permaculture

[April Sampson-Kelly <askpv@ozemail.com.au>]

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From:   jack rowe[SMTP:75554.631@CompuServe.COM]
Sent:   Tuesday, 13 August 1996 5:23
To:     April Sampson-Kelly
Subject:        privacy

April,

        As founding co-director of Texas' first incorporated non-profit
permacultre institute (Cross Timbers Permaculture Institute --
http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/ctpi -- some interesting links on
http://csf.colorado.edu/), I know  well how you feel. In my case, I worked 
with
a very extroverted individual (Kirby Fry -- 72530.1353@compuserve.com --  his
more introverted wife, Inger Myrhe, a quietly brilliant and engaging person, 
may
have some ideas for you or at least be able to commisserate). Being quite a
hermit myself, visitors were very hard on me. Whereas Kirby's extroversion
allowed him to be energetically recharged by visitors, I would be drained and
needed more recovery time than I actually ever got. When I told Kirby I 
needed a
place farther away from all the people, he pointed to a spot about 50 meters
away, in plain sight. I said, "you don't understand, if someone comes to my
house, I want them to have to have TRIED to get there".

         Perhaps there is a more outgoing person who can take over visitors 
and
you can just do as I always did and try to look inconspicuous -- like the kid 
in
the back of the classroom who's hoping the teacher doesn't ask her a 
question? I
feel a vital part of any public place is enough people with the required
abilities and "personal bents". Many activists are like myself, and perhaps
yourself, wanting to move into the world and accomplish something meaningful 
and
finding that this requires violating the personal privacy many eclectic
individuals or "social outcasts" have come to appreciate. 
Well I am gregarious (that's my good side of course!!) and I have lived in 
public spaces
my parents were active in politics and can mix well with a wide range of 
people -
the thing is - I don't want to change and so I bring out the welcome grin - 
and I'm
getting burnt out maybe,  I want to find a harmonious, comfortable medium of
exchange here - I don't want to find myself running away from my own site. 

        I suppose jrhall's idea of just turning people away could work for 
some,
not for others. Short of that, maybe a small interpretive brochure, Yeah - I 
realise
this would save a lot of talk - or would fill in all the gaps -  I realise 
less and less
each day what the average person dooesn't SEE and doesn't KNOW!!
a trail with
numbered posts, a list of hours for guided tours, and a fee for both, maybe 
$2 -
$5 (I don't know how y'all write your money symbols?) how sweet - 
I know some people aren't sure we are speaking English either!!  We speak 
slowly
but we don't think slowly!!
 for self-guided and $8 -
$10 for guided tours? Oh, well, just felt for you and your predicament, I know
how you feel. You might send Kirb or Inger a note and see what they have to
offer,  good luck with all,  Jack Rowe, Texas, US (30  N Lat.).

P.S. Yep, I believe you are right, permaculture and culture in general are
evolving systems. Create your own realities and run with them -- just 
remember,
always, to QUESTION REALITY! 
Thanks for your time - April