Inside This Issue
Saturday May 12 10:00 am - Faire closes at 6:30 pm
Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Irwindale
Monday May 21 8:00 pm - ??
Reflections on Robert Heinlein's Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Karl Hess (Libertarian) Club
World Poly Convention 7-13-12 through 7-15-12
Go to Worldpoly.com before May 15 for Early Bird rates.
Saturday May 19 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Star Trek Marathon
Saturday June 16 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Memorial for Deborah "DeDe" Drake.
Medical/Legal Preparedness in Your Poly Family
Saturday July 21 11:00 am - 4:30 pm
Starfox lead by Will "Taliesin" Jarvis.
Saturday & Sunday August 18, 11:00 am through August 19, 1:00 pm
LTD Anniversary Celebration Poly Fantasy Island
LIVE THE DREAM WAS FOUNDED 1987. THIS YEAR IS OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY!
Friday thru Sunday August 24 thru August 26
Live the Dream Camping Trip at Lake Cachuma
LTD'S STEERING COMMITTEE - follows our 3rd Saturday gatherings
Unless otherwise noted, all events are at 8515 Penfield Ave Winnetka 91306. Group house- home of Terry, Sean, Will, and Lawrence. For all events: RSVP/more info call the LTD Hotline (818) 886-0069, ex. 3.
Live the
Dream
is an education and support group
for those who, originally inspired by the writings of Robert Heinlein, Robert
Rimmer, and Marion Zimmer Bradley, are now ready to LIVE such alternative
lifestyles as cooperative living, open relationships, and group marriage. Many
of our concepts on multiply committed relationships come from Heinlein's
Stranger in a Strange Land
and Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Live the Dream also sponsors a nest of Church of All
Worlds, the real life, over fifty year old spiritual movement inspired by
Stranger in a Strange
Land.
Please visit the Live the Dream website @ www.livethedream.org to view current events, past articles, etc.
Family Synergy members pay member price at Live the Dream meetings & parties
for info on family synergy events see: www.familysynergy.org
Note: Terry Brussel is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and a a 4th generation matchmaker. We provide poly relationship counseling, hypnotic jealousy release and other services. See www.acesuccess.com or call (800) LIFE MATES (543-3628)
EVENTS
Report on Our Beltane Celebration
Great turnout! Over twenty people attended including our High Priestess Linda and High Priest Lawrence. It was a rousing ritual with a Shakespearian flavor in verse and costume. Lovely ladies and gallant gentlemen linked arms and the Energy rose high from our grounding in Mother Earth as we set an intention of Abundance and Joy for Springtime and the year ahead.
BeltAnE is a celebration of spring. It is also a way of connecting with the Earth Mother very directly - the idea being that the sexual connection of those present flows their fertility to the earth herself encouraging growing things for good crops and to the women of the tribe as well. The priest and priestess are believed to become or at least represent the God and Goddess in their love making. The Great Rite was part of this celebration in ancient times and from it many children were born. Since their fathering was often questionable, they were considered children of the Gods. While Jewish and Christian traditions are considerably different, they agree in the belief that we are all sons and daughters of God and that the divine is within each of us.
May 12 10:00 am RENAISSANCE PLEASURE FAIRE
Join us at 10:00 am for the Opening Parade, Faire closes at 6:30
BARDIC PLAYS, BAWDY SONGS, PAGEANTRY, UNUSUAL FOOD, SAUCY WENCHES and OTHER DELIGHTS.
Meet us at the Maypole for the May Day ceremony at 11:00 am - more on scheduling at Faire
CALL LTD HOT LINE 818-886-0069 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE.
Or at Faire only you can reach Terry's cell phone at 818-388-5612 to connect with us on site.
The Renaissance Faire is open on weekends from April 7 through May 20, 2012.
Location: at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, which is at the Irwindale exit off the 210 Freeway, just east of where the 210 and 605 Freeways cross.
May 19 11:00 am to 10:00 pm STAR TREK MARATHON
11:00 am to 1:00 pm Discussion: Were the Federation ships-- Enterprise on original Trek, Next Generation, and the last series, Voyager and the space station in Deep Space Nine - examples of group living? Loyalty to each other and to the Captain ran through Star Trek in all its incarnations. Was each crew an Expanded Family? What can we learn from them when seen in that light?
1:00 pm Pot Luck Lunch. Bring something healthy and delicious to share.
2:00 pm Star Trek marathon - we have plenty of all kinds of Trek, but if you have a favorite episode, do bring it. We have two TV sets (one with large screen) to play Trek on.
We'll send out for Chinese food or pizza for dinner - whatever the group decides.
Crash space available by prior arrangement. Please do RSVP for this event at LTD hot line.
May 21 8:00 pm to ?? Reflections on Robert Heinlein's Moon is a Harsh Mistress at Karl Hess (Libertarian) Club
Terry Brussel, Paul Gibbons, and SF writer John DeChancie present. This book is known for being Heinlein's Libertarian Manifesto as well as containing an excellent example of the delights and practical advantages of a multigenerational group marriage. There will be a summary of the substance and meaning of this story followed by an unusual kind of Q&A. Playing the parts of Wyoh, Manuel, and Professor De La Paz the presenters will answer questions on the subject of liberty, politics and alternative family relationships.
8:00 pm Dinner
9:00 pm LTD Presentation
Location: Dinah's Family Restaurant 6521 S. Sepulveda Blvd. (at Centinela Avenue) in West Los Angeles (310) 645-0456. The club meets in the separate meeting room behind the main dining area.
June 16 10 am to 11am MEMOERIAL FOR DEBORAH "DeDe" DRAKE
Deborah passed May 10th 2012, we will honor her prior to doing the meeting she created. More details in next months newsletter.
June 16 11:00 am to 10:00 pm MEDICAL/LEGAL PREPAREDNESS IN YOUR POLY FAMILY
Lead by Harold Goldstein. We will discuss everything from how to get into the ICU if one of you has an accident to how a poly family can deal with taking care of aging or ill members/relatives of members. What happens if a single parent dies or becomes incapacitated? Is the child left with the co-parenting adults and children he regards as siblings that he has been raised with or taken to live with some strange grand parent in another state he barely knows? We are living in a society which does not recognize chosen family as equal to blood family. Learn how to protect yourselves and those you love.
July 13 thru July 15, 2012 WORLD POLY CONVENTION
Go to Worldpoly.com before May 15 for Early Bird rates.
Meet kindred spirits from all over the US and some from other countries at this very special celebration of our life style which Tantric Leaders Sasha and Janet Lessin produce every summer at Harbin Hot Springs. It is a sensually delightful environment which the Lessins and their workshop leaders fill with learning, romance, excitement, and the spirit of community...
FINDING POLY MATES / LOVE MAGNET lead by Terry Brussel at World Poly!
"Single, Bisexual Poly Lady (owner/resident of a group house) Seeks Partner for Primary Relationship. Non- smoker. 48 to 64. If you have Time Enough for Love call 818-886-0069."
How does one find poly mates in 2012? Personal ads like the one above? Internet dating on poly and non poly sites? Is it different for couples, triads, and morads than for singles? In the poly life style, most of us are open to potential love partners even when we are in stable, long term joyous marriages. Is the motivation of a single seeking a primary partner(s) stronger than a simple openness - too strong? How does this affect the willingness of couples to associate with someone who is single in the poly community? Is being bisexual a special issue-a turn on or a turn off? Is being committed to a group house a problem or a plus? These questions and many others will be openly, caringly discussed in dyads and full circle exercises. LOVE MAGNET: Concluding guided meditation for drawing into your life the partner(s) you desire will include suggestions based on what we discover in this workshop.
July 21 11:00 am to 4:30 pm STARFOX
Lead by Will "Taliesin" Jarvis. Imagine a society of poly empaths whose ambassador's travel in a massive starship that is home to over a hundred different races and species. Will, housemate in the Penfield house since 2003, has written extensively on the subject of polyamory, including the popular short story "Just Like A Hollywood Movie" published in the book Plural Loves. Starfox is already appearing on the Web in illustrated stories, with a print edition soon to follow, and may become a screenplay in the near future.
August 19, 11:00 am through August 20, 1:00 pm LTD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION POLY
FANTASY ISLAND SLEEP OVER HOUSE PARTY
LIVE THE DREAM WAS FOUNDED 1987. THIS YEAR IS OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY!
Keynote speaker at 11:00 am Saturday morning is Bill Patterson, Heinlein's official biographer, who has written Heinlein's life story in 2 volumes which show that the author knew whereof he spoke, walked his talk both on the subjects of liberty and alternative family lifestyles. He meant what he wrote to provide education and support for those who are curious about or ready to live the lifestyles of multiply committed relationships, group living, and group marriage.
1:00 pm Saturday Pot Luck lunch
2:00 pm on What is your poly fantasy? Little kisses all over your body by many loving lips? Strong, warm arms around you all night long?
This event is your chance to get what you have been dreaming of. Hot tub available throughout. Crash space available with RSVP. $5 for Members, $8 for non-members until 4:30 pm Saturday. $10 for members, $15 for non-members for entire weekend. Pot Luck contribution required. Call LTD hot line for more info, 818-886-0069.
August 24 through August 26 LIVE THE DREAM ANNUAL CAMPING TRIP AT LAKE CACHUMA
Tent or van camping is available by the lake itself--no hook ups. There will be a boat tour on Saturday afternoon (buy ticket there) and a moon lit walk by the lake followed by marshmallow roasting Saturday night. Sunday could be brunch in Solvang, a Danish style town nearby. There we could wander around together afterwards enjoying the unusual shops--perhaps sharing a ride in a horse drawn carriage. The other option would be brunch in Santa Barbara and a seaside art show, followed by a ride on the beach in a (group sized) surrey with a fringe on top...We'll see what works for those who attend. Cost: $25 for 1st person in car + $18 each additional person in same car if check is received by 8-19-12, $35 for 1st person in car + $25 for each additional person rates apply at campsite. Send check made out to Live the Dream - 8515 Penfield Ave. Winnetka, CA 91306 Saturday night dinner, marshmallows, and camping fees for Friday and Saturday nights are provided by LTD. All other meals are bring your own food. RSVP A MUST BY August 19, 2012 818-886-0069.
Location: Lake Cachuma is north of Santa Barbara off of Highway 154.
GROUP LIVING AMONG THE STARS
The original Star Trek gave us men and women living together onboard a starship. The friendship between Spock, Jim, Bones, and Scotty was a central theme as was loyalty of the whole crew to its captain. There was some romance between the characters, and each of the male leads had at least one episode devoted to a romantic storyline. But, as was the case in 1960s network TV, that was a death sentence (quite literally) for the female character involved. There was also nothing like family life - no married couple or kids on board. Next Generation brought family life vividly to the stars including both married couples and kids. We are given a marriage ceremony between the Chief Engineer O'Brien and Crew member Keiko (which carries over with their children into Deep Space Nine). The Counselor regularly offers family counseling to such crew members as Klingon Worf and his son. The Enterprise could be considered an intentional community rather than a group house due to its size. How many group houses have 430 people aboard? Over a thousand on board TNG's Enterprise. Voyager has a much smaller crew with more of its members shown in both intimate relationships and close friendships with one another. Greater cohesion is shown as they are "lost in space" depending on one another for all reliable ongoing personal connection. DS 9 on a space station can certainly be considered more of an intentional community rather than a group house.
We'll be discussing before watching some of the Star Trek TV shows and movies how the interpersonal skills (or lack of them) of these future imagined characters might be applied to group living and intentional communities in our real world. However, we'll be mostly just watching to share the fun of it... together.
NEW HOUSEMATE
This month (April 2012) Sean Edwards moved into my home. He lived in Chicago and we met on Poly Matchmaker. He has been Poly for most of his adult life. I called him in January of 2012 to ask his assistance in promoting my room for rent on the internet after Carl (housemate of 16 years) passed on. He decided to take the room himself after having been drawn to group living since visiting our group house for 3 weeks in 2008. Sean is a screen writer, actor, and advertising copywriter. He loves cats of which he has three. He will probably be making some writing contributions to this newsletter in the future and you are likely to see him at Live the Dream meeting and other poly gatherings.
If you have an article on polyamory or a related topic or a question for publication here please send or E-Mail it to 8515 Penfield Ave. Winnetka, CA 91306. Or Email us through www.livethedream.org. We will take the question with your solution or brain storm and give it one or more of our own. Let's have fun with this and learn from each other.
