Today I was going to write about the way of the circle, but it has been such a lovely day here at Pacific Gardens that I wanted to celebrate its perfection.
It's been raining off and on for the last few weeks, and yes, I know on Vancouver Island's wet coast, that is to be expected, but not in May, and not for the whole month!
But now it's June, and today was absolutely exquisite. Clear skies, with a balmy breeze wafting the scents of flowers and trees through the air and carrying the sounds of the children playing in our gardens to my patio.
For the first time this year, I hung my laundry on my umbrella clothes dryer, and the warm wind whirled the clothes around like flying flags so that they were dry in less than an hour, smelling of spring.
My neighbour Susana has been away on a special two-week holiday to celebrate her 60th birthday (there's going to be a big birthday bash for her this Wednesday), so she hasn't been able to tend her garden.
The flowers don't seem to mind the neglect. In fact, they're thriving, growing in profusion, purple, yellow, white and orange, dancing in the breeze while my wind chimes sing all day.
I look out into the gardens and see our spring fashion parade of sun-hats, some floppy, some splendiferous, others bedecked with bandanas or a blossom made of felt, each as unique and quirky as the owner who wears them.
I find balls and badminton rackets and skipping ropes lost in the fast-growing grass, and in the distance I hear Kaj, ear-protectors firmly clamped on, tackling marauding plants with a weed-whacker.
After dinner I'll join the walking group on an hour-long jaunt around the neighbourhood, and we'll talk about cabbages and kings and whether pigs have wings - and maybe politics.
It's on days like this that I feel I have the most beautiful life ever, and like the speaker at the Sunday service I went to today, am determined to be a radical optimist, full of joy and hope for this flawed but wonderful world we live in.
Kathryn
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Flourishing in the Second Half of Life
Last weekend I was fortunate to take a course on Aging Well in Community, sponsored by Harbourside Senior Cohousing in Sooke, B.C.
What made it special was not only the setting - the beautiful campus of Royal Roads University, with its exquisite gardens and wild peacocks strutting the grounds - but the people.
They ranged in age from their 50s to their 80's, and although they came from different backgrounds and occupations, everything from a retired RCMP officer to an astrologer, they fit the classic cohousing personality profile.
They were well-travelled, adventurous, constantly seeking out new experiences and challenges - what we at Pacific Gardens would call BURPIES (as distinguished from Yuppies) - bright, under-employed real people.
The purpose of the course was to get us out of denial about aging, and into planning for a positive future by getting real about getting old, and ensuring that we will be able to thrive and flourish during our senior years.
The best way to do that, we learned, was by staying healthy through community. Social isolation is as bad for your health as smoking, and being involved in shared activities was the key to a happy, healthy old age.
Living in cohousing, I had observed the positive effects of community life on our elderberries, as my sister cohouser Roz has dubbed us, with improvements in both physical and mental health for the elders amongst us since they moved here.
Although the course was put on by members of Harbourside Cohousing, they did not say cohousing was the only option, but talked about such actions as retrofitting your house to stay at home, or moving in with children.
Another possibility being investigated by one group of people who attended was building an environmentally-sustainable house for themselves and their friends to live in as they aged.
No-one was keen to live in a gated condominium community, or a seniors' home. We are from the baby boom generation, rather accustomed to making our own choices about how we want to live - and transforming society as we do it!
If all the zoning approvals go through and it gets built, Harbourside Senior Cohousing will be the first of its kind in B.C. and only the second in Canada, leading the way to a new form of aging in place for us active elderberries!
Kathryn
What made it special was not only the setting - the beautiful campus of Royal Roads University, with its exquisite gardens and wild peacocks strutting the grounds - but the people.
They ranged in age from their 50s to their 80's, and although they came from different backgrounds and occupations, everything from a retired RCMP officer to an astrologer, they fit the classic cohousing personality profile.
They were well-travelled, adventurous, constantly seeking out new experiences and challenges - what we at Pacific Gardens would call BURPIES (as distinguished from Yuppies) - bright, under-employed real people.
