Dez's Bootcamp Experience (BRK)

POST 1,

Hi!
My name is Dez, and I am on Day 3 going on Day 4, at WL.
So far I've taken a video footage to share on this BRK thread, on
Day 3 (   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEDGNE_YIfg),    Friday 14/8/2020
Day 2 (   [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcKhH-8aXNo),[/youtube]    Thursday 13/8/2020
Day 1 (no vid), Wednesday 12/8/2020
MORE TO COME! Thanks for looking! =D

Hi Dez! It's great to have you posting and sharing what's going on at Wheaton Labs!!! I embedded the videos down below with the youtube tags to make it a little easier for people to watch.

Post 2, Day 7@WL (18/8/2020), chopping veggies for community dinner, by Clayton! Gluten Free Veggie Stir Fry..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GloWWCRVGDM

post 3 (Day 6)
After a day of work (partially building a patio stone floor), a nice quick cold shower is one of the best feelings in the world..
Walking back to the Fisher Price house to relax a little before dinner, I suddenly decide to keep walking up.. to explore the new (to me) territory of the "Volcano" of Base Camp..
By the time I get up there, I pretty much have to shower again, so lesson learned--shower after a hike, rather than before a hike..
Anyway, here's a view from the peak!

Good Morning Buenos Dias!!
[chronology is mainly for my records, so please enjoy the interesting parts =)]
Here is POST 4 of my BRK ("BARK"? LOL), (footage taken on day 7), from the peak of "Volcano", a hill/mountain near Fisher Price house
Here, a jaunty stroll up a hill is our backyard.. from the top, we see 1 neighbor's house in the distance and thousands of trees..

Yesterday, in efforts to reduce water consumption, a group of 9 of cheerful volunteers decided to take a dip in the nearby stream of water together instead of showering in a wooden box individually..
Of course both are luxurious and heavenly.. it seems that my spirit or soul or being really needed a dip in nature's summer refreshment..
While catching my breath, chest deep in the cold gentle river current, suddenly I found myself exclaiming "THIS IS WHAT I NEEDED IN MY LIFE!!!"
Surrounded by good, kind company and natures beauty, as the sun set, all that I felt was home.. for the first time in a long time..
"Its not the things that make our time on earff worthwhile; rather its the company we keep.. the things are just a nifty bonus.. true fulfillment seemingly dissolves the anxious cravings for the crumbs that come in the form of things. The company we keep may come in the form of people or places or experiences or a combination of these.."
City life has been great to me for the last 38 years.. Consumption of material things was my programming since childhood.. and it had its part in teaching me about my "WHY?".
Life in a tent surrounded by like-minded folk.. brings me a joy like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle..
No, I am not done yet. This is just the beginning of a new chapter.. and I know there will be much hard work involved.. and as long as I have the capacity, I am willing to work it hard..
For at the end, there's a nicely refreshing dip in the stream awaiting my arrival..

POST 5, BRK
Footage from day 8 gravel harvest at the meadow w/Clayton (check out his BRK here https://permies.com/t/139883/permaculture-projects/Clayton-Bootcamp-Experience)


Today is day 11. (2020.08.21)
Hard to believe I'm approaching 2 weeks since arrival at WL..
This morning I recognized a thought I used to have when I was living the City Life.. the idea of monotony in daily routines.. while walking back from the Willow Bank to the FP House..
I saw it coming, took a steady breath, and chose to observe the thought rather than attach my state of emotions with it.. Even the act of observing is a practice.. right?
For so many years, I believed that monotony in daily routine was a bad thing.. but hoo says its bad?
In fact, it was someone in the City who taught me that there is a Peace that comes with not having to think about the daily tasks [which must be done anyway].. so instead of stressing about it, slowly learn to appreciate it.
Today I am grateful for the simple routine of the 5 minute walk to the Willow Bank.. it gets my heart going!
Today I am grateful for the simple routine of preparing breakfast.. it keeps me energized! =)
Today I am grateful for the simple routine of saying "Good Morning" to the kind folks living here during this period of development at the WL!
More footage and/or pics to come!

Shane Choi wrote:
While catching my breath, chest deep in the cold gentle river current, suddenly I found myself exclaiming "THIS IS WHAT I NEEDED IN MY LIFE!!!"
Surrounded by good, kind company and natures beauty, as the sun set, all that I felt was home.. for the first time in a long time..

Such a beautiful story! It reminds me of how, when my son was 4, we stopped at river during a long drive home on a hot, hot summers day. My husband and my son went out and waded into the river, and my son (4 at the time), gave this huge, heartfelt sigh and said, "I needed this. "