Comments for Canfield of Dreams

Comment on The Real Challenge by Joel D Canfield

Joel D Canfield — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:13:36 +0000

Marcos, that’s insightful. It feels right. I wish some people understood why this is such a wonderful experience for all three of us, how it’s not a big risky scary life, it’s the simplest most secure life we can imagine right now.

Yeah. Sue says “Thank you, Marcos.” Feels exactly right to both of us.

Love them as they are, and be oblivious to their opinions. I can do that.

Comment on The Real Challenge by Marcos Gaser

Marcos Gaser — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:50:59 +0000

But I feel, sometimes, like there’s a subtext of, sure, you get to go driving all over creation, dragging your wife and little girl along, while the rest of us have to have a real job and be mature and keep civilisation from collapsing.

I had the exact same experience during last 18 years. You sure is guilt what you are feeling? Or maybe the helplessness of cannot explaining them why are you doing this? I used to get that a lot. Then I finally understood that you cannot help someone if he does not want to be helped. It is like explaining colours to the blind. Or explaining the Matrix to the people that haven’t swallowed the red pill yet.

Maybe you feel the reaction to the envy or resentment because you are doing what they secretly wish but not dare. This is just a reaction to their feelings. You cannot change them, only your own reaction.

You just have to love them such as they are, and be oblivious to their opinions.

Comment on Friendship Garden, New Westminster by Joel D Canfield

Joel D Canfield — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:10:59 +0000

We ate at a great Farmer’s Market in Olympia, Washington. We’ll have to make it back to New West and graze the market.

Comment on Friendship Garden, New Westminster by caitlyn

caitlyn — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:35:56 +0000

I was there today for the Farmer’s Market. Good job, Fiona!

Comment on The Real Challenge by Dorothy Shapland

Dorothy Shapland — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:29:31 +0000

How wonderful that you are sharing your conversation with feelings like guilt. So many people hide from it! This is what makes your journey such a delight to witness!

(Oh, and I most often face guilty feelings about being too content in one place…)

Comment on The Real Challenge by caitlyn

caitlyn — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:02:46 +0000

I failed “Guilt 101″. My dad didn’t believe in it and my mum wasn’t much of a guilt-tripper …. Somehow, the sighing of a martyr is different from the guilt trip.

While this generally is a terrific way to live, it has caused its problems. It isn’t that I never feel a twinge, but my ability to rationalize it into oblivion is well-developed and usually invisible to myself. So, if I am causing someone hardship, I rely on them to tell me. Directly.

Even if any sane person could predict that the possibility of my actions causing distress, I am oblivious. You can imagine the outcome. Amazingly, I seem to keep friends and have only had to pay the price for this defect occasionally. However, I think that as long as you don’t allow your guilt to paralyze you it is appropriate to explore its edges.

While it is hard for me to believe that any adult would go along with your mad scheme unless she/he was mad and scheming in their own right, we know that couples can apply social and emotional pressure on each other without even meaning to do so. Add a 6-year old, and any sane person can predict there is the potential for distress in your nomadic madness.

I think the guilt is your best self finding the appropriate setting so you will remain vigilant but not hyper-vigilant and not complacent when it comes to regular checks on the well-being of your loved ones. At the moment, it looks like all systems are happy and secure!

Comment on Have I Always Had the Travel Bug? by Joel D Canfield

Joel D Canfield — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:53:16 +0000

That’s beautiful. Probably one reason we’re so happy, huh?

Comment on The Verdict by Joel D Canfield

Joel D Canfield — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:44:56 +0000

I’d heard that the hair of the dog could be quite useful in certain situations, but I’ll bow to your superior experience (and hair style.)

My days alternate between “wooHOOO!!!” and “wha-a-a-a-a-a???”

Comment on The Verdict by Tom Bentley

Tom Bentley — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:37:55 +0000

Be sure to bring a St. Bernard with brandy. Second thought, the dog hair might prove nettlesome. Just bring brandy.

Congrats and Godspeed to you guys.

Comment on The Verdict by Joel D Canfield

Joel D Canfield — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:16:34 +0000

That's what I said!