Thank you Jundo for the excellent parable of the shoes. Wonderful to find cause for thinking and laughing in the same place. Another great dharma lesson among so many.....
Gassho

Sitting quietly, doing nothing...
Spring comes
And sensei dances by himself.

Thank you Jundo...
Nichi nichi kore ko jitsu!

I live in semi-rural Scotland and have no idea where the nearest group might be. To be honest I am very happy practising alone as like many others who have commented, I have never been a great "joiner". My practice is very simple and consists mainly in sitting every day, ideally early for a nice dharma kickstart, but sometimes at midnight if urgencies get in the way. It does not seem to matter greatly. I tried sitting outside in the woods but twigs fell on my head then I start laughing. I walk dogs on a beach and recite hannya shingo when no humans are in hearing range. Also visit Shambala Sunscpace and/or Treeleaf once or twice a week, read a few texts including Red Pine's 'Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma', Shunryu Suzuki's books, Philip Kapleau ..... If I want classic texts I dip into Dwight Goddard's Buddhist Bible, which holds more than I can ever get through. So the twigs fall, the dogs get to hear Prajna Paramita, and it all seems to work out fine.

Stay well Mina, and thank you Jundo for all your guidance.
Onegai shimasu...

Ossiandog