Meet Ups & Other Group Events
BURNING MAN FESTIVAL August 27th to Sept 3rd www.burningman.com
First Saturday every month - 7 PM Deborah's Poly Meet up in Burbank/ North Hollywood
Go to www.meetup.com/SoCal-Polyamory or call 310-717-5790 for more info
Shama, well known Tantrica, is having poly meet ups monthly. Go to www.pleasureparadigm.org for more info
Leanna Wolf has all sorts of things going on several times a month at her home in Van Nuys, CA - some for poly people and some for monogamous folks as well.
Other Poly meet up info: www.lovemore.com
Do you have poly news that you wish to share?
E-Mail us at livethedream.org or call us at (818) 886-0069, ex. 3
Tell your Poly-curious friends to look us up at livethedream.org
DIRECTIONS TO THE PENFIELD HOUSE
From the 118 going east, get off at De Soto Avenue, head South on De Soto to Parthenia, head East on Parthenia, head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase one block and head North on Penfield to 8515.
From the 118 going west, get off at Tampa Avenue, head South on Tampa to Parthenia, head West on Parthenia, head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase (one block), head North on Penfield.
From the 101, get off at Winnetka Avenue, head North on Winnetka Avenue to Chase (next signal North of Roscoe). Head East on Chase Street one block turn left on Penfield Avenue.
We are the big white house on the left hand side of the street; first house on Penfield north of Chase Street. Number 8515
For Google instructions, go to: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=8515+Penfield+Ave,+Winnetka,+CA+91306,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=ti
LTD DUES ARE $25.00 PER YEAR FOR ONE PERSON, $40 FOR A COUPLE, $10 EACH FOR ADDITIONAL PERSON(S) IN THE SAME HOUSE. DOUBLE THAT FOR FREE ATTENDANCE AT ALL REGULAR DAY TIME 3RD SATURDAY MEETINGS. TO BECOME A MEMBER OR TO RENEW YOU YOUR MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORM AND EITHER E-MAIL OR SNAIL MAIL IT TO THE ADDRESS LISTED BELOW. An E-Mail NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION ONLY IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE. JUST BE SURE TO PROVIDE US WITH YOUR E-Mail ADDRESS. REGULAR MEETINGS ARE $5.00 WITH YOUR CURRENTLY PAID MEMBERSHIP CARD (FAMILY SYNERGY OR LIVE THE DREAM) WITHOUT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE $8.00.
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Inside This Issue
Saturday March 17 11am - 4 pm
To BURN or not to Burn: What is the Burning Man Festival and WHY should
Poly's Care?
Friday April 6 7pm
Live the Dream Passover Seder
Saturday April 21 11am - 4 pm
Darkover Event
Saturday April 28 7pm
Beltane Ritual
Saturday May 12 10am - 6 pm
Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Irwindale
Saturday May 19 11am - 10 pm
Star Trek Marathon
Unless otherwise noted, all events are at 8515 Penfield Ave Winnetka, Ca 91306. Group house: home of Terry, Greg, Will,
Sean and Lawrence. For all events: RSVP/more info call the LTD Hotline (818) 886-0069, ex. 3.
Live the Dream is an education and support group for those who, originally inspired by the writings of
Robert Heinlein, Robert Rimmer and Marion Zimmer Bradley, are now ready to LIVE such alternative lifestyles as
cooperative living, open relationships and group marriage. Many of our concepts on multiply committed
relationships come from Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land and the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Live the Dream
also sponsors a Nest of Church of All Worlds, the real life, over fifty year old spiritual movement inspired by
Stranger in a Strange Land.
FAMILY SYNERGY MEMBERS PAY MEMBER PRICE AT LIVE THE DREAM MEETINGS & PARTIES
FOR INFO ON FAMILY SYNERGY EVENTS SEE: WWW.FAMILYSYNERGY.ORG
Note: Terry Brussel is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and a 4th generation matchmaker. We provide poly relationship
counseling, hypnotic jealousy release and other services. See www.acesuccess.com or call (800) LIFE MATES (543-3628)
EVENTS
Saturday March 17 11 am to 4:30 pm To Burn or Not to Burn: What is the Burning Man
Festival and Why Should Poly's Care?
Learn what Burning Man is all about and how the poly lifestyle is practiced there. Why this 'Festival' is important
to Poly's and all other Alternate Lifestyle practitioners. See article continued from last month below.
Happy St Patrick's Day! Eric Hauselman has agreed to make his excellent corn beef and cabbage dish for our
lunch today. Bring something Irish (or at least green) to share for pot luck lunch. Irish Music will be played
during lunch and in the background for socializing in the hot tub.
Steering Committee 3:30-4:30
Filk/Pot Luck dinner follows at 6 pm - songs of science fiction and the space age. Some of these have
both original music and lyrics while others have new words to old tunes. Many of these have songs written to
the music of traditional Irish pieces. I find the Filk lyrics running in my mind when I hear those songs...
Friday April 6
LIVE THE DREAM PASSOVER SEDER, 7:00-11PM (AT LATEST) LEAD BY ROB MILANDER
Call Terry to RSVP before 4-4-12 at (818) 886-0069, ex. 3 to arrange what to bring for the Seder
or to attend without a food contribution.
We need time to plan things and shop for supplies.
This is Celebration of Freedom!
This holiday commemorates the first time one People (the Jews) freed itself from bondage to
another People (the Egyptians). We'll do this with plenty of group participation! You don't have to read Hebrew
for this or even be Jewish. Whether you want to learn more about your own heritage, just share this special holiday
with those you care about, or discover a cultural experience new to you, you are welcome! This is coordinated pot
luck since it requires special foods. This event is FREE to one clean up coordinator, one serving coordinator, and
the single or couple who volunteers to bring 5 pounds of lamb or 10 pounds of chicken. Cost: $8.00 with
arranged food contribution and one bottle of kosher wine for each adult in your party, one bottle of grape juice for
each child. $18 each without food contribution +bring beverage. Children under thirteen free with food, $5
without. You can arrive 6-7 pm to socialize and help with preparations. Seder itself starts at 7:00 pm.
Saturday April 21 Darkover Event 11am to 4pm
We'll discuss fascinating novels based on the concept of a world on which a few hundred Terrans were marooned
in crashed space ships hundreds of years ago and were forced to build a viable community from this limited gene
pool. Many women found themselves unable to bear children on the new world. This resulted in a society where
a fertile woman having more than one child by the same man was considered a kind of selfishness. Group
marriage became the norm and ties of fosterage frequently stronger than ties of blood...Marion and many new
writers as well as successful professional writers have chosen to create stories in the Darkover universe dealing
with the alternative lifestyle of multiply committed relationships. We'll focus on SPELL SWORD and FORBIDDEN
TOWER, two novels based on a real life two-couple group marriage which lasted 16 years!
Pot Luck lunch at 1pm
Steering Committee at 3:30
SATURDAY APRIL 28 Location: Penfield House.
7pm Pot Luck dinner 8pm Beltane Ritual.
More details in next newsletter. Bring healthy and delicious snacks to share.
BELTANE is a celebration of spring. It is also a way of connecting with the Earth Mother very directly - the idea
being that the sexual connection of those present flows their fertility to the earth herself encouraging growing
things for good crops and to the women of the tribe as well. The priest and priestess are believed to become or at
least represent the God and Goddess in their love making. The Great Rite was part of this celebration in ancient
times and from it many children were born. Since their fathering was often questionable, they were considered
children of the Gods. While Jewish and Christian traditions are considerably different, they agree in the belief that
we are all sons and daughters of God and that the divine is within each of us.
May 12 10 am RENAISSANCE PLEASURE FAIRE JOIN US AT 10 AM for the OPENING PARADE
Location: at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, which is at the Irwindale exit off the 210 Freeway,
just east of where the 210 and 605 Freeways cross.
BARDIC PLAYS , BAWDY SONGS, PAGEANTRY , UNUSUAL FOOD, SAUCY WENCHES & OTHER
DELIGHTS. Opening is at 10 am.
Meet us at the May Pole for the May Day ceremony - more on scheduling at Faire
CALL LTD HOT LINE 818-886-0069 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE.
Or at faire only you can reach Terry?s cell phone at 818-388-5612 to connect with us on site.
May 19 11 am to 10 pm STAR TREK MARATHON
11 am to 1 pm Discussion: Were the Federation ships-- Enterprise on original Trek, Next Generation, and the
last series, Voyager and the space station in Deep Space Nine - examples of group living? Loyalty to each other
and to the Captain ran through Star Trek in all its incarnations. Was each crew an Expanded Family? What can we
learn from them when seen in that light?
1 pm Pot Luck Lunch
2 pm on Star Trek marathon - we have plenty of all kinds of Trek, but if you have a favorite episode, do bring
it. We have two tv sets (one with large screen) to play Trek on.
We'll send out for Chinese food or pizza for dinner - whatever the group decides.
Crash space available by prior arrangement. Please do RSVP for this event at LTD hot line.
Save the dates:
World Poly Convention 7-13-12 through 7-15-12 Go to Worldpoly.com
August 24 through August 26 Live the Dream Camping Trip at Lake Cachuma (unless someone has a
better idea and calls me with it quickly - 818-886-0069.)
BURNING MAN FESTIVAL August 27th to Sept 3rd www.burningman.com
RELATIONSHIPS IN TRANSITION
by Terry Brussel 3-12
As I write this, my handfasted partner Greg Barnes has just moved to Bullhead City,
Arizona. Our commitment, made 2-5-11 in the presence of friends, family and most
especially water kin, was for a year and a day. We did stay together than long and a bit
more as he prepared for this move. Partly we had issues with each other. We got into
fights over such things as who got to decide whether we were canceling a trip to a
planned destination when we had a disagreement while driving there. That resulted in
my creating a hypnotic CD for my clients, which includes instructions for working such
things out - it was actually helpful to Greg and me, too. We had other issues, other
power struggles between two strong willed people trying to live together. None of these
issues was really serious enough to warrant breaking up over. Except the most important
one: his dream was to OWN a piece of land somewhere and build a smith shop on it. The
property my home is on could not be made to work for this in his expert opinion, so he
found a place that did. He moved as far away as he did mainly because that is where he
could afford such a place. It is also right next to a river he can fish in and plenty of good
hunting grounds. I knew of his dream when we first started dating, but thought he had
put part of it aside to stay with me. I also believed his Smith Workshop could be built on
my property-oops!
My Dream is right here where my children, grand children and many of my water
brothers live and where I was raised and where I have build a business over a period of
40+ years. His roots are in many places and ultimately none strong enough to hold him in
this place.
One of the vows we made at the time of our Handfasting was to support each other
in being each our Highest image of who we are. Most of our issues could be put aside
once I realized that this choice was in alignment with his Highest image of who he
wanted to be. Our couples counseling with Shama (see pleasureparadigm.com) also
helped a lot. The final exercise we did with her was listing everything we appreciated
about each other in a way intended to be sure the other got it and that we ourselves
acknowledged what was good about the other person and the relationship we had built
together. There was a great deal both of us had to be thankful for in our relationship-the
one that was ending and the one we now decided to begin.
The fact that this did not work out as a primary partnership was no bar to continuing
it as a secondary one. For me, my primary partner is the one sleeping in my bed most
nights. He is the man with whom I have firm commitments for a shared future together
in bed and out. Living together is a must for this. Others don't require such things and
have a primary partner in another state - or wherever. To each his own.
On February 6th, 2012 I had the ring Greg had made for me resized for 3rd finger right
hand. Still handfasted, this time as long as love shall last, we plan to see each other every
month or two and are both looking forward to sharing such things as motor cycle rides,
filk sings and Love. We're poly. We have choices!
Relationships in Transition through the years...
From LTD newsletter 2-99
In the serially monogamous society of a majority of Americans it is necessary to end
one romantic relationship before another can begin--at least in the case of "serious"
relationships. Most people living this lovestyle will accept casual dating of more than one
person, sometimes even a casual fling going on at the same time as a more serious
relationship. A business man cheating on his wife during an out of town trip gets no
more than tsk, tsk from any but the most enthusiastic subscribers to "monogamy".
Among the polyamorous it is possible to begin a new romantic relationship without
ending an ongoing one. Both such relationships may be committed and meaningful,
even if one is considered primary and the other secondary. Does this mean break ups
never happen in polyamory? Hardly.
True, members of our community have developed more tools for coping with such
things than the average monogamous person and we do have an added protection in
that some of our needs can be met by another partner if a primary partner doesn't fulfill
them or can't do so at the moment. We also aren't going to break up because we find
hubby in bed with his girl friend.
However, relationships break up for many reasons having nothing to do with another
entering the life of either partner. Polyamorous relationships are still vulnerable to break
ups caused by moving apart in life goals, lack of communication, falling out of love, etc.
