October 23, 2006

Man was it cold last night! We all had our sweatshirts and slippers on, and even considered lighting a fire. We had to know what temperature it was so I dug out my digital thermometer I had packed away for just such an occasion........drum roll please.....70 degrees! Wow, I guess I'm acclimatizing fast because it really seemed cold (no....I'm not just trying to rub it in.)

It's been a very leisure couple of weeks since I last posted. It's been really nice taking my time to get settled. I've got a lead on a couple of places to live that hopefully I'll be updating you on shortly. I've realized that I'd really like to have an ocean view from my house and that it's not unreasonable to ask for that.

Every time I go out, I run into people I know. Its so nice to already have community here. At the farmers market, at the natural food store (the "Natch"), and at various social gatherings. I've been shying away from the weekly ecstatic dance at Kalani because that's the social neucleus of this entire region, it was feeling quite overwhelming to go be re-united with everyone I know here at one place and time, especially since there is no talking allowed inside. Finally I felt ready yesterday and it was great to let loose and dance after over a month. It really is an incredible place for that, there is no judgement, everyone is just doing their thing and ecstaticlly expressing themselves through movement. The intensity is infectious and I was back into dancing almost instantly.

Days have been filled with lounging in the mansion in the mornings, sipping tea and watching the sunrise. To be followed by yoga about every other day, walking the dogs, swimming in the pool, some new card games that are quicly becomming favorites (Euchre and 9-5-2), and nice meals. Weekly kirtan chanting at Kalani has been really enjoyable, and I've even been practicing playing the harmonium a little on my own! Bowling for Robinette's birthday, a TranceDance class, and last night my first Contact Improv class was a lot of fun.

The Aka and Ipo show continuously provide entertainment during the day.

We celebrated Canadian thanksgiving with all the Canadians and wanna-bes. There are a lot of canadians out here who come to excape their winters. Some live part time but many have decided to stay. Canadians celebrate thankgiving just like the rest of us with turkey, cranberry, green bean cassorole, etc. I was quite supprised but was reminded that we are really all the same people historically speaking. We all came over on the on the same boats and ate with the natives and were thankful...it's just that some of us went north and some of the more rebellious of the lot stayed where they landed and decided to assert their atonomy.

I got a call that my truck arrived at the port. It was so much fun driving it on the streets of Hilo that first day. Another trip together, but also a symbol that this move is for real! It adds some nice continuity between my old life in the bay area to my new life

Well, I guess Matson wanted to make sure I didnt' blame them for any scratches on my truck so they marked every single ding they could find. I was in hysterics when I got their report.

Man, what an earthquake! Probably the biggest I've felt since the Loma Prieta quake in '89. The USGS website has it rated at a 6.7! That's big. We woke up to some serious shaking, my first thought was tidal wave, but we were far enough from the water where that wouldn't be too much of an issue. We stood clear of the glass windows and rode it out...it lasted at least 30 seconds which is incredibly long for an earthquake. The cement slab in the patio cracked, but other than that there was little damage. The Kona side of the island suffered a lot of damage however.

Last week, our housesitting gig at the mansion was up and Phillis, Robinette, and I moved up to the "winter home" which is the house that Robinette and Daron built. It was built with so much attention to detail. Large beams and natual logs with elegent joinery, interesting cork floors and slate walls all ad to an incredibly beautiful and original house. Click the picture for more pictures of the house.

Oh! I almost forgot to tell you guys....I had a job interview! This is the Electrical Engineering job posted at Kalani that I told some of you about....I knew it would be something alternative, and boy was I right. Apparently a guy in the area is channeling technical information from the year 2085 and wants help building some prototypes. He told me all about the future world including cars that fly, a world without poverty, no national boundries, etc. He tod me about a few technical ideas but when he got to the time machine, I told him that I could really only focus on one thing at a time and I'd have to wait to tackle that after one of the smaller projecs.

Saying good-bye-for-now to Phyllis at the airport. I really liked Phillis when I stayed at Kalani in the spring and it was so nice to have 3 weeks living together to get to know each other better. I'm pretty sure I'll be seeing her again....we were talking how we all feel the same, and it's quite an adventure to know it will happen but not know where!

This is Denis, a good friend of Robinette's who is a lot of fun to hang out with.

Saturday was Bob's birthday and we celebrated appropriately. Denis is quite the host and made an incredible cheese souffle along with a delicious coconut cake from an old family recipie.

.

And finally I'll leave you with a few of the interesting flowers I've been seeing around here.

It's exciting being in this new land, but it also continues to make me very appreciative of all the good friends and family I have at home. I miss you guys.

Aloha!

-Jacob