I chose to be photographed in the arroyo that runs through our neighborhood, Arroyo Hondo. This particular section of the arroyo is about halfway between my home/studio and the midpoint of the Santa Fe Rail Trail, which is adjacent to the old rail line that connects Santa Fe and Lamy. The entirety of the Rail Trail is about 17 miles, most of it unpaved, and it’s used by hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. I can pop out the front door of my studio, walk a few yards down the road, descend into the arroyo, and reach the Rail Trail in a few minutes, where I can walk for miles in either direction. However, it’s also deeply satisfying to just spend time in the arroyo itself. It’s fairly deep, so all man-made structures are hidden from view. It’s dead- quiet, and very still, even on windy days. It’s narrow at the beginning, and then widens rather dramatically—it broadens, opens up, and welcomes you. When I’m walking in the arroyo, I’m aware of our native plants and animals, the history of our neighborhood, and the broader history of the surrounding region. Our neighborhood is named for the Arroyo Hondo Pueblo, which was a thriving, 1000-room community about 700 years ago. As I walk on the sandy, flat bottom of the arroyo, I think about the people who once lived here: those who occupied Arroyo Hondo Pueblo, and those who came after them, including the Spanish who arrived in 1540 and, much later, the sheep ranchers whose livestock irrevocably altered this landscape. The current structure of our neighborhood was developed in the mid-1980s, when the land was subdivided into a configuration of smaller parcels. Of course, change is inevitable, and the landscape surrounding my home continues to shift. Nevertheless, I feel very grounded and whole when I spend time in this beautiful, eternal place.