GWV winter retreat 2015

[Zack]

Thanks Jhanananda. I for one am not expecting the Rapture, and you might very well meet a worn-out decrepit man in his 30s. Or I might have a lot of energy, though I'm pretty sure I will be tired in some way. I'm happy just to meet people in-person for a few days, so whatever happens happens.

[follinge@gmail.com]

I don't expect any miracles.

Like I said before, I'm watching the videos so I figure that this will be a rough outline of what the discussion looks like but most of it will be us sitting there in silence for an hour at a time.

The latter is what I look forward to.

Just knowing that this is something I have to get ready for has all ready upped by meditation practice. I expect that it will be great to have the time to spend in silence with like minded people.

My wife, similarly, thrives on silence and being left alone so she'll be thrilled to meditate, too. She's beyond the intro teachings so any help with her current meditation situation would be great.

I feel, personally, that my problem is not enough mat time, so I hope to work up to the point where I have some good questions I can ask during the retreat or online after.

My prior problems have been solved:

1. Lifestyle which is not conductive to meditation. I drank too much and watched too much tv. This has been solved as I noted before.

2. Not enough mat time due to #1 and not being motivated. Also, solved here and due to my finding a local meditation friend who convinced me to get more mat time. This motivation actually lead to me re-connecting with Jeffrey's writings which I was aware of for years, but I had neglected due to #1.

So no worries, I'm pretty sure I won't be disappointed.

[Jhanananda]

Good to read, follinge, that you are increasing your meditation practice.  Do not worry too much about having really intelligent questions to come to the retreat with.  Your questions are welcome, but not necessary.  I look forward to meditating with you, Zack, and the others.

I have been working on my van, and have mode considerable progress in getting it ready for the trip.  Plan to have AAA plus tow for the trip, as all who are driving should, because one never knows when a mechanical failure may occur.  After all, machines are impermanent too.

[bodhimind]

I wish I could come, but I am too far away. So, I will meditate along with all of you from where I am. Best wishes to the upcoming retreat and hope it goes on well.

[Jhanananda]

I wish we here could all come together annually, but it is understandable that people who make the lifestyle choices to meditate deeply are not likely to have acquired wealth, so some of us may never meet each other.  Thus, your choice, bodhimind, to take the time as a personal retreat seems like a wise choice.  We will feel your presence, as I am sure you will feel ours.

[Jhanananda]

I have been doing some investigating into sites for this winter retreat.  I am all for cooperative agreements regarding group activities, so I am going to put forth some options. 

In the past we have all opted for solitude in remote sites, which generally come with nothing, but a fire pit.  On the other hand, others might prefer more comforts, such as an outhouse.  There is even the option for hot showers or a hot spring nearby.  However, the comforts come at the expense of solitude, and increased cost of the campsite.  So, if we go with no comforts, then there is no cost to the campsite; whereas, if we go with comforts, then the campsite will cost up to $15/vehicle. 

I am also looking at sites closer to Prescott, AZ, which has become my home base again.  My preference is not to be more than 100 miles from Prescott at any given time, so that if my ancient vehicle develops a problem, then I can be towed back there to work on it.  This might mean that some of you may have to drive another 100 or 200 miles to get to such a campsite.

So, please post your preferences here.

[stugandolf]

Jeff,  I like no fee camping...  Stu

[Alexander]

A shower and a place to charge a phone would be appreciated; but, whatever you end up picking will be fine.

[Zack]

I prefer cheap or free and spartan over comfort, but if there is a charge I will of course throw in my equal share. I don't know the terrain well but any body of water to get wet in is enough of a bath for me. So I'm happy with pretty much any arrangement.

Is the weather advice posted at the beginning of the thread going to be accurate? It would be good to know roughly what to plan for and pack. What will be the general temperature and climate?

[Jhanananda]

It might be possible to accommodate everyone's needs with some scouting.  I plan to head off scouting a site around the first of December, so I might not be available every day for discussion until I have found a campsite.

It looks like we will be camping at an elevation of about 2,000 feet (627 m).  The weather advisory should be fairly accurate, so bring layers.  It could be relatively warm during the day to possibly t-shirt weather, but it could rain for days, and/or freeze and/or snow.

I will bring a solar shower which can have heated water poured into it.  I will bring a pot large enough to heat that water on my propane stove, and two propane tanks, at least one will be full, and the other full enough.

I will bring tarps and ropes for constructing a covered meditation and eating space.  There are not likely to be trees, so we may need to park at least two vehicles side by side and strap the tarps to the vehicles, which would make our meditation & eating space between those vehicles.

I will also bring a propane radiant heater for us to get warm by.  I will also bring a wood stove, and hopefully we will find wood, to burn in the stove.

There is a river near my planned campsite, and it will most probably be running through the winter.  I expect that we will find a campsite along that river.  There is a town not far away where we can acquire groceries and other necessities.

[follinge@gmail.com]

The plan solidifies!

I'm coming with my wife who's driving me. My wife will be quietly in and out as she has worldy affairs to attend to. She might even leave for a few days. She said she'll grab groceries if necessary for people.

She's really quiet, and she'll probably participate in some of the sitting.

We're fine driving further. However, if there's a choice, we prefer to be closer to San Diego, if possible. However, I realize that there are other people who are coming who have needs to be accomodated.

I plan on abstaining from all drugs including alcohol and caffeine. I'm also going to go vegetarian. I'm not touching any electronic devices except a flashlight so I won't be needing a charger or the like.

It seems like we're landing on a free/more rugged site. This is fine with me.

Otherwise, I'll just participate as per Jeffrey's instructions.

I'm so looking forward to this retreat, and I'm really happy that Jeffrey is putting it together. I feel that no matter what heppens, it will be a worthwhile experience.

[Jhanananda]

Good to know that both of you are coming, and are looking forward to attending the retreat. 

There is no need to abstain from alcohol in moderation, unless one cannot be moderate.  After all for my health I alternate between red wine and beer in no less than 2 hour intervals about 4-6 times per day.  I came down with a respiratory infection on Monday, and found some relief from coughing from drinking 5 oz of merlot.  A friend bought me some cough medicine, which helped more, but it was in corn syrup, which spiked my blood sugar up to 280, so I will have to stick with merlot, which does not raise my blood sugar.

You need not be vegetarian either, unless you want to, as I am no longer vegetarian.  People are welcome to eat what they want at our retreats.  Most of the cooking tends to be communal; however, not everyone is going to want to eat one of my low-carb meals, so I have a two-burner propane stove, several pots and one frying pan, and I will be bringing a few crates of food-bank food to share.

[follinge@gmail.com]

OK, in that case, I will eat whatever we cook communally. We'll bring lots of food, too. Any suggestions on what food to bring?

We both are omnivores so will be happy eating almost anything.

My plan to go vegan was our of respect for Jeffrey.

[Jhanananda]

Yes, I was vegan for 37 years, but the diet led to diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, so I have given it up.  I am now omnivorous as well, but all I believe I really needed to keep in my diet was eggs, so mostly I eat quiches with leafy vegetables in it. So, I look forward to some communal cooking with all of you, although, since I am on a very low carb diet, then I expect you all will be eating things that I cannot, which is fine, if we keep the carbs in another pot.

[rougeleader115]

So when exactly is the retreat supposed to begin and end? I would love to try and make it there somehow.