There is also the question of how many serious romantic relationships one has time for.
A relationship may be ended simply for this very practical reason unless the time
crunched person can combine activities with more than one lover at once or take an
efficiency course. Ultimately, while polyamory provides more flexibility and wider
choices, some form of discrimination must be practiced in order to devote the attention,
the quality time needed to form and maintain deep, intimate relationships. When your
dance card is full (at least for now) it may be necessary to say no to new people or, if a
new person seems irresistible, to end or down size (for example from once a week to
once a month) a present relationship to make room for the new one. Many people find it
difficult to maintain two primary relationships at one time--particularly if the two others
involved either don't get along at all or don't get along well enough to live together.
Time permitting, the possibility of having a heady affair with a new love become a
steady secondary relationship is a good one and is a big advantage of living this lifestyle.
It works if the new lovers take care to be considerate of any primary partners or pre
existing secondary partners of either of them and maintain the joy in those relationships.
If a decision is made to end a romantic relationship for whatever reason, it can be
handled in a number of different ways. You can have a nasty fight and never speak to
each other again, cutting his or her picture out of family albums. You can persuade your
friends to choose up sides and never talk to your X either. This is a little hard to manage
if both of you are going to stay in the (rather small) poly community, attending the same
conventions, etc. My X-husband managed it by completely dropping out of that
community. He also crosses hotel lobbies and public streets to avoid me at SF
conventions. His wife has to sneak off behind his back to have lunch with me. He's
extreme enough to be funny (unintentionally), but this kind of break up makes others
forced to be around it pretty uncomfortable.
Traumatic break-ups can be equally negative when the participants are close friends
who never have been lovers. Such break ups are best handled with courtesy and as much
grace as one can muster when meeting at the gatherings you both attend, since
becoming friend is not an option here.
The option of becoming friends does exist in a romantic relationship even if you
choose to be lovers no more. This is much more comfortable for everyone (especially any
children involved). You could even go on being lovers, but see less of each other, stop
living together, etc. A member of our expanded family who lives with us (Carl) has a
great open relationship with one X wife which is sexual as well as loving. He also has a
warm, close relationship with another X wife of the friendship variety. The one who he's
friends with flew him out to Northern California to priest (Pagan style) a coming of age
ceremony for her nephew. This occurred several years after the breakup of their
marriage. Carl broke up with me, as a lover, more than two years ago and did it in a way
so gentle and caring that it did not damage our friendship or even make living together
difficult. The fact that my loving husband, Paul, also lives with me helped of course...
Most of my romances over the years have remained close as friends and water
brothers (family-by-choice concept from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein)
whether our relationship extended to the bedroom at present or not. I have
relationships which have transitioned back and forth from the romantic to the platonic
more than once (some over periods of twenty+ years) and have been relatively
undamaged by the changes. This has been rough in situations in which I was so in love
with someone that it hurt to be "just friends" after having experienced the delights and
special intimacy of shared sexuality. Maintaining those relationships has been important
enough to me that I've found ways to make it work anyhow--sometimes after a bit of a
cooling off period. I shared with my first water brother (who remains my closest friend)
in 1969. He and most of my other water brothers (yes, this includes sisters) are part of
an intimate network of friends who get together for parties, weddings, funerals and
holidays. Like any close family, we're together for the long haul.
Note from 3-9-12: My second husband Paul and I have built our way to close
friendship over the four years since the end of our marriage. This took overcoming all
sorts of obstacles caused by a heart breaking split up. While we are not lovers at this
time, we have too many things in common and too many reasons to remain friends not
to make it happen. We share Live the Dream meetings, Libertarian gatherings, family
birthday parties, shared business activities as well as dinners (even weekend vacations)
with dear friends close to both of us. My grandchildren, who have known him all their
lives, still call him Grandpa Paul.
I am dating again-- looking for a primary partner on Ok Cupid, Poly Meet Ups
(including Live the Dream, of course), in science fiction fandom and among old friends.
Couples warmly considered...
With a background of being a fourth generation matchmaker, I teach others how to
do this as part of my coaching and hypnotherapy practice.
Ishtar (58) seeks Lazarus (50-64, non-smoker). If you have Time Enough for Love, call
818-886-0069...
More in future newsletters on how I am doing in my own search and how you can find
YOUR right one(s), too.
Steering Committee
The first meeting was held January 21st after Paul Gibbons' Liberty presentation. Paul Gibbons and
Harold Goldstein both volunteered to be on the Steering Committee. Harold will go on helping with
formatting our newsletter. Paul will help with posting our info on the Internet. He has video recordings
of some of our best meetings which he could post and will continue to make those recordings. Help
with writing articles for this newsletter as well as hosting meetings, presenting meetings and promoting
those meetings as well as someone to keep track of the Live The Dream data base would all be
welcome. Please do attend our next Steering Committee meeting after the Burning Man meeting March
17th, 2012 at 3:30.
Live the Dream was founded 1987 as a spin off of Family Synergy. We provide education, support and
social interaction with like minded others for those who believe that it is possible to love and be
committed to more than one significant other. We started out with a steering committee who shared
decision making responsibilities for creating a newsletter, keeping track of the data base, presenting
monthly meetings and special events, etc. As some of those people moved away or moved on, I took
on more and more of the responsibilities. What I could not do or didn't have time for, I had my office
staff do. I am willing to keep doing much of what I have been doing, but I believe it would be better for
this group's ongoing success if others got involved. It's time to have your say in getting the kind
of activities you would most enjoy - whether you want to lead/host them or not.
What is Burning Man, and Why Should Poly's Care???
(Part 2)
Last month I spoke on Burning Man and the freedom that exists there. I touched a little on
what individual Poly camps do. Let's take a closer look at that.
First and foremost, what makes a Theme camp at Burning Man different from a group of
friends setting up a campsite? A group a friends will camp together because they know each
other & may know how to work together as a group. But their primary focus will be on creating
a place to stay/gather between forays out in to the Festival. They may have planned meals, a
set of camp rules, but their camp is their 'home' on the Playa. They rarely have a planned 'face'
to put out for the rest of the city to see & interact with. In essence it is private space.
A Theme camp is specifically set up to interact with the rest of the inhabitants of the city.
Usually with scheduled events, classes, or performances etc. They will have their camp
separated into a (or many) private living area(s) and an open, public area... their "face" to the
Playa! This may include a Stage, a dance area, a 'bar', giving out food (note: a camp
specifically set up to give out food DOES have to get a Nevada health permit!) a 'Chill' space,
space for classes/lectures/workshops or a "play area".
As I mentioned briefly last month, Poly Paradise holds two BIG events daily and a number
of workshops. The two big events are the Poly High Tea and the Human Carcass Wash, but
this is by no means all that they do. They build a large community kitchen, an area for the
workshops/classes/High Tea, a separate area designed solely for the Carcass Wash and within
the more private camping areas, the Pleasure dome. The classes are mostly on various
methods of building relationships, but can also include various sexual
enhancement/instruction classes or even a group hypnosis session to achieve a specific goal
(weight loss, stop smoking etc). The whenever the large meeting space is not being used for a
class, it also serves as an open place for people to gather, meet, relax and whatever.
Camp 'and then there is only LOVE' is set up very similarly. Though, they usually have
their "Orgy Dome" up front where it is easily visible & accessible to passersby. They also have
a large stage set up for their big Thursday night event: "Hot Sex" (the hottest & sexiest fire
dance competition on the Playa) usually EM'ed by the camp founder, Jennifer Steel. This is a
not to be missed event! And they have as many, if not more classes than Poly Paradise!
One of the aspects of classes held across the Playa is the total freedom in putting these on.
As an example, the West Hollywood Pride festival usually has a separate, guarded adults only
area that offers classes. One such class was in 'The fine Art of the Hand in the Bush' ... IE
fisting. At the pride, due to the legal restrictions placed on them, they had to demonstrate on a
crude mockup. At Burning Man, when this subject has been taught, it is with a full LIVE
demo and then the participants can, if they choose, practice this fully with their partner(s) and
have the instructors give them pointers! The same is true for other such explicit classes (such
as Continuous Female Orgasm; Releasing Inhibitions; and way too many more to list here!)
and major events like the Annual Great Canadian Beaver Eating Contest; Beaverton's annual
Strap-on-a-Thon; and the Adoration Party!
Lastly and probably the MOST important reason Poly's should go to Burning Man is that
here you get to openly show how YOUR relationship works to 50,000 other people that WILL
pay attention and take this learning out into the World and PASS IT ON without any effort on
your part to see that it is done! There are many 'movers & shakers' present at the festival and
they do pay attention and pass this knowledge on to others!
See you on the Playa!!!
If you have a poly experience or question to share
for publication here please send or E-Mail it to 8515 Penfield Ave. Winnetka, CA. 91306.
E-Mail us at livethedream.org. We will take it with your solution or brain storm and give it one or
more of our own. Let's have fun with this and learn from each other.
Meetup & other group Events
First Saturday every month - 7 PM Deborah's Poly Meetup in Burbank/ North Hollywood
Go to www.meetup.com/SoCal-Polyamory or call 310-717-5790 for more info
Shama, who gave the excellent presentation on Tantra for LTD's March 2011 meeting, is having poly meet ups
monthly. Go to www.pleasureparadigm.org for more info
Leanna Wolf has all sorts of things going on several times a month at her home in Van Nuys, CA. - some for
poly people and some for monogamous folks as well.
See http://drleannawolfe.com
Other Poly meet up info: www.lovemore.com
Do you have poly news that you wish to share?
E-Mail us at livethedream.org or call us at (818) 886-0069, ex. 3
Tell your Poly curious friends to look us up at livethedream.org
DIRECTIONS TO THE PENFIELD HOUSE
From the 118 going east, get off at De Soto Avenue, head South on De Soto to Parthenia, head East on Parthenia,
head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase one block and turn left (North) on Penfield to 8515.
From the 118 going west, get off at Tampa Avenue, head South on Tampa to Parthenia, head West on Parthenia,
head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase one block, turn left (North) on Penfield to 8515.
From the 101, get off at Winnetka Avenue, head North on Winnetka Avenue to Chase (next signal North of
Roscoe). Head East on Chase Street one block turn left (North) on Penfield to 8515
We are the big white house on the left hand side of the street; first house on Penfield north of Chase
Street. Number 8515
For Google instructions, go to:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=8515+Penfield+Ave,+Winnetka,+CA+91306,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&
ct=ti
LTD DUES ARE $25.00 PER YEAR FOR ONE PERSON, $40 FOR A COUPLE, $10 EACH FOR ADDITIONAL
PERSON(S) IN THE SAME HOUSE. DOUBLE THAT FOR FREE ATTENDANCE AT ALL REGULAR DAY
TIME 3RD SATURDAY MEETINGS. TO BECOME A MEMBER OR TO RENEW YOU YOUR MEMBERSHIP,
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORM AND EITHER E-MAIL OR SNAIL MAIL IT TO THE
ADDRESS LISTED BELOW. An E-Mail NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION ONLY IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE.
JUST BE SURE TO PROVIDE US WITH YOUR E-Mail ADDRESS. REGULAR MEETINGS ARE $5.00 WITH
YOUR CURRENTLY PAID MEMBERSHIP CARD (FAMILY SYNERGY OR LIVE THE DREAM] WITHOUT
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE $8.00.
