Living long enough in intentional community can be a good way to cultivate a philosophical outlook toward life, which, with any luck, is coupled with a sense of humor. Sooner or later, we are all forced to accept the fact: shift happens. Changes are inevitable. Members decide to move on--usually not because they've stepped into something stinky and can't stand the smell, but because their personal paths take them elsewhere. In most cases, they maintain their ties with Lost Valley and often become regular visitors to their former home here. That doesn't mean that we don't, or won't, miss them.
This summer, we are losing several long-term residents. As announced last issue, the White family (Rick, Alla, Cami, Dylan, and Tess), members at Lost Valley since early 1997, will be relocating to Cottage Grove before the start of the next school year, so that Alla can be closer to her teaching job at Cottage Grove High School. In addition, Larry, who has lived and worked at Lost Valley for ten years--longer than anyone else except Dianne--has decided to move into Eugene, where his children Matt and Grace joined their mother Karin in the fall. To round out the alphabetically-themed departures, our other member whose first name starts with "L," Luna, has also decided to move to Eugene after two years at Lost Valley. The two of them expect to relocate soon.
Fortunately, the news is not all about departures. This spring we are joined by several outstanding interns (who happen to be quite enjoyable people as well): Tangela and Sam in the garden, Julia and Marissa doing cooking, childcare, and service and sacred space, and Carrie Lore coordinating the community kitchen. Several others plan to join us soon.
We also have three new exploring members. Marc Tobin has worked as an intern since last July, helping with community planning and the development of our Ecovillage and Permaculture Certificate Program. He has now entered the membership process, much to the chagrin of the mold spores which formerly inhabited his office space in the Eco-Resource Center. He plays a mean guitar.
Permaculture teacher and practitioner Rick Valley has been coming to Lost Valley every year since 1990 to teach a two-week Permaculture Design Course in December, so his involvement spans almost as great a time period as Dianne's. According to him, in fact, "They named the place after me." More recently, he's been involved as a Naka-Ima student and assistant, as well as with various projects on the land. Finally, after all these years of appearing then disappearing from our lives, Rick has been found for good, we hope, and intends to move into his namesake community by the beginning of May.
Another welcome arrival is Wolf Aulenbacher, who wore wool to February's Experience Week and, in addition to provoking the usual deluge of puns from Kim, quickly became not only part of the flock, but one of the shepherds of our business side. He brings a broad background in personal growth and transformational work along with extensive small business experience and skills. He has proposed a plan for revitalizing the conference center, and the community has happily agreed to it.
As conference coordinator, he says his first priority will be to bring a number of well-chosen new conferences to Lost Valley. "The community would like to see conferences that are within our mission and vision. Examples for this would be village building, tribal teachings, drumming, yoga, or ecstatic dancing.
"I'd like to call out to TL readers: If you know of any workshops or leaders that might fit into our conference program, please call me at 937-3351 extension 118."
©2004 Talking Leaves
Spring/Early Summer 2004
Volume 14, Numbers 1 & 2
Person and Place: Adventures Here, There, & Everywhere