Edg, when I was in my tapas stage and living outside of Philadelphia I'd turn the cold water tap of the tub every morning and as I brushed my teeth I'd glance over my shoulder and anticipate with little pleasure the coming immersion in achingly cold water. That was my routine for years but after I got out of the habit I became pretty adverse to the cold water routine.
So when I started surfing last year, my first concern (even before the sharks and the drowing heebie-jeebies) was just how much protection from the cold the wetsuit would offer. I wear a 4/3 (4 mil. in the chest and back and 3 mil. everywhere else) with booties, gloves and a hood and it's like a seal-siddhi, I'm so warm. I was surfing Saturday up in Crescent City and the water right now is between 45-50 degrees and it didn't take more than 10 minutes before I had to take the hood off to dissipate the heat. The water actually feels good. Summer it warms up to 55 degrees or so and I can chuck the booties and gloves, too. Come on back, Edg; no place finer on the planet and it would be very fine to have some FairfieldLife right here in this exquisite neck of the woods. And if you miss the snow, all you have to do is drive 45 minutes into the mountains and you can have all the snow you want. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Duveyoung <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Marek, > > Not sure which beach you're referring to....it takes nine minutes to > drive up to Arcata. But yeah, I was thinking of Moonstone Beach. > > I left because my family couldn't take the small-town stuff -- they'd > just escaped Fairfield and wanted a big city, so we ended up in > Pacific Grove -- thankfully only five blocks from the beach. > > But me, I might move back to Arcata at any moment -- there's another > seven inches of snow coming tonight to lay on top of the 20 inches > from a couple days ago. > > You surfed in those 55 degree waters? Man, I bow to you -- I don't > care how good your wet suit was. The beaches north of Arcata beat > anything I ever saw between LA and SF. > > It is impossible not to feel like a hippy when looking up the trunk of > a Redwood. > > Edg > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Marek Reavis" <reavismarek@> > wrote: > > > > Edg, my first visit to California (I'm a midwest boy) was for the '71 > > one-month Humboldt course. So much about that trip blew me away and > > I was totally happy to end up here so many years later. It truly is > > paradise for me. > > > > The beaches thing, I'm not sure what you mean. From where I am here > > in Eureka (my office is about a block from the marina) I can drive > > across the Samoa bridge and be at one of the beaches along the > > peninsula in less than 10 minutes. They aren't as spectacular as > > Moonstone beach, which you apparently were referring to; a > > stereotypical wild California beach with sea stacks, redwoods and the > > Little River winding through the sand as it pours into the Pacific, > > but they are great walking beaches and there are several surfbreaks, > > too, though none as beautiful as Moonstone. I've surfed there quite > > a bit and the whole scene there blows me away with its suchness. > > > > My daughter lives in San Francisco and I enjoy the drive. Humboldt > > is so perfectly isolated from everywhere else, but as you point out, > > completely self sufficient. Why'd you leave? > > > > ** > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Duveyoung <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > > > Yeah, I made a mistake -- was addressing you, Marek. > > > > > > So, we have "behind the Redwood curtain" in common. > > > > > > Tired of that four hour drive to San Francisco yet? > > > > > > Bet we know a few townsfolk in common. Was last there in 1999. I > > > choose Arcata to be my "hole up" place in case of Y2K becoming > > true. > > > There's always liquid water there, long growing seasons, and it's > > far > > > from the maddening crowds (hoards from the big cities that were sure > > > to spread out looking for food and loot. Sigh....) > > > > > > The only thing that really bugged me about Eureka/Arcata was that > > they > > > didn't have a decent beach -- had to drive north for 20 minutes, but > > > then, wow!....giant rocks in the surf! > > > > > > Edg > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Marek Reavis" <reavismarek@> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > Edg, I assume you meant 'me' and not Curtis, yes? > > > > > > > > If so, I live and work in Eureka. Arcata is 6 miles to the north > > and > > > > I prefer the Saturday farmers' market on the square there to the > > ones > > > > here in Eureka. It's a great market and up here hippie culture > > is > > > > still alive and well and I appreciate it quite a lot. > > > > > > > > The whole medical cannabis issue is convoluted; some law > > enforcement > > > > is cool and some is not; the problem ultimately is that there is > > so > > > > much money to be made in the blackmarket and the greymarket that > > cops > > > > know that many medical users have 215 recommendations only > > because > > > > it's an easy way of making a living. > > > > > > > > There are many regular folk here, or so I have heard, who operate > > > > small home franchises of cultivation, whether or not they smoke > > > > themselves. A distributor will