Inside This Issue
Saturday February 11 4PM-5PM Terry Brussel will present
"Discover your Life Mission: Connect with your SOULMATE" at Conscious Life Expo LAX Hilton hotel Century C ballroom Saturday February 18 11 am to 4 pm Poly and Pagan LTD'S Steering Committee 2nd meeting follows our 3rd Saturday gatherings Saturday March 17 11am - 4 pm To BURN or not to Burn: What is the Burning Man Festival and WHY should Poly's Care? Friday April 6 7pm Live the Dream Passover Seder Saturday April 21 11am - 4 pm Darkover Event Saturday April 28 11am - 4 pm Beltane Ritual Saturday May 12 10am - ??? Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Irwindale Save the date!!! Live the Dream February 2012 to April 2012 Unless otherwise noted, all events are at 8515 Penfield Ave Winnetka, Ca 91306. Group house: home of Terry, Greg, Will, Sean and Lawrence. For all events: RSVP/more info call the LTD Hotline (818) 886-0069, ex. 3. Live the Dream is an education and support group for those who, originally inspired by the writings of Robert Heinlein, Robert Rimmer and Marion Zimmer Bradley, are now ready to LIVE such alternative lifestyles as cooperative living, open relationships and group marriage. Many of our concepts on multiply committed relationships come from Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land and the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Live the Dream also sponsors a Nest of Church of All Worlds, the real life, over fifty year old spiritual movement inspired by Stranger in a Strange Land. Please visit the Live the Dream website at www.livethedream.org to view current events, past articles, etc. FAMILY SYNERGY MEMBERS PAY MEMBER PRICE AT LIVE THE DREAM MEETINGS & PARTIES FOR INFO ON FAMILY SYNERGY EVENTS SEE: WWW.FAMILYSYNERGY.ORG Note: Terry Brussel is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and a 4th generation matchmaker. We provide poly relationship counseling, hypnotic jealousy release and other services. See www.acesuccess.com or call (800) LIFE MATES (543-3628) EVENTS Saturday February 11 4pm - 5pm Discover your Life Mission: Connect w/your SOULMATE Special location: LAX Hilton hotel Century C ballroom at the Conscious Life Expo(Day Pass Required) Consult with spirit guides, your own Higher Self and the souls you are to be with this time around. Find out why you are here: To learn? To teach? To connect with your SOULMATE? To heal yourself and others? Find out how to manifest your goals into reality. Saturday February 18th 11 am to 4 pm Poly and Pagan lead by Leana Hauselman and Terry Brussel. Leana is active in CUPPS - pagan Unitarians. Its founder, Tim, was an original member of Live the Dream's steering committee. LTD is a nest of Church of All Worlds based on Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land. Polyamory is far more common among pagans than it is in the population at large, though certainly not universal in the Pagan community. The word Polyamory was coined by Morning Glory Zell whose husband Oberon founded CAW. See Bouquet of Lovers below. What are the spiritual aspects of polyamory and how are they compatible with neo-Paganism? All Acts of Love and Pleasure are My Rituals sayeth the Goddess... Pot luck lunch - bring finger foods for a Tribal Feast. Followers of Pan of the male persuasion shall be privileged to feed Goddesses attending this event and provide them with other delights such as massage. Clothing optional Hot tubbing and socializing follow. Steering Committee The first meeting was held January 21st after Paul Gibbons's Liberty presentation. Paul Gibbons and Harold Goldstein both volunteered to be on the Steering Committee. Harold will go on helping with formatting our newsletter. Paul will help with posting our info on the Internet. He has video recordings of some of our best meetings which he could post and will continue to make those recordings. Help with writing articles for this newsletter as well as hosting meetings, presenting meetings and promoting those meetings as well as someone to keep track of the Live The Dream data base would all be welcome. Please do attend our next Steering Committee meeting after the Poly and Pagan meeting February 19, 2012 at 3:30. Live the Dream was founded 1987 as a spin off of Family Synergy. We provide education, support and social interaction with like minded others for those who believe that it is possible to love and be committed to more than one significant other. We started out with a steering committee who shared decision making responsibilities for creating a newsletter, keeping track of the data base, presenting monthly meetings and special events, etc. As some of those people moved away or moved on, I took on more and more of the responsibilities. What I could not do or didn't have time for, I had my office staff do. I am willing to keep doing much of what I have been doing, but I believe it would be better for this group's ongoing success if others got involved. It's time to have your say in getting the kind of activities you would most enjoy - whether you want to lead/host them or not. Saturday March 17 11 am to 4:30 pm To Burn or Not to Burn: What is the Burning Man Festival and Why Should Poly's Care? Learn what Burning Man is all about and how the poly lifestyle is practiced there. Why this 'Festival' is important to Poly's and all other Alternate Lifestyle practitioners. See article below on page 7 Happy St Patrick's Day! Eric Hauselman has agreed to make his excellent corn beef and cabbage dish for our lunch today. Bring something Irish (or at least green) to share for pot luck lunch. Irish Music will be played during lunch and in the background for socializing in the hot tub. Steering Committee 3:30-4:30 Filk/Pot Luck dinner follows at 6 pm - songs of science fiction and the space age. Some of these have both original music and lyrics while others have new words to old tunes. Many of these have songs written to the music of traditional Irish pieces. I find the Filk lyrics running in my mind when I hear those songs... Friday April 6 LIVE THE DREAM PASSOVER SEDER, 7:00-11PM (AT LATEST) LEAD BY ROB MILANDER Call Terry to RSVP before 4-13-10 at (818) 886-0069, ex. 3 to arrange what to bring for the Seder or to attend without a food contribution. We need time to plan things and shop for supplies. This is Celebration of Freedom! This holiday commemorates the first time one People (the Jews) freed itself from bondage to another People (the Egyptians). We'll do this with plenty of group participation! You don't have to read Hebrew for this or even be Jewish. Whether you want to learn more about your own heritage, just share this special holiday with those you care about, or discover a cultural experience new to you, you are welcome! This is coordinated pot luck since it requires special foods. This event is FREE to one clean up coordinator, one serving coordinator, and the single or couple who volunteers to bring 5 pounds of lamb or 10 pounds of chicken. Cost: $8.00 with arranged food contribution and one bottle of kosher wine for each adult in your party, one bottle of grape juice for each child. $18 each without food contribution +bring beverage. Children under thirteen free with food, $5 without. You can arrive 6-7 pm to socialize and help with preparations. Seder itself starts at 7:00 pm. Saturday April 21 Darkover Event We'll discuss fascinating novels based on the concept of a world on which a few hundred Terrans were marooned in crashed space ships hundreds of years ago and were forced to build a viable community from this limited gene pool. Many women found themselves unable to bear children on the new world. This resulted in a society where a fertile woman having more than one child by the same man was considered a kind of selfishness. Group marriage became the norm and ties of fosterage frequently stronger than ties of blood...Marion and many new writers as well as successful professional writers have chosen to create stories in the Darkover universe dealing with the alternative lifestyle of multiply committed relationships. We'll focus on SPELL SWORD and FORBIDDEN TOWER, two novels based on a real life two- couple group marriage which lasted 16 years! SATURDAY APRIL 28 Location: Penfield House. 7 pm Pot Luck dinner 8 pm Beltane Ritual. More details in next newsletter. Bring healthy and delicious snacks to share. BELTANE is a celebration of spring. It is also a way of connecting with the Earth Mother very directly - the idea being that the sexual connection of those present flows their fertility to the earth herself encouraging growing things for good crops and to the women of the tribe as well. The priest and priestess are believed to become or at least represent the God and Goddess in their love making. The Great Rite was part of this celebration in ancient times and from it many children were born. Since their fathering was often questionable, they were considered children of the Gods. While Jewish and Christian traditions are considerably different, they agree in the belief that we are all sons and daughters of God and that the divine is within each of us May 12 10 am RENAISSANCE PLEASURE FAIRE JOIN US AT 10 AM for the OPENING PARADE Location: at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, which is at the Irwindale exit off the 210 Freeway, just east of where the 210 and 605 Freeways cross. BARDIC PLAYS , BAWDY SONGS, PAGEANTRY , UNUSUAL FOOD, SAUCY WENCHES & OTHER DELIGHTS. Opening is at 10 am. Meet us at the May Pole for the May Day ceremony - more on scheduling at Faire CALL LTD HOT LINE 818-886-0069 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE. Or at faire only you can reach Terry's cell phone at 818-388-5612 to connect with us on site. Church of All Worlds/ Live the Dream By Terry Brussel January 2012 Back in 1968, I was part of a Stranger in a Strange Land type Nest formed by about ten science fiction fans who went to high school together. Many of the original group scattered to the four winds, but my first water brother is still my best friend and we've drawn many others to us over the years - twenty-five at last count. Some of these are our lovers as well. Stranger in a Strange Land has been my interpersonal relationships Bible all this time and has served me well. I have used it (with some help from such other Heinlein books as The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Time Enough for Love) as a touch stone for educating people about alternative lifestyles such as multiply committed relationships, group marriage, and families-by-choice. Family Synergy, which my first husband and I joined in 1977, was my first forum for such discussions as an adult. This organization was founded in 1971 by Hyim Levy and Pat LaFollette. It was based largely on the writings of Robert Rimmer (The Harrad Experiment, Proposition 31), though some of its members were more science fiction oriented. Family Synergy was truly my family by choice during those years - we shared Passover Seders (Hy lead the first really traditional one I had ever been to at the Allot House in 1977), Latke Parties, birthday celebrations and trips to Elysium. In 1987, Brian Gitt, Darrell Smith ( two of my water brothers then in a triad with me) and myself formed Live the Dream-- many of whose members were in science fiction fandom and whose philosophy was based on writings by Heinlein and others of the SF genre. Robert Rimmer was an honorary member and an inspiration to me personally-- always willing to talk with me about how to live this life style more joyously until he passed on a few years ago. In 1988, I heard about Church of All Worlds. I discovered to my delight and amazement that it was based on the one in Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land. See excerpts below. The organizers of CAW and I had been walking similar paths separately for 20+ years. CAW was the first neo pagan religion to be legally recognized in the United States. It now has Nests (of Water Brothers) in many other countries as well. As I made my pilgrimage to meet with Otter (now Oberon) and Morning Glory soon after that, I arranged to visit Otter and Morning Glory at their home near the Russian River in northern California. As we drove up there a filk song played: "We were traveling north to see some friends we'd never met...there were unicorns..." It seemed unbelievably appropriate, though I didn't know at the time I'd soon meet a real unicorn. I found out later the song had been written for the folks I was about to visit. It's been special to me ever since. Naturally, I became a member of Church of All Worlds (CAW). The magazine they put out, The Green Egg is fascinating and frequently contains lifestyles related material. Though LTD has more emphasis on alternative lifestyles than paganism, appropriate ritual is woven into many of our holiday events. I became a Scion (4th Circle initiate) in CAW as of 4-25-98. The initiation was done just weeks after my husband Paul and I shared an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Conflict? There are many rooms in the mansion of the Lord and the Lady... Pagan sexuality is more open than Jewish, Christian or even Unitarian sexual practices. Sex in or out of marriage is more than permitted, it is sacred. On certain holidays it may even be required of certain participants such as May King(s) and Queen(s). Sexual magick may be performed for the accomplishment of specific desires and intents (including non-sexual ones). The Goddess sayeth "All acts of love and pleasure are my Ritual..." When I read that in the Green Egg, I felt a joining of spirituality with my choice of lifestyle which has been a blessing in my life. The founder's wife, Morning Glory Zell, actually coined the term Polyamory in her Bouquet of Lovers article. Morning Glory and Oberon (AKA Otter, AKA Tim) Zell spent many years in a line marriage (multi generational group marriage based on Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress) containing up to eight people at one time. Polyamory is the philosophy that it is possible to deeply love and be committed to more than one significant other. Some of those who call ourselves Polyamorous express this by having a primary partner that we may be legally married to and lovers with whom we may share anything from a romantic evening each month to family activities and nights over several times a week. Others are actually in group marriages, some of which have been together for decades. Group marriages, intimate networks, co-ops and communes, are among the many somewhat unorthodox ways we live together Some of the larger ones fit in the category of Intentional Communities. These may or may not be either sexually open or poly oriented. I have been involved in such lifestyles since my teens - 2 open marriages, a semi residential triad which founded LTD, a triad (5 yrs), a quadrad and an open committed relationship with a handfasted partner. Today we live in a large group house which includes another of our water brothers, a member of our expanded family and (with the passing of a water brother who had been with me as a household member for sixteen years) a room available for a new potential family member. The house has two fire places, an outdoor jacuzzi with room enough for eight (though it has held as many as 14 at a party) and an indoor one in our master suite. We always have company when we want it and private space when that is needed. All of us are avid SF readers and Pagan (though I am also a practicing Jew and my partner is Hindu). It is possible to Live The Dream, whatever Dream you cherish, and make it Real. Stranger in a Strange Land features a human child raised by Martians returning as a young man to earth. We get a fresh look at our American