October 24, 2003
Ojai, California, USA
1:11pm. The last couple weeks have been a whirl-wind. I'm living the upper Ojai Valley in co-op community where everyone eats together and does chores to clean and keep things running smooth. In exchange for my cabin, I'm cutting firewood and have watered the fruit trees-- which was actually fun. The water is in a big tank at the top of the hill, and as it streams down our job is to channel it to individual trees with shovels, breaking or building dams-like what I did as a kid on the beach. Working with others is fun. Energy flows, you use muscles, you see the effects of your actions and it feels good to accomplish something. The pomegranate pancakes I made last night where a hit. At each meal there's conversation about things to do, and you get included. Give and take creates a sense of place.
Wednesday night everyone gathered for a council circle to share problems and solutions, then we had a drum jam in the cob dome, and I projected on the walls, which made the images look 3D, because the walls are curved like an IMAX theater. We rocked out all night, and then I took a carload to the hot springs for sunrise.
Last Sunday, I was in LA for a Burningman decompression block party. It was beyond words. The below pictures share some of that experience:
Tuesday I sport climbed in the canyon with Caleb and Ian, and then soaked in the hot springs under the stars, so I've been stoked.
I have shows booked for next Wednesday at the Ojai Library, and Thursday at the Art Barn in Ventura, then Sunday I'm doing a dragonfly beading workshop for Lynne's kids at the Art Barn. Now I must write a story for the local paper and get more brochures printed and put around.
There is a lot going on Ojai and I am meeting lot of smart, fun, inspiring people. These are a few interesting links I've been given:
The Buckminster Fuller Institute