The purpose of the course was to get us out of denial about aging, and into planning for a positive future by getting real about getting old, and ensuring that we will be able to thrive and flourish during our senior years.
The best way to do that, we learned, was by staying healthy through community. Social isolation is as bad for your health as smoking, and being involved in shared activities was the key to a happy, healthy old age.
Living in cohousing, I had observed the positive effects of community life on our elderberries, as my sister cohouser Roz has dubbed us, with improvements in both physical and mental health for the elders amongst us since they moved here.
Although the course was put on by members of Harbourside Cohousing, they did not say cohousing was the only option, but talked about such actions as retrofitting your house to stay at home, or moving in with children.
Another possibility being investigated by one group of people who attended was building an environmentally-sustainable house for themselves and their friends to live in as they aged.
No-one was keen to live in a gated condominium community, or a seniors' home. We are from the baby boom generation, rather accustomed to making our own choices about how we want to live - and transforming society as we do it!
If all the zoning approvals go through and it gets built, Harbourside Senior Cohousing will be the first of its kind in B.C. and only the second in Canada, leading the way to a new form of aging in place for us active elderberries!
Kathryn
Monday, May 20, 2013
How Community and a Tree-Climbing Cat Cured the Post-Election Blues!
It's hard to believe that it was more than a month ago since I've posted here...but fortunately Myriam has kept everyone up-to-date with what's happening with her beautiful pics of Pacific Gardens in bloom and its newest residents!
I could tell by the number of viewers that politics is not the favourite topic of those who read this blog, so that's a cautionary note for me that not everybody shares my passion for this topic.
I will say that I was both happy and unhappy with what happened, mostly unhappy. I spent a few days trying to avoid feeling depressed about the election results, without much success.
It didn't help that Nanaimo city council had voted five to four to destroy Colliery Dam Park, one of the jewels in this city and certainly of the Harewood neighbourhood.
So I decided to give up and just wallow in negativity and get it out of my system.The best way to do this, I thought, would be to catch up on all the housework I had neglected during the election campaign.
I tussled with the dust bunnies, tossed out the garbage, sorted the recycling, and scrubbed the ring out of the bathtub. And you know what? I started feeling better.
It was a case of if you can't clean up the world, you can at least clean up the grunge in the kitchen sink. And while I was vacuuming the grit out of the patio doors, I noticed something.
It was a beautiful spring day, and outside my window, the kids were swinging on the hammock and playing on the lush green grass, and the flowers were starting to bloom again in Susana's garden.
Some robins had built a nest in one of the old apple trees, and their song filled the air of the early evening, fragrant with the smell of grass and blossoms. But something even better happened - although it didn't seem that way at first.
A few months go Mykl and Laura had acquired a little tabby kitten, who is now at the stage of prowling outside. The cat saw those robins, and immediately made a bee-line for the tree.
Up the trunk the feline scooted, tail switching, while the robins flew about in terror trying to protect their nest. The little cat went higher and higher until it was almost at the top of the tree, and then the robins began dive-bombing it.
The cat couldn't go down, and the robins wouldn't give up. What to do? I rushed outside and got Mykl, who with the help of Kaj, put up the long, tall ladder we use for pruning and gleaning.
Mykly quickly clambered up the tree, and stretched his arm out as far as he could to haul down the recalcitrant kitty, who, despite the dive-bombing birds, was still determined to get at that nest.
So what was it about this little tableau that heartened me? The coming together of the community members to rescue a cat up a tree? The determination of the robins to protect their young?
I'm not sure. But it made me happy, and banished those post-election blues.
Kathryn
I could tell by the number of viewers that politics is not the favourite topic of those who read this blog, so that's a cautionary note for me that not everybody shares my passion for this topic.
I will say that I was both happy and unhappy with what happened, mostly unhappy. I spent a few days trying to avoid feeling depressed about the election results, without much success.