sexual customs from the point of view of someone not raised to consider them self evident. These are some excerpts from Stranger in a Strange Land: Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy. In fact, they're almost in compatible; one emotion hardly leaves room for the other. Both at once can produce an unbearable turmoil. Sex should be a means of happiness. The worst thing about the way most of our society handles sex is that we use it to hurt each other. It ought never to hurt; it should bring happiness, or at least, pleasure. The code says, "Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife." The result? Reluctant chastity, adultery, jealousy, bitterness, blows and sometimes murder, broken homes and twisted children-and furtive little passes degrading to woman and man. Is this commandment ever obeyed? If a man swore on his own Bible that he refrained from coveting his neighbor's wife because the code forbade it, I would suspect either self-deception or subnormal sexuality. Any male virile enough to sire a child has coveted many women, whether he acts or not. There is no need to covet my wife ... love her! There's no limit to her love, we have everything to gain - and nothing to lose but fear and guilt and hatred and jealousy. I still don't grok jealousy in fullness, it seems insanity to me. When I first learned what this ecstasy was, my first thought was that I wanted to share it, share it at once with all my water brothers- directly with those female, indirectly by inviting more sharing with those male. The notion of trying to keep this never failing fountain to myself would have horrified me, had I thought of it. But I was incapable of thinking it. And in perfect corollary I had no slightest wish to attempt this miracle with anyone I did not already cherish and trust. Our Brothers get along together. They live in peace and happiness with no bitterness, no jealousy. Male-femaleness is the greatest gift we have. Romantic physical love may be unique to this planet. If it is, the universe is a poorer place than it could be ... And I grok dimly that we-who-are-God will save this precious invention and spread it. The joining of bodies with merging of souls in shared ecstasy, giving, receiving, delighting in each other is the source of all that makes this planet so rich and wonderful. Until a person, man or woman, has enjoyed this treasure bathed in the mutual bliss of minds linked as closely as bodies, that person is still virginal and alone as if he had never had sex. My own definition of Water Brothers-as I have lived it since 1968: May you never thirst, never hunger is one acknowledgment commonly used among members of the real Church of All Worlds which is based on the one in Heinlein's novel. In Stranger, this is a binding promise to see to it personally that one's Brothers (read sisters as well) shall never hunger, be thirsty, nor lack for shelter. Among most who offer these words in ritual, they are far less binding. In most rituals, the sharing of water is simply the recognition that we are all brothers and sisters in the earth, Gaia. Being a bit more traditional, I personally will not use water for such a ritual unless I do mean the words literally. I replace it with juice. I may even verbally state that the sharing we are doing is not a sharing in fullness. In my own inner Nest, the sharing of Water has meanings varying from person to person by their choice. There are those who have chosen to accept my water brothers as their own and those who have chosen to share only with me and to share separately, or not, with each of my other water brothers. Others have decided to change to this meaning after the original sharing. Some have even chosen to break the bond of water brotherhood--which they can do, on their side, without anyone discorporating as a result. In essence, we are none of us Martians nor characters in a science fiction story. Each of us does the best we can to be true to ourselves and those we care for. What is Burning Man, and Why Should Poly's Care??? The Burning Man Festival is a week long celebration of radical self expression thru artwork of ANY kind. So what does art have to do with Polyamory? Or should that question be reversed? The answer lies not in Art but in the self expression. Polyamory is foremost a person's self expression of their lifestyle. By current society's standards, it can be considered radical (I and most Poly's I know do NOT consider this lifestyle radical!), so again it fits the basic description of Burning Man. So how is this enacted at Burning Man? Burning Man is held in the Black Rock Desert in Northern Nevada. A temporary city (appropriately named Black Rock City aka BRC) is built and populated by more than 50,000 residents. This makes Black Rock City officially the fourth (possible third!) largest city in Nevada! What makes this city so special is that more than 50% of the population openly lives an alternate lifestyle! That may be represented as being Gay, Bi, BDSM, Poly or any combination of those and more. Nothing unusual about seeing three men walking hand in hand in hand down the street, or any combination of people in romantic embraces. It is also a place that many normally monogamous couples experiment in open relationships without it adversely harming their marriage. Yes, the majority of those go back home to their quiet, monogamous lives. But some continue to learn & experiment with various relationship styles. Oh, and yes, you would be quite successful hunting for Unicorns in Black Rock City! Just remember, some will be temporary Unicorns and others will have fur & a horn! In 2009 there were just under 800 registered theme camps, of which 20% were alternate lifestyle camps, with many more that were very open to, or taught classes that included lifestyle related classes. Of these camps, Poly Paradise stands out as the oldest and largest of the specifically Polyamory camps with "and then there is only LOVE" running it a close second. Comfort & Joy would be the oldest & largest Gay men's camp (of which more than half its members are Poly), with Beaverton being the largest all gay/bi woman's camp. Then add in Temple of Atonement, the largest BDSM camp in BRC (and what percentage of BDSM is also Poly?) and specifically Swinger camps and there is plenty to look for. These are just the largest of each type of camps, there are anywhere from 3 - 15 more camps of each type on the Playa! What does each camp do? Most run workshops/classes during the day on various relationship issues. The BDSM & their ropework sub camps do some of the most detailed and informative classes I have ever seen! Poly Paradise hold two BIG events daily and a number of workshops. The two big events are the Poly High Tea (from 50- 100 people attending!) where Polyamory is discussed, intro'ed and assisted on; and the Human Carcass Wash, where 100's of people take turns washing each other clean of the Playa dust. I will continue with more next month. If you have a poly experience or question to share for publication here please send or E-Mail it to 8515 Penfield Ave. Winnetka, CA. 91306. E-Mail us at livethedream.org. We will take it with your solution or brain storm and give it one or more of our own. Let's have fun with this and learn from each other. Meetup & other group Events First Saturday every month - 7 PM Deborah's Poly Meetup in Burbank/ North Hollywood Go to www.meetup.com/SoCal-Polyamory or call 310-717-5790 for more info Shama, who gave the excellent presentation on Tantra for LTD's March 2011 meeting, is having poly meet ups monthly. Go to www.pleasureparadigm.org for more info Leanna Wolf has all sorts of things going on several times a month at her home in Van Nuys, CA. - some for poly people and some for monogamous folks as well. See http://drleannawolfe.com Other Poly meet up info: www.lovemore.com Do you have poly news that you wish to share? E-Mail us at livethedream.org or call us at (818) 886-0069, ex. 3 Tell your Poly curious friends to look us up at livethedream.org DIRECTIONS TO THE PENFIELD HOUSE From the 118 going east, get off at De Soto Avenue, head South on De Soto to Parthenia, head East on Parthenia, head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase one block and turn left (North) on Penfield to 8515. From the 118 going west, get off at Tampa Avenue, head South on Tampa to Parthenia, head West on Parthenia, head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase one block, turn left (North) on Penfield to 8515. From the 101, get off at Winnetka Avenue, head North on Winnetka Avenue to Chase (next signal North of Roscoe). Head East on Chase Street one block turn left (North) on Penfield to 8515 We are the big white house on the left hand side of the street; first house on Penfield north of Chase Street. Number 8515 For Googleinstructions,goto:http://maps.google.com/maps?q=8515+Penfield+Ave,+Winnetka,+CA+91306,+USA&sa=X&oi=map& ct=ti LTD DUES ARE $25.00 PER YEAR FOR ONE PERSON, $40 FOR A COUPLE, $10 EACH FOR ADDITIONAL PERSON(S) IN THE SAME HOUSE. DOUBLE THAT FOR FREE ATTENDANCE AT ALL REGULAR DAY TIME 3RD SATURDAY MEETINGS. TO BECOME A MEMBER OR TO RENEW YOU YOUR MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORM AND EITHER E-MAIL OR SNAIL MAIL IT TO THE ADDRESS LISTED BELOW. An E-Mail NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION ONLY IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE. JUST BE SURE TO PROVIDE US WITH YOUR E-Mail ADDRESS. REGULAR MEETINGS ARE $5.00 WITH YOUR CURRENTLY PAID MEMBERSHIP CARD (FAMILY SYNERGY OR LIVE THE DREAM] WITHOUT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE $8.00.
Founded in 1987 by Terry Brussel and Brian Gitt
Based on the philosophy of Family Synergy
Founded 1971 by Hy Levy and Pat LaFollette
Inside This Issue
Saturday January 21 11 am to 3:30 pm
Free State Project: Building Galt's Gulch One Step At A Time
Saturday January 21 3:30 pm
FIRST MEETING OF LTD'S NEW STEERING COMMITTEE
Saturday February 18 11 am to 4 pm
Poly and Pagan
Saturday March 17 11am to 4 pm
To BURN or not to Burn: What is the Burning Man Festival and why should Polys Care?
CONSIDER GROUP LIVING
Space Available a lovely group house West San Fernando Valley
818-886-0069
Live the Dream JANUARY 2012 to MARCH 2012
Unless otherwise noted, all events are at 8515 Penfield Ave Winnetka 91306. Group house- home of Terry, Greg, Will and Lawrence. For all events: RSVP/more info call the LTD Hotline (818) 886-0069, ex. 3.
Live the Dream is an education and support group for those who, originally inspired by the writings of Robert Heinlein, Robert Rimmer and Marion Zimmer Bradley, are now ready to LIVE such alternative lifestyles as cooperative living, open relationships and group marriage. Many of our concepts on multiply committed relationships come from Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land and Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Live the Dream also sponsors a Nest of Church of All Worlds, the real life, over fifty year old spiritual movement inspired by Stranger in a Strange Land.
Please visit the Live the Dream website www.livethedream.org to view current events, past articles, etc.
Family Synergy members pay member price at Live the Dream meetings & parties
for info on family synergy events see: www.familysynergy.org
Note: Terry Brussel is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and a a 4th generation matchmaker. We provide poly relationship counseling, hypnotic jealousy release and other services. See www.acesuccess.com or call (800) LIFE MATES (543-3628)
EVENTS
Saturday January 21st 11 am to 3:30pm Free State Project: Building Gault's Gulch One Step At A Time lead by Paul Gibbons
What will relationships and marriage look like in a Free State? How will taxes, the Free Market, and other issues affecting an expanded family's finances be handled? This and other fascinating subjects will be discussed as we look at New Hampshire (real world, the present) where a group of libertarian types are inviting other freedom lovers to create new solutions for liberty in our life time. What they are doing is starting to work as more and more move there and some run for state office. Thirteen Free Stater's are now in the New Hampshire State legislature! Paul, who has been visiting and attending conventions there, will bring us news of what is actually happening as well as discussing how this relates to ideas found in such fictional works as Atlas Shrugged and Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.
Pot luck lunch at 1 pm Bring something healthy and delicious to share.
Hot tubbing and socializing in the afternoon
Saturday January 21st 3:30pm LTD'S NEW STEERING COMMITTEE
COME WITH YOUR IDEAS AND HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT WE DO NEXT!
Live the Dream was founded 1987 as a spinoff of Family Synergy. We provide education, support and social interaction with like minded others for those who believe that it is possible to love and be committed to more than one significant other. We started out with a steering committee who shared decision making responsibilities for creating a newsletter, keeping track of the data base, presenting monthly meetings and special events, etc. As some of those people moved away or moved on, I took on more and more of the responsibilities. What I could not do or didn't have time for, I had my office staff do. Harold Goldstein has continued helping put our newsletter together - Thank you Harold! I am willing to keep doing much of what I have been doing, but I believe it would be better for this group's ongoing success if others got involved. It's time to have your say in getting the kind of activities you would most enjoy - whether you want to lead/host them or not.
At about 4:30 pm, those who are interested can join us for watching Atlas Shrugged Part 1 together on our big screen tv. Part 2 will be coming out in 2012.
Saturday February 18th 11 am to 4 pm Poly and Pagan lead by Leana Hauselman and Terry Brussel.
Leana is active in CUPPS - pagan Unitarians. Its founder, Tim, was an original member of Live the Dream's steering committee. LTD is a nest of Church of All Worlds based on Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land. Polyamory is far more common among pagans than it is in the population at large, though certainly not universal in the Pagan community. The word Polyamory was coined by Morning Glory Zell whose husband Oberon founded CAW. See Bouquet of Lovers below. What are the spiritual aspects of polyamory and how are they compatible with neo-Paganism? "All Acts of Love and Pleasure are My Rituals sayeth the Goddess..."
Pot luck lunch - bring finger foods for a Tribal Feast. Followers of Pan of the male persuasion shall be privileged to feed Goddesses attending this event and provide them with other delights such as massage.
Clothing optional Hot tubbing and socializing follow.
Saturday March 17th 11am To BURN or not to Burn: What is the Burning Man Festival & Why should Poly's care?
Learn what the Burning Man is all about and why should you, as a Poly person care about it. What does it mean & how does it affect the rest of the World. More details next month.
CONSIDER GROUP LIVING
Are YOU Ready for Group Living ?
Space Available a lovely group house West San Fernando Valley
Many people together can live cheaper and a whole lot nicer than that same number could live separately. Over the years at our Live The Dream gatherings we've done an exercise in which we have everyone write down what they could afford to pay down for a home, what they could pay monthly, where they want to live, what kind of people they want to live with, etc. Invariably, we discover that living together costs less and is quite affordable for most people.
