’s pulled off and the place is comfortable, cozy, eco-friendly AND hip at the same time. Perhaps it’s his Frenchness—-they do have an eye and an appetite for the finer things in life. GottaLottaHope because I GottaGettaYurt. Thanks for welcoming us to “the yurt” Yannick. When the time comes I look forward to seeing the plans for the retirement caravan!

Cheers & Ciao for Now,

Gina