Harrison, I like your thinking, probably because I'm in my 60s and
traveling is getting more difficult and costly, right when my income
is decreasing and my aging joints don't like those long sits in
little seats! Think globally, act locally is taking on new meaning at
this life stage.
I'd also like to add the global warming issue to the list of
factors..... I'll bet someone knows how many pounds of CO2 is
produced by a jet plane, per person, per mile.
I'm delighted to imagine another OSonOS in Camden, and this year I'll
hopefully be able to stay for the whole thing. Thanks so much for
doing it.
Diane
Diane Brandon, Coordinator
KEYS Coalition (CWC)
Landmark Hill Community Resource Center
518 Rte One Suite 4
Kittery, ME 03904
207-438-9100
Fax: 207-439-8764
di...@keysregion.org
www.keysregion.org
On Jan 19, 2007, at 11:24 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:
On of the things I have always enjoyed about OSONOS (no matter
where it may
have taken place) is that at the end, during the interminable
"Goodbyes"
people would inevitable say something like, "I'll see you here next
year."
Of course in the entire course of OSONOSs few have been held in the
same
place - which raises some interesting issues about where is "here"?
Maybe
not all there??
To be sure, in the early days we did only have only ONE OSONOS. And
there
was a very good reason. If we had more than one gathering, there
would not
have been sufficient people to go around. Yes - I guess it is true
that you
can have an OST with two people. But it does get a little lonely.
But the times have changed, and I really love the chaordic dance as
this
wonderful community (some might also say weird, bizarre, odd, or
worse)
responds to the changing times. The forces at play are multiple,
but one is
surely that there are a lot more of us in just about every corner
of the
world. I suppose we might have a fantastic party if everybody could
come to
a single place. But there are some other forces which make such a
grand
assemblage rather unlikely - not the least of which is that is
entirely
unclear just who "everybody" is???? Maybe we should have had a
Membership
List along with paid dues, a board of directors, CEO, staff, global
budget,
and of course an OSONOS Organizing Committee - which every year
would render
its judgment from Olympian heights as to the chosen place. The
possibilities
are really intriguing, and with luck we could be competing with the
Olympic
Committee. Site visits around the world, lots of politicking, and
maybe a
bribe or two here and there. Who knows, we might turn out to be a Real
Organization? Boring!!!!
Outside of the fact that there are a lot more of us, I think there
are some
other factors to be considered. Not the least of these is that some
of us
are getting a little older and also rather set in our ways. At
least that is
true for me. It is a fact that I manage to travel about a bit, but
it is
also true that every airplane I can avoid is a positive advantage
to my
health and well being. As for being set in my ways - there are
definitely
times when I don't want to go anywhere, and I don't. So what else
is new.
We could also add in economics - and the truth is that going to
wonderful
new place is great, but also quite expensive. And then you have the
security
situation we all now have to endure in which our collective
paranoia has
made getting Visas difficult and sometimes in impossible.
Personally I don't see the problem. In fact I see a wonderful
opportunity.
We can now have an OSONOS anywhere anytime we want. All you have to
do is
say Come! - and whoever cares will be there. If "everybody" came,
you would
be swamped - so don't even think about it. And don't work too hard.
As we
all know, Opening Space is not rocket science - and doing an OSONOS
should
not be a year long task. When I did the OSONOS-by-the-Sea (which
was in
Camden, Maine - Michael:-)) - it took me all of 4-5 hours (total)
to make
the arrangements - and the fee of course was a pocket shattering
$25. By the
way we are probably going to do it again and the fee will be the same.
And I definitely agree, every OSONOS should be an International
OSONOS -
everybody is welcome! And if the experience in Camden was any
indicator, the
international flavor was definitely there. To be sure, about 1/4 of
the 35
participants came from within 300 miles - but there was lots from
all over
the US, Canada with odd representation from OZ and the UK. And the
conversation was definitely global, and how could it not be? Theme
was:
"Opening Space in our lives and our World". And of course we can
all be
"there" (wherever there is) thanks to OSLIST and whatever else we
dream up.
So I, for one, vote for more and better - whenever, however,
wherever, and
with whomever. See you there :-)
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://
www.openspaceworld.com/>
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com
OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
archives
Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
<http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html>
*
*
==========================================================
osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
*
*
==========================================================
osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
