Living the Dream

I am just returning from a 3 week vacation. This year, much of which was spent on the road…4 days in Truro Cape Cod, a visit with the in laws, a week in Boulder, CO, a few days mountain biking and back country camping in Crested Butte, CO and 4 days at the Dreamtime Festival in Paonia, CO. After living in downtown Boulder for a year and a half, this summer, I had a particular craving to be immersed in nature. We created a vacation filled with these kind of experiences. Camping was our main lodging.

Since I have camped on vacations for most of my life, the experience has become cushier and cushier as the years go by. None the less, there are the usual challenges of making sure there is enough ice in the cooler, that I do not donate too much blood to the local mosquito population and that the bedding stays relatively clean of sand and pine needles.

Now that I am home, my sauna-like “3rd world” apt. feels luxurious…with a private ONLY HOT water shower, a counter top to prep food and a sink. It has been an interesting transition back in that way. An opportunity for gratitude for what I have, even though it may not have been at all what I planned for myself in this stage of life.

Our family has been significantly effected by the shift in economy since 911. My primary partner, Rene was transferred to Denver in 2002, which resulted in moving away from our teenage children. Rene was grateful to have a job in the corporate world, as over half the company was laid off over the past several years. He was transferred with no pay raise to a city with a cost of living that is 20% higher than western MA. The transition and maintaining a consistent long distance relationship with our 4 teenagers, who remained in MA with their other parents, has been draining. After 3 years, my son was needing my presence back in MA, so now we manage two inadequate apts. in both locations. Over the past 3 ½ years we went from owning two homes to this simple and somewhat challenging existence. The entire time, living within a wealthy community, I intuited that we were one of many who were asked to learn to live with less in a culture that continues to promote having more.

As some of you are already aware, I am working on a book, which for now, is called The Tribe. I have accumulated most of my material for this book while living in Costa Rica, where interdependence is a vibrant fiber binding their cultural fabric. I continue to experience, in the US culture, our desire to separate and “do our own thing”. Drive our own individual cars to our own individual homes where our lives revolve around our relationship or immediate family. Being a relatively single women while in MA, with only a visiting husband and teens, I feel this individuation strongly.

It was such a breath of fresh air and surprise to experience the community at the Dreamtime festival in Paonia, CO. The national Rainbow had just taken place in Steamboat Springs, CO, so much of this temporary community was already primed to live together. Conditions were extreme with temps between 90 and 100 and dust was kicking up everywhere you stepped in this desert-like old burn site. The festival coordinators set the stage for community by not allowing vending. There was little money exchanged, so trading and sharing were encouraged. I expected everyone to take care of their own as I have experienced much of my adult life, but instead there was a out pouring of sharing.

Water was a major commodity. A generous women named Brook set up a tea house tent called the Blue Moon, where one could get a cup of chai or iced tea when ever needed. “Rangers” walked around with a jug and cups asking if anyone needed water. Rene and I broke open our grapefruit and offered slices to passer byers. Whenever I had trash in my hands, someone took it for me. The more these gestures occurred, the more sharing continued. A big bowl of water melon was available in the Rent Tent, just as I was getting a little over heated and dizzy. Potluck meals and free meals were offered by total strangers. One of my friends described being at his camp and hearing a man shouting…”Free Spaghetti Dinner…All You Can Eat!” and his dinner needs were taken care of that night.

Another beautiful thing that came out of this event was the hush of cars. Cars came in on Thursday or Friday and then the cars stopped for days. Because we were all being taken care of and provided for, there was no need to drive anywhere. A few cars may have left for an ice or water run now and again, but it was unnoticeable. If it had occurred, a plume of dust would have been kicked up into others camps and would have been noticed. It rarely occurred because we were sharing and taking care of each other.

I left Dreamtime full, very full…of food, water, love, music and transformed from powerful workshops. The entire festival was a cocreation of trade and donation of expertise. The music and workshops were high quality. What a wealth of talent is out there for the sharing.

I returned to our modest studio apt. in Boulder happy to have a private shower and more able to deal with the lack of kitchen; appreciating our open air kitchen which includes a grill and portable sink and counter. It was a relief to be in a clean bed, free of dust. Aaaah, the simple pleasures in life.

When I returned to MA, I found myself needing less time indoors and more time outdoors….more available for connecting with my rural community. I was happy to see that a few women in town created a Farmer’s Market on our local common on Wed. nights. Last night, we had an outdoor dinner on our second story sun porch. Several neighbors stopped by to say “hi”. In both of the yoga classes I taught this week, students brought produce in to share with me and the other students. I feel fed on many levels.

The Dream continues because we want it, we crave it and all it takes is a gesture. What do you have in abundance that you can share to start the flow? Let’s keep it flowing so we need less, share more and always have friends around to share and assist us as we live this life on Earth. How much can we experience right in our own backyard without getting in the car, spending money to be entertained or fed? Experience the satisfaction and fulfillment that community can bring to our lives.

When we live more interdependently, clear, loving and conscious communication becomes more important. With the separation that has occurred over the past 20 - 30 years and the rise in e mail and voicemail use, our communication skills have suffered. In western MA, there is a beautiful movement on the rise initiated by an amazing crone Sandra Boston of the Conscious Communication Institute. Many are taking the simple and affordable trainings to learn these basic skills. Visit www.ccitraining.org for more information. I am also available to assist those who would like support in this area. Visit my website at www.pranaheals.com

For more information on the Dreamtime festival visit www.dreamthefuture.org The coordinators are an inspiration and their future work needs our ongoing support.

Live the Dream!

Namaste. Jai Ma!