Our home is a beautiful one in a nice neighborhood of the west San Fernando Valley. It has two fireplaces, a high ceilinged grand living room, dining area and big country kitchen. Washer and dryer available. We have a clothing optional hot tub which usually has good company available and music of your choice playing in it. We share good conversation, holidays, outings, special occasions, hugs... and household chores.
Imagine coming home to a spacious house, a well kept yard filled with flowers and shade trees. The fire place may be lit if it is winter. You come home to the smell of something delicious being cooked by one of your housemates. Or perhaps you are the housemate doing that cooking - that nurturing.
You share a good dinner with whoever is at home tonight. Afterward, you might enjoy the massage chair, go to the privacy of your room, soak in the hot tub with good friends, join a lively discussion in the living room or cuddle by the fire. Sound good?
Make your fantasy a reality...
Private ROOM with FULL BATH AVAILABLE IN GROUP HOUSE
WEST San Fernando VALLEY - CALIFORNIA
If you have an interest in living in a lovely home with warm, caring, like minded people,
call (818) 886-0069 ext 3 for more information.
RENT: $715 a month + utilities and $65 a week for food and sundries.
MAY BE REDUCED BY $275 FOR COOKING, CLEANING and SHOPPING CHORES BEYOND WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED YOUR FAIR SHARE IN A GROUP HOUSE.
If you are really up to it physically, I'm also paying a maid $105 a week for 7 hours a week of mopping, vacuuming, scrubbing the kitchen and doing quite a bit of laundry. I am not suggesting taking that on unless you really like that sort of thing...
Three cats in residence.
NO SMOKING/ NO DRUGS ABSOLUTELY
Church of All Worlds/ Live the Dream
By Terry Brussel January 2012
Back in 1968, I was part of a Stranger in a Strange Land type Nest formed by about ten science fiction fans who went to high school together. Many of the original group scattered to the four winds, but my first water brother is still my best friend and we've drawn many others to us over the years - twenty-five at last count. Some of these are our lovers as well. Stranger in a Strange Land has been my interpersonal relationships Bible all this time and has served me well. I have used it (with some help from such other Heinlein books as Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Time Enough for Love) as a touch stone for educating people about alternative lifestyles such as multiply committed relationships, group marriage, and families -by-choice. Family Synergy, which my first husband and I joined in 1977, was my first forum for such discussions as an adult. This organization was founded in 1971 by Hyim Levy and Pat LaFollette. It was based largely on the writings of Robert Rimmer (Harrad Experiment, Proposition Thirty-One), though some of its members were more science fiction oriented. Family Synergy was truly my family by choice during those years - we shared Passover Seders (Hy lead the first really traditional one I had ever been to at the Allot House in 1977), Latke Parties, birthday celebrations and trips to Elysium.
In 1987, Brian Gitt, Darrell Smith ( two of my water brothers then in a triad with me) and myself formed Live the Dream-- many of whose members were in science fiction fandom and whose philosophy was based on writings by Heinlein and others of the SF genre. Robert Rimmer was an honorary member and an inspiration to me personally-- always willing to talk with me about how to live this life style more joyously until he passed on a few years ago.
In 1988, I heard about Church of All Worlds. I discovered to my delight and amazement that it was based on the one in Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land. See excerpts below.
The organizers of CAW and I had been walking similar paths separately for 20+ years. CAW was the first neo pagan religion to be legally recognized in the United States. It now has Nests (of Water Brothers) in many other countries as well. As I made my pilgrimage to meet with Otter (now Oberon) and Morning Glory soon after that, I arranged to visit Otter and Morning Glory at their home near the Russian River in northern California. As we drove up there a filk song played: "We were traveling north to see some friends we'd never met...there were unicorns..." It seemed unbelievably appropriate, though I didn't know at the time I'd soon meet a real unicorn. I found out later the song had been written for the folks I was about to visit. It's been special to me ever since.
Naturally, I became a member of Church of All Worlds (CAW). The magazine they put out, The Green Egg is fascinating and frequently contains lifestyles related material. Though LTD has more emphasis on alternative lifestyles than paganism, appropriate ritual is woven into many of our holiday events. I became a Scion (4th Circle initiate) in CAW as of 4-25-98. The initiation was done just weeks after my husband Paul and I shared an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Conflict? There are many rooms in the mansion of the Lord and the Lady...
Pagan sexuality is more open than Jewish, Christian or even Unitarian sexual practices. Sex in or out of marriage is more than permitted, it is sacred. On certain holidays it may even be required of certain participants such as May King(s) and Queen(s). Sexual magick may be performed for the accomplishment of specific desires and intents (including non- sexual ones). The Goddess sayeth "All acts of love and pleasure are my Ritual..." When I read that in the Green Egg, I felt a joining of spirituality with my choice of lifestyle which has been a blessing in my life.
The founder's wife, Morning Glory Zell, actually coined the term Polyamory in her Bouquet of Lovers article. Morning Glory and Oberon (AKA Otter, AKA Tim) Zell spent many years in a line marriage (multi generational group marriage based on Heinlein's Moon is a Harsh Mistress) containing up to eight people at one time.
Polyamory is the philosophy that it is possible to deeply love and be committed to more than one significant other. Some of those who call ourselves Polyamorous express this by having a primary partner that we may be legally married to and lovers with whom we may share anything from a romantic evening each month to family activities and nights over several times a week.
Others are actually in group marriages, some of which have been together for decades. Group marriages, intimate networks, co-ops and communes, are among the many somewhat unorthodox ways we live together
Some of the larger ones fit in the category of Intentional Communities. These may or may not be either sexually open or poly oriented.
I have been involved in such lifestyles since my teens - 2 open marriages, a semi residential triad which founded LTD, a triad (5 yrs), a quadrad and now an open committed relationship with my handfasted (2-5-11) partner. Today we live in a large group house which includes another of our water brothers, a member of our expanded family and (with the passing of a water brother who had been with me as a household member for sixteen years) a room available for a new potential family member. The house has two fire places, an out door jacuzzi with room enough for eight (though it has held as many as 14 at a party) and an in - door one in our master suite. We always have company when we want it and private space when that is needed. All of us are avid SF readers and Pagan (though I am also a practicing Jew and my partner is Hindu).
It is possible to Live The Dream, whatever Dream you cherish, and make it Real.
Stranger in a Strange Land features a human child raised by Martians returning as a young man to earth. We get a fresh look at our American sexual customs from the point of view of someone not raised to consider them self evident.
These are some excerpts from Stranger in a Strange Land:
Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy. In fact, they're almost in compatible; one emotion hardly leaves room for the other. Both at once can produce an unbearable turmoil.
Sex should be a means of happiness. The worst thing about the way most of our society handles sex is that we use it to hurt each other. It ought never to hurt; it should bring happiness, or at least, pleasure. The code says, "Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife." The result? Reluctant chastity, adultery, jealousy, bitterness, blows and sometimes murder, broken homes and twisted children-and furtive little passes degrading to woman and man. Is this commandment ever obeyed? If a man swore on his own Bible that he refrained from coveting his neighbor's wife because the code forbade it, I would suspect either self-deception or subnormal sexuality. Any male virile enough to sire a child has coveted many women, whether he acts or not.
There is no need to covet my wife ... love her! There's no limit to her love, we have everything to gain - and nothing to lose but fear and guilt and hatred and jealousy. I still don't grok jealousy in fullness, it seems insanity to me. When I first learned what this ecstasy was, my first thought was that I wanted to share it, share it at once with all my water brothers-directly with those female, indirectly by inviting more sharing with those male. The notion of trying to keep this never failing fountain to myself would have horrified me, had I thought of it. But I was incapable of thinking it. And in perfect corollary I had no slightest wish to attempt this miracle with anyone I did not already cherish and trust.
Our Brothers get along together. They live in peace and happiness with no bitterness, no jealousy. Male-femaleness is the greatest gift we have. Romantic physical love may be unique to this planet. If it is, the universe is a poorer place than it could be ... And I grok dimly that we-who-are-God will save this precious invention and spread it.
The joining of bodies with merging of souls in shared ecstasy, giving, receiving, delighting in each other is the source of all that makes this planet so rich and wonderful. Until a person, man or woman, has enjoyed this treasure bathed in the mutual bliss of minds linked as closely as bodies, that person is still virginal and alone as if he had never had sex.
My own definition of Water Brothers-as I have lived it since 1968:
May you never thirst, never hunger is one acknowledgment commonly used among members of the real Church of All Worlds which is based on the one in Heinlein's novel. In Stranger, this is a binding promise to see to it personally that one's Brothers (read sisters as well) shall never hunger, be thirsty, nor lack for shelter. Among most who offer these words in ritual, they are far less binding. In most rituals, the sharing of water is simply the recognition that we are all brothers and sisters in the earth, Gaia. Being a bit more traditional, I personally will not use water for such a ritual unless I do mean the words literally. I replace it with juice. I may even verbally state that the sharing we are doing is not a sharing in fullness. In my own inner Nest, the sharing of Water has meanings varying from person to person by their choice. There are those who have chosen to accept my water brothers as their own and those who have chosen to share only with me and to share separately, or not, with each of my other water brothers. Others have decided to change to this meaning after the original sharing. Some have even chosen to break the bond of water brotherhood--which they can do, on their side, without anyone discorporating as a result. In essence, we are none of us Martians nor characters in a science fiction story. Each of us does the best we can to be true to ourselves and those we care for.
If you have a poly experience or question to share
for publication here please send or E-Mail it to 8515 Penfield Ave. Winnetka, Ca. 91306.
E-Mail us at livethedream.org. We will take it with your solution or brain storm and give it one or more of our own. Let's have fun with this and learn from each other.
Meet Up & other group Events
First Saturday every month - 7 PM Deborah's Poly Meet up in Burbank/ North Hollywood
Go to www.meetup.com/SoCal-Polyamory or call 310-717-5790 for more info
Shama, who gave the excellent presentation on Tantra for LTD's March 2011 meeting, is having poly meet ups monthly. Go to www.pleasureparadigm.org for more info
Leanna Wolf has all sorts of things going on several times a month at her home in Van Nuys, Ca. - some for poly people and some for monogamous folks as well.
See http://drleannawolfe.com
Other Poly meet up info: www.lovemore.com
Do you have poly news that you wish to share?
E-Mail us at livethedream.org or call us at (818) 886-0069, ex. 3
Tell your Poly curious friends to look us up at livethedream.org
DIRECTIONS TO THE PENFIELD HOUSE
From the 118 going east, get off at De Soto Avenue, head South on De Soto to Parthenia, head East on Parthenia, head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase one block and head North on Penfield to 8515.
From the 118 going west, get off at Tampa Avenue, head South on Tampa to Parthenia, head West on Parthenia, head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase (one block), head North on Penfield.
From the 101, get off at Winnetka Avenue, head North on Winnetka Avenue to Chase (next signal North of Roscoe). Head East on Chase Street one block turn left on Penfield Avenue.
We are the big white house on the left hand side of the street; first house on Penfield north of Chase Street. Number 8515
For Google instructions, go to: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=8515+Penfield+Ave,+Winnetka,+CA+91306,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=ti
LTD DUES ARE $25.00 PER YEAR FOR ONE PERSON, $40 FOR A COUPLE, $10 EACH FOR ADDITIONAL PERSON(S) IN THE SAME HOUSE. DOUBLE THAT FOR FREE ATTENDANCE AT ALL REGULAR DAY TIME 3RD SATURDAY MEETINGS. TO BECOME A MEMBER OR TO RENEW YOU YOUR MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORM AND EITHER E-MAIL OR SNAIL MAIL IT TO THE ADDRESS LISTED BELOW. An E-Mail NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION ONLY IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE. JUST BE SURE TO PROVIDE US WITH YOUR E-Mail ADDRESS. REGULAR MEETINGS ARE $5.00 WITH YOUR CURRENTLY PAID MEMBERSHIP CARD (FAMILY SYNERGY OR LIVE THE DREAM] WITHOUT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE $8.00.
Saturday November 19 - 11 am to 4 pm
GROUP LIVING: WHY AND HOW?
What do we get out of establishing a multiple adult household? How do we make it happen? What are the choices involved financially and in terms of life style? Such questions as whether you prefer a household with children or not, how finances and chores are to be handled, choosing a location - rural or urban, etc will be on the agenda. We will look at examples from history, science fiction and current reality. We'll talk about how you can find and join or start the household YOU want to live in. There are lots of possibilities out there if you decide this is for you - including a room now available in our own group house here in the west valley. See info below.