It didn't help that Nanaimo city council had voted five to four to destroy Colliery Dam Park, one of the jewels in this city and certainly of the Harewood neighbourhood.
So I decided to give up and just wallow in negativity and get it out of my system.The best way to do this, I thought, would be to catch up on all the housework I had neglected during the election campaign.
I tussled with the dust bunnies, tossed out the garbage, sorted the recycling, and scrubbed the ring out of the bathtub. And you know what? I started feeling better.
It was a case of if you can't clean up the world, you can at least clean up the grunge in the kitchen sink. And while I was vacuuming the grit out of the patio doors, I noticed something.
It was a beautiful spring day, and outside my window, the kids were swinging on the hammock and playing on the lush green grass, and the flowers were starting to bloom again in Susana's garden.
Some robins had built a nest in one of the old apple trees, and their song filled the air of the early evening, fragrant with the smell of grass and blossoms. But something even better happened - although it didn't seem that way at first.
A few months go Mykl and Laura had acquired a little tabby kitten, who is now at the stage of prowling outside. The cat saw those robins, and immediately made a bee-line for the tree.
Up the trunk the feline scooted, tail switching, while the robins flew about in terror trying to protect their nest. The little cat went higher and higher until it was almost at the top of the tree, and then the robins began dive-bombing it.
The cat couldn't go down, and the robins wouldn't give up. What to do? I rushed outside and got Mykl, who with the help of Kaj, put up the long, tall ladder we use for pruning and gleaning.
Mykly quickly clambered up the tree, and stretched his arm out as far as he could to haul down the recalcitrant kitty, who, despite the dive-bombing birds, was still determined to get at that nest.
So what was it about this little tableau that heartened me? The coming together of the community members to rescue a cat up a tree? The determination of the robins to protect their young?
I'm not sure. But it made me happy, and banished those post-election blues.
Kathryn
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
New residents...
We actually had quite a few new residents this last month. It certainly seemed to be the month of transitions.
But, I am referring to our youngest, fluffiest new residents.
But, I am referring to our youngest, fluffiest new residents.
-Myriam
Monday, April 29, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Provincial Politics and Pacific Gardens
In case you hadn't noticed - there's a provincial election in B.C., and of course, being the social activists we are, several Pacific Gardeners are involved.
Some are supporting the NDP, others the Greens, and those political choices fit with our social justice and environmental values.
But it also means some of us are going to very busy, and that includes me. In fact, that's why you haven't seen any blog posts from me for more than 10 days.
I will be focusing my attention on campaigning for my local Green Party candidate until after election day, May 14th, which means you won't be hearing from me as often.
It's not that I don't think writing about cohousing and the values it embodies are not important. It's just that right now, the election is way more important.
I feel - as do others - that we are at a crossroads in our society. We can choose to go one way or the other, and which way we choose will have enormous consequences.
It distresses me that so many seem to think that we continue on with an economy based on over-consumption, continual growth, and destruction of our environment.
I believe we must change the way we live our lives if there is to be any future for the next generation - that's why I live in cohousing. I want a different way.
I won't preach or hector you about this. But I am going to do my damnedest now to elect people who care about the environment, and have the courage to fight for it.
I hope you will, too.
Kathryn
Some are supporting the NDP, others the Greens, and those political choices fit with our social justice and environmental values.
But it also means some of us are going to very busy, and that includes me. In fact, that's why you haven't seen any blog posts from me for more than 10 days.
I will be focusing my attention on campaigning for my local Green Party candidate until after election day, May 14th, which means you won't be hearing from me as often.
It's not that I don't think writing about cohousing and the values it embodies are not important. It's just that right now, the election is way more important.
I feel - as do others - that we are at a crossroads in our society. We can choose to go one way or the other, and which way we choose will have enormous consequences.
It distresses me that so many seem to think that we continue on with an economy based on over-consumption, continual growth, and destruction of our environment.