provide equipment, clones and > > know- > > > > how for a small but sophisticated grow operation in return for > > half > > > > the profit the first year (maybe 2-3 grow cylcles) and after that > > a > > > > distribution channel for the grower who keeps all the subsequent > > > > profit for themselves. You can hardly throw a stone anywhere in > > > > Eureka or Arcata without hitting a hydroponics/organic supply > > store > > > > with all the latest equipment for cultivation. > > > > > > > > It'll be a while before this all gets hashed out but in my > > estimation > > > > the drug laws mostly stink and the premise that people should be > > > > criminalized for feeling a certain way is ridiculous. Harm > > reduction > > > > should be the focus for dealing with substances that affect > > behavior > > > > in a negative way, but cannabis in my opinion does more good than > > > > harm, whether taken medicinally, socially, or with spiritual > > intent. > > > > > > > > Marek > > > > > > > > ** > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Duveyoung <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Curtis, > > > > > > > > > > What town do you live in? > > > > > > > > > > I spent a year in Arcata, and there was always the smell wafting > > > > > around the Saturday town-square Farmer's Market....even some > > open > > > > > smoking with no attempt to hide. > > > > > > > > > > I knew a fellow there that grew plants for others -- as allowed > > by > > > > 215 > > > > > -- and he invited the local cops to his house and showed them > > his > > > > > growing operations -- they weren't "the feds," so nothing > > happened > > > > to > > > > > him....cops were glad he was being up front. > > > > > > > > > > Edg > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Marek Reavis" > > <reavismarek@> > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Curtis, I should mention that Humboldt County, where I > > practice, > > > > is > > > > > > at the epicenter of the Emerald Triangle. When you look at > > the > > > > > > classified ads under "house rentals" here they frequently > > mention > > > > > > whether or not the property is "215 friendly" or "grow > > > > > > friendly". '215' refers to Proposition 215, also known as > > the > > > > > > Compassionate Use Act that allows the cultivation, > > possesssion, > > > > and > > > > > > use of medical cannabis with a physician's recommendation. > > > > > > > > > > > > Local law allows no more than 3 lbs. of 'bud' per qualified > > user, > > > > and > > > > > > no more than 99 plants in cultivation. It's almost > > impossible to > > > > > > walk any distance around town here without smelling medicine > > in > > > > the > > > > > > air. So for that reason, too, India ain't any more special- > > er > > > > than > > > > > > home sweet, skunky home. > > > > > > > > > > > > ** > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" > > > > > > <curtisdeltablues@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Let's see now... reason for going to India instead of > > staying > > > > > > > home...oh I know... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > chillum packed with temple hash! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Marek Reavis" > > > > <reavismarek@> > > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Edg, I like 'form' just as much as the next guy, and see > > it > > > > (as > > > > > > you > > > > > > > > yourself have noted) as a reflection of what's inside. I > > > > love > > > > > > images > > > > > > > > of the Gods because each one is a respository in form of > > some > > > > > > > > aspiration of the human psyche that points back towards > > the > > > > self. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Just so the Maharishi memorial for me (or so I would hope > > it > > > > to > > > > > > be), > > > > > > > > a place for pilgrimage, not because it's any special- er > > than > > > > any > > > > > > > > place else, but because for me it'll be a touchstone for > > the > > > > > > years of > > > > > > > > my attention on Maharishi and what I gained through that > > > > > > > > association. Like swishing around in the hot water to > > feel > > > > the > > > > > > heat > > > > > > > > that's already there. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There's no ultimate value for going anywhere or doing > > > > anything > > > > > > except > > > > > > > > the perceived gain to the individual. I enjoy the > > > > anticipation > > > > > > of a > > > > > > > > pilgimage around many of the sacred sites of India > > associated > > > > > > with > > > > > > > > the history of Maharishi and Guru Dev just because. No > > other > > > > > > reason. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Marek > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ** > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Duveyoung > > <no_reply@> > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Marek, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > What spiritual reason is there for visiting the site? > > Just > > > > > > close > > > > > > > > your > > > > > > > > > eyes, and you're as close to Maharishi as anyone ever > > > > was....and > > > > > > > > > symbols being only as valuable as the projection upon > > them, > > > > you > > > > > > > > could > > > > > > > > > do that from the comfort of home with simply imagining > > the > > > > > > visit. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I'm betting you have something to teach me, but I sure > > > > don't > > > > > > get it. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Edg > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Marek Reavis" > > > > > > <reavismarek@> > > > > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, N.1008; I look forward to being able to visit > > that > > > > site > > > > > > and > > > > > > > > pay > > > > > > > > > > my respects someday in the future. He was a fine man > > > > with a > > > > > > long > > > > > > > > > > life and a tremendous influence on many people. He > > > > certainly > > > > > > > > gave my > > > > > > > > > > life some wonderful top spin and I'm entirely > > grateful. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ** > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 > > > > > > <no_reply@> > > > > > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Marek > > Reavis" > > > > > > > > > > > <reavismarek@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Comment below: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ** > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In > > > > FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" > > > > > > > > > > > > <curtisdeltablues@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Speaking of the commentary....why couldn't > > they > > > > shutup > > > > > > > > > > > > > > at least for one second? It was as if they > > felt > > > > they > > > > > > > > > > > > > > had to fill every moment with yak-yak. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > It reminded me of any puja with Indians. As > > soon as > > > > the > > > > > > > > pundit > > > > > > > > > > > > starts > > > > > > > > > > > > > chanting the whole audience starts chatting > > away > > > > and > > > > > > > > ignoring > > > > > > > > > > the > > > > > > > > > > > > > priest! One of my favorite babbles from him > > was > > > > when > > > > > > he > > > > > > > > would > > > > > > > > > > > > claim > > > > > > > > > > > > > that there were no words to express...and then > > keep > > > > > > talking! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > It also reflects the reality of the crowd. > > Most > > > > > > Indians > > > > > > > > would > > > > > > > > > > > not > > > > > > > > > > > > > actually meditate but touching Maharishi's foot > > or > > > > > > getting > > > > > > > > the > > > > > > > > > > > > magical > > > > > > > > > > > > > "darshon" at his cremation can draw a crowd. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Aside from the incessant talking I really > > enjoyed > > > > how > > > > > > > > natural a > > > > > > > > > > > > public > > > > > > > > > > > > > cremation seemed. It seems like one step more > > > > > > acceptance > > > > > > > > of > > > > > > > > > > > death > > > > > > > > > > > > and > > > > > > > > > > > > > I like it better than throwing someone in the > > > > ground. > > > > > > It > > > > > > > > seems > > > > > > > > > > > more > > > > > > > > > > > > > complete. I bailed around 2:30 Eastern time > > > > because I > > > > > > read > > > > > > > > it > > > > > > > > > > > can > > > > > > > > > > > > > burn for up to 6 hours! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I guess in the end India was proud of its > > famous > > > > son. > > > > > > I > > > > > > > > think > > > > > > > > > > > > > Maharishi would have loved the whole show. It > > was > > > > an > > > > > > > > amazing > > > > > > > > > > > step > > > > > > > > > > > > in > > > > > > > > > > > > > technology to be able to sit in my home and > > witness > > > > > > such an > > > > > > > > > > > > event. I > > > > > > > > > > > > > appreciate that it was available as well as the > > > > > > viewing. I > > > > > > > > > > > think > > > > > > > > > > > > the > > > > > > > > > > > > > movement got this one right. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > **snip to end** > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Agree with you, Curtis, particularly the last > > point. > > > > It > > > > > > > > > > surprised > > > > > > > > > > > > me how open and up front the TMO was about > > > > Maharishi's > > > > > > death > > > > > > > > and > > > > > > > > > > > the > > > > > > > > > > > > final rites. I expected that Maharishi's passing > > > > would > > > > > > have > > > > > > > > been > > > > > > > > > > > > hushed up a la L.Ron Hubbard's never ending > > voyage > > > > and, > > > > > > > > except > > > > > > > > > > for > > > > > > > > > > > a > > > > > > > > > > > > handful of insiders, no one would have known how > > or > > > > when > > > > > > he > > > > > > > > > > > actually > > > > > > > > > > > > left the stage. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I was happy to watch the whole thing. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, very nice. That TV commentor did a marvelous > > job > > > > on > > > > > > > > commenting > > > > > > > > > > > on Maharishis life in reviving the Vedas even > > though he > > > > was > > > > > > not > > > > > > > > an > > > > > > > > > > > insider. Reportedly a marble memorian will be built > > at > > > > that > > > > > > > > exact > > > > > > > > > > > spot. It's nice that we will have a place of > > pilgrimage. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