Sunday November 28 - 11 am to 1pm Live the Dream Meetpoint in Main Filk Room
We'll be passing out copies to keep of songs about the many ways to have multiple loves from the romantic to the ridiculous. Please bring any poly offerings you have written or found. We'll sing them together or listen to you sing. Poetry on this topic is also welcome. We'll have some informal discussion as well as the singing. Ever thought about what it would be like to be part of Mike's Nest in Stranger in a Strange Land? Ever fantasized about that network of unusual loving relationships in Spider Robinson's Lady Calahan books? What about the expanded family "getting telepathic together" in the original Calahan's Saloon strories? Have you been fascinated by Lazarus Long's group marriage in Time Enough for Love? Warmed by the Line Marriage in Moon is a Harsh Mistress? Dreams can come true!
This get-together is for those already into multiply-committed relationships and those who want to LEARN more about them. People like us do not only exist in SF books! Come meet some kindred spirits.
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SATURDAY 12-17-11 11 am to 4 pm
WHICH SCIENCE FICTION BOOK or SERIES MOST EFFECTED YOUR CHOICE OF LIFE STYLE? Or at least your fantasies. We'll brainstorm on how you could actually LIVE the life style which would most delight you. Pot luck lunch and hot tubbing follow
LTD WINTER HOLIDAY PARTY
6 PM Evening of December 17 is LTD's annual Winter Holiday Party with Hot tubbing and socializing in between the day time meeting and the party.
(Crash space available by arrangement when you RSVP) Latkes (provided by Live the Dream, along with Apple Sauce and Sour Cream), songs about the Maccabees, dreidels, lighted up Christmas miniature houses, and a Winter Solstice ritual. We'll light the Hanukkah Menorah - a bit early. Did we forget a ritual important to you? Tell us and we'll add it!
Bring stories/songs/poetry to share
Your favorite holiday dish for pot luck supper - (big enough for 10 to share.),
Wrapped science fiction, fantasy or magikal gift ($5-$10) for GIFT EXCHANGE.
Children welcome 6-9 pm ONLY. Children bring child gifts to exchange with each other.
Sharing our holidays is part of what weaves the bonds of Family in a group like ours. Understanding what is important to each of us during this festive season and how we celebrate it is a way to grow closer and delight in our diversity.
Clothing optional Jacuzzi (with holiday music playing inside it!) available all evening - bring sandals and towels. Cost $5 for paid members (Family Synergy or Live the Dream), $8 for non members -
Meeting and Party both $8 for members, $12 for non members.
RENEW YOUR LTD ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP OR JOIN LTD TODAY AND GET MEETING AND PARTY FREE!
CONSIDER GROUP LIVING
Are YOU Ready for Group Living ?
Space Available a lovely group house West San Fernando Valley
Many people together can live cheaper and a whole lot nicer than that same number could live separately. Over the years at our Live The Dream gatherings we've done an exercise in which we have everyone write down what they could afford to pay down for a home, what they could pay monthly, where they want to live, what kind of people they want to live with, etc. Invariably, we discover that living together costs less and is quite affordable for most people.
WHO LIVES HERE?
I am Terry Brussel: fifty-eight years old, passionate about LIFE, lady hypnotherapist, Judeo Pagan. I've been involved in multiply committed relationships since my late teens. I founded Live the Dream in 1987 as an education and support group for that life style. It was a spin off of Family Synergy which had promoted poly living since 1971 - long before the word was coined. I've been doing hypnotherapy since 1969 (when I was sixteen) and I now help coaches and hypnotists to build successful practices nationwide, in Canada and the UK. I can also do home made chicken soup from scratch, creative salads, fruit omlets and other tasty things.
Our own group house (this one bought 2003) came together from several different sources. Carl Dietz moved in with my second husband and I January 15, 1995. We had met him a few months before at a Whole Life Expo where he and my son politely wrestled over who would carry my stuff to a hypnosis demonstration I was giving. He lived with me until his passing October 2, 2011.
Will "Taliesin" Jarvis attended Live the Dream meetings off and on beginning in 1997. Will is a published author who writes novels on alternative lifestyles and is carrying on for Robert Rimmer, a fellow New Englander, since Bob's passing . He is active in lobbying for freedom of speech and other first amendment issues, issues also dear to my own heart. He had become an intimate friend for several months before he moved in with us. When we did the exercise of writing down what you could put towards rent on a place, where you were willing to live and what kind of people you wanted to live with, etc. at a Live the Dream meeting in June of 2002, I looked at what he wrote and asked if he was seriously available for living in a group house. He was. Will moved in when we bought our current home in 2003. He?s still with us as I write this in October of 2011. He is also Live the Dream's and Success Center's web master.
Lawrence has been with us since 2008. He attended a Live the Dream All Hallow's Eve party in 2006, was a hypnosis client for a while in return for some handyman work which I much appreciated - he does it like a craftsman proud of his work. He has a masters degree in screenwriting and is working on making that a paying profession. Lawrence also moves Energy and does a masterful job of leading rituals.
Our newest housemate, Greg Barnes, is also my life partner. We met through OK Cupid in July of 2008 by phone, talked several times without meeting and he finally showed up at a Live the Dream All Hallow's Eve party 10-30-09. We Shared Water shortly after that. An avid Science Fiction reader for most of his life, Greg gave a talk on Stranger in a Strange Land when I included him on the Live the Dream panel at his first science fiction convention-- Los Con November of 2009. He moved in with us 12-20-09 as my primary partner. A year after we met, we decided to be handfasted . The ceremony was February 5, 2011 in the presence of friends and loved ones including many of our Water Brothers. Greg is a yogi and teacher of yoga (now doing this for some of my hypnosis clients), an accomplished professionally trained cook, a knife maker, Smith, hunter, maker of fine bows and master of many other survival skills. He has done marketing for Success Center?s trade shows and helped put together the scripts, CDs, books etc we provide for clients and professionals nationally and internationally. He is now studying professional hypnosis with me.
Yes, we do have some cottage industry going on here. If you do anything involving human enrichment, we can probably give you clients for it. If you can sell, I'll put you to work for sure and pay you commissions. However, we do want a house mate who can pay his or her rent regardless of such opportunities. This is a cooperative household, not a commune. Everyone pays his share. Food and sundries $65 a week - tell grocery shoppers for that week what you want bought or be a grocery shopper. Several meals are shared ones and the rest is fix your own from what's in the fridge.
Not everyone can live together and not everyone is able to handle group living . Back in 1992, I lived for a few months with a man who had been my lover for many years. Both of us believed in group living and he had plenty of positive experience in being Papa Bear for such households. We even became formally engaged to be married when both of us found ourselves unattached at the same time for the first time in more than twenty years of a romantic and loving secondary relationship. When we discovered we had incompatibilities that made us poor housemates, it would have been easiest to break up in anger and not see each other any more. We considered that, but then decided that what we had before living together was too precious to throw away. We still spend three or four joyous and special weekends a year together, though he is now married to someone else and lives out of state. Each relationship, along with its transitions, has learnings within it. We grow and move forward. This includes learning from, cherishing, and moving on after the loss of a beloved member of my Family-By-Choice.
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Our home is a beautiful one in a nice neighborhood of the west San Fernando Valley. It has two fireplaces, a high ceilinged grand living room, dining area and big country kitchen. Washer and dryer available. We have a clothing optional hot tub which usually has good company available and music of your choice playing in it. We share good conversation, holidays, outings, special occasions, hugs... and household chores.
Imagine coming Home to a spacious, comfortable place, a well kept yard filled with flowers and trees. The fire place may be lit if it is winter. You smell something delicious being cooked by one of your housemates. Or perhaps you are the housemate doing that cooking - that nurturing.
You share a good dinner with whoever is at home tonight.
Afterward, you might enjoy the massage chair, go to the privacy of your room,
soak in the hot tub with good friends, join a lively discussion in the living
room or read (cuddle?) by the fire. If this sounds good...
Make your fantasy a reality!
Private ROOM with FULL bath AVAILABLE IN GROUP HOUSE
WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - CALIFORNIA
If you have an interest in living in a lovely home with warm, caring, like minded people or know of someone who does, call Terry at (818) 886-0069 ext 3 for more information.
RENT: $800 a month+your share of utilities+ $65 a week for food and sundries.
MAY BE REDUCED BY AS MUCH AS $300 FOR COOKING, CLEANING and SHOPPING CHORES BEYOND WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED YOUR FAIR SHARE IN A GROUP HOUSE. That would look like doing the weekly grocery shopping for all four of us yourself, daily dish washing, cooking 3 dinners a week, Sunday breakfast and occasional errands . You would do some of that as household chores anyway, but definitely less.
If you are really up to it physically, I'm also paying a maid $105 a week for 7 hours of mopping, vacuuming, scrubbing the kitchen/baths and doing quite a bit of laundry. I am not suggesting taking that on unless you really like that sort of thing...
Three cats in residence.
NO SMOKING (of anything) ABSOLUTELY
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If you have a poly experience or question to share for publication here please send or E-Mail it to 8515 Penfield Ave. Winnetka, CA 91306.
E-Mail us at livethedream.org. We will take it with your solution or brain storm and give it one or more of our own. Let?s have fun with this and learn from each other.
Live the Dream is an education and support group for those who,
originally inspired by the writings of Robert Heinlein, Robert Rimmer and
Marion Zimmer Bradley, are now ready to LIVE such alternative lifestyles
as cooperative living, open relationships and group marriage. Many
of our concepts on multiply committed relationships come from Heinlein's
Stranger in a Strange Land and Moon is a Harsh
Mistress. Live the Dream also sponsors a Nest
of Church of All Worlds, the real life, over fifty year old spiritual
movement inspired by Stranger in a
Strange Land. Live the Dream was founded in 1987 by
Terry Brussel and Brian Gitt, inspired by Family Synergy founded in
1971 by Hy Levy and Pat LaFollette
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Unless otherwise noted, all events are at 8515 Penfield Ave Winnetka 91306. Group house- home of Terry, Greg, Carl, Will and Lawrence. For all events: RSVP/more info call the LTD Hotline (818) 886-0069, ex. 3.
Please visit the Live the Dream website at www.livethedream.org For info on family synergy events see: www.familysynergy.org To see past events or articles on Live the Dream please visit: www.livethedream.org.
Note: Terry Brussel is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and a a 4th generation matchmaker. We provide poly relationship counseling, hypnotic jealousy release and other services. See www.acesuccess.com or call (800) LIFE MATES (543-3628)
PLEASE NOTE: All 3rd Saturday Live the Dream meetings are also Family Synergy connection parties from 11am-2pm Also, Family Synergy members pay member price at Live the Dream meetings & parties
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Inside This Issue
Takes a Village to Raise a Child
Date: Saturday May 21
Time: 11 am to 4pm
Free yourself from the Slavery of Jealousy!
Date: Saturday June 18
Time: 11am to 4pm
Alternative Dating Etiquette
Date: Saturday July 17
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
2011 LTD Annual Camping Trip at Lake Cachuma
Friday August 5
through Sunday August 7
Unless otherwise noted, all events are at 8515 Penfield Ave. in Winnetka zip 91306.
This is a group house - home of Terry, Greg, Carl and Will.
For all events: RSVP / more info call the LTD Hotline (818) 886-0069, ex. 3.
Please visit the Live the Dream website at www.livethedream.org
FOR INFO ON FAMILY SYNERGY EVENTS SEE: WWW.FAMILYSYNERGY.ORG
TO SEE PAST EVENTS OR ARTICLES ON Live the Dream PLEASE VISIT: WWW.LIVETHEDREAM.ORG.
Live the Dream is an education and support group for those who, originally inspired by the writings of Robert Heinlein, Robert Rimmer and Marion Zimmer Bradley, are now ready to LIVE such alternative lifestyles as cooperative living, open relationships and group marriage. Many of our concepts on multiply committed relationships come from Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land and Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Live the Dream also sponsors a Nest of Church of All Worlds, the real life, over fifty year old spiritual movement inspired by Stranger in a Strange Land.
Note: Terry Brussel is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and a a 4th generation matchmaker. We provide poly relationship counseling, hypnotic jealousy release and other services. See www.acesuccess.com or call (800) LIFE MATES (543-3628)
PLEASE NOTE: All 3rd Saturday Live the Dream meetings are also Family Synergy connection parties from 11am-2pm
Also, Family Synergy members pay member price at Live the Dream meetings & parties
EVENTS
May 21 11 am to 4 pm: It Takes a Village to Raise a Child - from Co-ops to Expanded Families in the Poly and Pagan Communities. Lead by Lena and Eric Hauselman.