I believe we must change the way we live our lives if there is to be any future for the next generation - that's why I live in cohousing. I want a different way.
I won't preach or hector you about this. But I am going to do my damnedest now to elect people who care about the environment, and have the courage to fight for it.
I hope you will, too.
Kathryn
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Rock-Polisher IV - How a Broken Hot Water Tank Changed My Life
I've been thinking again about the rock-polisher effect in cohousing, and how our lives can be changed by something totally ordinary.
A few weeks ago our three-year-old hot water tank fractured, flooding our recycle room and leaving us with only one tank for the entire building.
So the word went out that we should use hot water sparingly until it was replaced, which, since it was custom-made and had to be re-built, took several weeks.
This caused me a certain amount of anxiety. I am a big fan of hot water - long, hot showers, bedding washed on the longest cycle, dishwasher on power scrub - yes!!
Sparingly and hot water were not words I would use together. But, I experimented. I rinsed the dishes in cold water, then put them through the dishwasher's quick cycle. They were fine.
I did the same for the laundry - my clothes and bedding came out of washing-machine clean as clean, and it took me a lot less time, as did shorter showers. This was good.
And when we had our new hot water tank at last, I didn't go back to my old ways. This made me realize how many new lifestyle habits I have acquired since I moved here.
I don't just read my daily newspaper and then throw it into the recycle bin. I deliver it to David, who, after he reads it, passes it on to Ron, who then gives it to Bill.
If I have left-overs, I give them to somebody else. I lend my car out to anyone who needs it. I'm willing to try unfamiliar foods at our potlucks - nettle soup, gluten-free bread.
I don't buy as many clothes, and I give more to thrift shops or put them in our freecycle cupboard. I feel comfortable not wearing makeup, and what makeup I do wear is organic.
I don't buy as much stuff. I considered getting a new car (my little Echo is 10 years old this summer) but didn't. I've kept my old printer and computer - ditto with my seldom-used cellphone.
So how did this all happen? It wasn't because someone gave me a lecture, or passed a bylaw. It was all slow and incremental, little changes made by following the example of other people here.
And that's how the rock-polisher effect works, living in this Pacific Gardens river where we all tumble up against each other and smooth out our rough edges.
Kathryn
A few weeks ago our three-year-old hot water tank fractured, flooding our recycle room and leaving us with only one tank for the entire building.
So the word went out that we should use hot water sparingly until it was replaced, which, since it was custom-made and had to be re-built, took several weeks.
This caused me a certain amount of anxiety. I am a big fan of hot water - long, hot showers, bedding washed on the longest cycle, dishwasher on power scrub - yes!!
Sparingly and hot water were not words I would use together. But, I experimented. I rinsed the dishes in cold water, then put them through the dishwasher's quick cycle. They were fine.
I did the same for the laundry - my clothes and bedding came out of washing-machine clean as clean, and it took me a lot less time, as did shorter showers. This was good.
And when we had our new hot water tank at last, I didn't go back to my old ways. This made me realize how many new lifestyle habits I have acquired since I moved here.
I don't just read my daily newspaper and then throw it into the recycle bin. I deliver it to David, who, after he reads it, passes it on to Ron, who then gives it to Bill.
If I have left-overs, I give them to somebody else. I lend my car out to anyone who needs it. I'm willing to try unfamiliar foods at our potlucks - nettle soup, gluten-free bread.
I don't buy as many clothes, and I give more to thrift shops or put them in our freecycle cupboard. I feel comfortable not wearing makeup, and what makeup I do wear is organic.
I don't buy as much stuff. I considered getting a new car (my little Echo is 10 years old this summer) but didn't. I've kept my old printer and computer - ditto with my seldom-used cellphone.
So how did this all happen? It wasn't because someone gave me a lecture, or passed a bylaw. It was all slow and incremental, little changes made by following the example of other people here.
And that's how the rock-polisher effect works, living in this Pacific Gardens river where we all tumble up against each other and smooth out our rough edges.
Kathryn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