Many of us got involved with this lifestyle as much for the benefits available to our children as for the delights of connecting with multiple lovers. Children with many parents and chosen family members are never orphaned - emotionally or in terms of roof over their heads. They also have plenty of role models to learn from. Bring your kids-teens and reasoning younger ones are welcome in the discussion. We will go to Lake Balboa for a picnic in the afternoon around 1 pm. Bring your own sandwiches and a delicious side to share. LTD provides beverages, paper plates, etc.
Saturday June 18 11am to 4pm: Free Yourself from the Slavery of Jealousy!
Discussion, exercises, and guided meditation for vanquishing YOUR green eyed monster Terry Brussel PhD, CCht and Rachel Hope lead this exploration of Jealousy vs. Compersion. Shall we let it run our lives or master it for our greater joy? The choice is ours to make in each relationship, each new day in our lives... Bring finger foods for Tribal Feast pot luck lunch. We will be feeding each other. Jacuzzi available for soaking and socializing 2 pm to 4 pm - we'll put a canopy over it for shade. Bring sandals and a towel.
UPCOMING:
Saturday July 17 11 am to 4 pm Alternative Dating Etiquette
To be followed by science fiction folk singing (filk) in the evening.
UPCOMING:
Friday August 5 to Sunday August 7 LTD Annual Camping Trip at Lake Cachuma.
This will be kid friendly as well as fun for adults. Bring your own food for Friday dinner (7 pm) and Saturday breakfast (9 am). Lunch Saturday is pot luck - bring your own sandwiches and drinks plus sides to share - same kind as you are bringing for Saturday dinner.
Saturday dinner LTD provides baked chicken, beverages and paper goods. The rest is pot luck. A-H salad and raw veggies I-N Fruits and cheeses O- S Breads, chips, spreads and dips T-Z Deserts Join us for a boat trip around the Lake Saturday morning marshmallow roast (Saturday night after a walk around Lake Cachuma), and a trip to Solvang for Sunday Brunch. RSVP: 818.886.0069 ext.3
The following articles by Terry Brussel were the basis for 3 workshops presented at
Heinlein's Centennial Celebration in Kansas City in 2006
We in alternative lifestyles used to be referred to in science fiction circles (even among those who were specifically Heinlein fans) as Heinlein's "bastard children".
The designation always hurt and angered me. It implied that the poly philosophy contained
in his books was not meant to be taken seriously, but was "just fiction".
When the first novel he wrote (For Us the Living written 1938 and finally published in 2003) its pro open relationship philosophy made it clear he really did believe in that life style from the start. His biography which came out in 2010 showed he not only believed in, but LIVED our life style for much of his life.
We are bastards no more.
The room was packed for all three of our Alternative Lifestyles
Family workshops at that Centennial!
Chosen Family: How Heinlein's Sci-Fi Stories Have Affected Structures in Real Families
The juveniles in Heinlein's stories mirrored that of the traditional, loving, family unit. In one juvenile, Podkayne of Mars, Heinlein made mention of an arrangement where the children would be grown in a test tube and frozen until Mom and Dad were ready to raise them. Heinlein gave most of the juveniles a family structure similar to those of today, some could say better than most. Line Marriage, Multi Generational Group Marriage of Oberon Zell, and the triads also described in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, or Tertius colony Family similar. The water sharing ceremony in Stranger in a Strange Land is the best example of Family by choice and has affected families in reality probably morethan any other of his books. Church of All Worlds and many other less formal groups, including my own intimate friendship network, have used this as a model for permanent committed relationships which may shift from lovers to friendship and back again multiple times during an ongoing relationship. Members of a Nest may live together or be "semi residential". They may live nowhere near each other, but maintain their bonds through phone calls and visits (weekly, monthly, or perhaps a few times a year). The patterns are endless. The common denominator is long term lovingcommitment.
Think about: Which of Heinlein's writings affected the choices you have made regarding family andrelationship structure?
Families in Heinlein
In Rolling Stone, Heinlein gives us a trade family with Grandma Hazel helping with the children. Heinlein making the character of Grandma Hazel's daughter-in-law a doctor was a little unusual at thetime it was written, but Heinlein's novels have many strong, very bright women in them.
The juveniles always included kids, young ones on up to late teens, as fully developed characters. Tunnel in the Sky had teens as its main characters. Have Space Suit, Will Travel and Podkayne of Mars have pre teens. Almost all of his alternate lifestyles books included them, too, either as complete characters (Dora in Time Enough for Love, Hazel in Moon Is a Harsh Mistress); less developed but definitely present characters such as the children of Dora and Lazarus in Time Enough, and Woody's brothers and sisters both in Time Enough and To Sail Beyond the Sunset. Even when children are mentioned, rather than present, they are a strong motivator for the behavior of the adults. Heinlein is very clear that the preservation of relationships and assets as well as the good upbringing and protection of children are the major purposes of all marriages. He is also shows children as People and that they have the capability and Right to make their own decisions, when they have been taught to do so properly, most notably in Door into Summer and Tunnel in the Sky. Lazarus (and Heinlein's own parents) believed in appropriate discipline balanced by plenty of physical affection.
Howard family marriages were mostly serial monogamous or (more likely according to To Sail Beyond the Sunset) open committed relationships with others being added secretly at first. (Maureen had to dye her hair and become a supposed mother-in-law so her husband could be the father of the child he gave his daughter-in-law.), then more openly as such things became more acceptable in outer society and as the Howards migrated off planet. They always included children by definition since the whole idea of those marriages was a breeding scheme for long life. Lazarus's one marriage to a non Howard (Dora) takes place on such a planet. The frontier society they founded was certainly not monogamous and did include plenty of children. Secundus and Tertius had Howards as the majority. By the time we get to Number of the Beast, we have a constantly growing group marriage on Tertiius which includes most of Heinlein's major characters and plenty of children with the commitment of all adults in the marriage being to the welfare of those children until they reach adulthood. Lazarus Long, Jubal Harshaw, Hazel (once more), Lazarus' cloned sisters, his mother Maureen and even such computers (pre and post transformation to humans) as Minerva, Mike and Athene are members of this family. The Cat Who Walked through Walls and To Sail Beyond the Sunset depict characters who travel frequently through time, may have formal and informal romantic liaisons in other times/ parallel time lines, but who generally return to the group marriage they are part of --frequently with the new partner in tow.
I Now Pronounce You: Wedding ceremonies abound in Heinlein's stories: Tunnel in the Sky has several monogamous type marriage ceremonies in its off planet impromptu colony. Those are fairly traditional. I Will Fear No Evil gives us one old man in a young woman's body marrying another still in his own body. They have a traditional ceremony as a lead in to one of Heinlein's few examples of an open relationship where the participant mostly pretend to monogamy. Door Into Summer gives us a traditional ceremony and what we have no reason to think is anything but a monogamous marriage. While the marrying characters start off as child and adult, they are definitely legal by the time they tie the knot. Moon Is a Harsh Mistress adds Wyoh to Mannie's Line marriage, Friday marries into her S group with great contractual formality, Lazarus marries Dora on horseback and gets her pregnant immediately afterward. Lazarus' Tertius colony family adds Maureen in a formal ceremony. All of these ceremonies, including Stranger's water sharing, are ways of making a commitment to another person or persons for the safe and responsible raising of children and the joy of the adults who raise those children. Only the S group, in Heinlein's novel Friday, is presented in a really negative light, though by the end of that book our main character is completely enmeshed in a very positive group marriage. Heinlein clearly approves of marriage in any form which assures safe and effective rearing of children, preservation of assets, and plenty of loving for all involved. He does not expect marriage to be eliminated in future society. To the degree that it is set aside, he believes that society to be a sick one. He expected marriage to evolve rather than disappear.
Think about: Did any of you structure a marriage ceremony and/or the marriage itself on Heinlein's writings?
Please feel free to send your "Think About's" questions on the poly lifestyle and articles you
have written on the subject - we'd love to share them in our newsletter.
LiveTheDreamPoly@gmail.com.
Meet Up Events
First Saturday every month - 7 PM Deborah's Poly Meetup in Burbank/ North Hollywood
Go to www.meetup.com/SoCal-Polyamory or call 310-717-5790 for more info
Shama, who gave the excellent presentation on Tantra for LTD's March 2011 meeting, is having poly meet ups
monthly. Go to www.pleasureparadigm.org for more info
2011 WORLD POLYAMORY CONFERENCE July 29-31, 2011
Harbin Hot Springs
www.worldpolyamoryassociation.org
Loving More Retreat September 9-11, 2011
Upstate New York
www.lovemore.com
Do you have poly news that you wish to share?
E-Mail us at livethedream.org or call us at (818) 886-0069, ex. 3
Tell your Poly curious friends to look us up at livethedream.org
DIRECTIONS TO THE PENFIELD HOUSE
From the 118 going east, get off at De Soto Avenue, head South on De Soto to Parthenia, head East on Parthenia, head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase one block and head North on Penfield to 8515.
From the 118 going west, get off at Tampa Avenue, head South on Tampa to Parthenia, head West on Parthenia, head South on Winnetka, head East on Chase (one block), head North on Penfield.
From the 101, get off at Winnetka Avenue, head North on Winnetka Avenue to Chase (next signal North of Roscoe). Head East on Chase Street and go one block turn left on Penfield Avenue.
We are the big white house on the left hand side of the street; first house on Penfield north of Chase Street. Number 8515
For Google instructions, go to:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=8515+Penfield+Ave,+Winnetka,+CA+91306,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title
ALL VISITORS PLEASE PARK IN THE STREET, NOT IN THE DRIVE WAY. THANK YOU
LTD DUES ARE $25.00 PER YEAR FOR ONE PERSON, $40 FOR A COUPLE, $10 EACH FOR ADDITIONAL PERSON(S) IN THE SAME HOUSE. DOUBLE THAT FOR FREE ATTENDENCE AT ALL REGULAR DAY TIME 3RD SATURDAY MEETINGS. TO BECOME A MEMBER OR TO RENEW YOU YOUR MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORM AND EITHER E-MAIL OR SNAIL MAIL IT TO THE ADDRESS LISTED BELOW. An E-Mail NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION ONLY IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE. JUST BE SURE TO PROVIDE US WITH YOUR E-Mail ADDRESS. REGULAR MEETINGS ARE $5.00 WITH YOUR CURRENTLY PAID MEMBERSHIP CARD (FAMILY SYNERGY OR LIVE THE DREAM] WITHOUT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE $8.00.
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Couple/Family |
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Full LTD Membership Includes Newsletter & Membership Card |
$25 |
$40 ($10 FOR EACH EXTRA PERSON AT SAME ADDRESS) |
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Email Newsletter Only |
NO CHARGE |
NO CHARGE |
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Make checks payable to Success Center Total: $ _________ | |||
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Membership Information Help Support the Lifestyle you live! | |||
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Name: ____________________________________ Age: _______________ | |||
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Address: _______________________________________ | |||
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City: _______________________________ State: _____ Zip: __________ | |||
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Phone: _______________________ E-Mail: ______________________ | |||
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? Single ? Married ? Attached ? Unattached Amount Enclosed $ ___________ | |||
Name(s) of Mate/Family to be included in this membership ifAPPLICABLE: ____________________________ | |||
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FAX OR Mail to: FAX#1-818-882-8512 - 8515 Penfield, Winnetka, CA 91306 | |||
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? I am willing to volunteer:? Time ? Meeting Space | |||
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? I could lead a meeting or activity, proposal enclosed | |||
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? I am interested in ? Science Fiction ? Pagan ? Libertarian ?___________ Oriented Programs | |||
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? I am interested in Co-operative Living ? I have space for others ? I am willing to relocate | |||
LTD DUES ARE $25.00 PER YEAR FOR ONE PERSON, $40 FOR A COUPLE, $10 EACH FOR ADDITIONAL PERSON(S) IN THE SAME HOUSE. DOUBLE THAT FOR FREE ATTENDENCE AT ALL REGULAR DAY TIME 3RD SATURDAY MEETINGS. TO BECOME A MEMBER OR TO RENEW YOU YOUR MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORM AND EITHER E-MAIL OR SNAIL MAIL IT TO THE ADDRESS LISTED BELOW. An E-Mail NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION ONLY IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE. JUST BE SURE TO PROVIDE US WITH YOUR E-Mail ADDRESS. REGULAR MEETINGS ARE $5.00 WITH YOUR CURRENTLY PAID MEMBERSHIP CARD (FAMILY SYNERGY OR LIVE THE DREAM] WITHOUT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE $8.00.
Get Involved!
LTD NEEDS PEOPLE TO HELP RUN MEETINGS, DESIGN THE NEWSLETTER AND MORE!
TO VOLUNTEER, CALL (818) 886-0069 EXT. 3
