Comments on: Friends and Community http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:28:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: butuki http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11595 butuki Thu, 29 May 2008 10:51:29 +0000 http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11595 Hi Maria, so good to see you back! It's been a while hasn't it? I'm heading out to Vancouver this August, so there might be a chance to at talk. I'll contact you by email. Hi Maria, so good to see you back! It’s been a while hasn’t it?

I’m heading out to Vancouver this August, so there might be a chance to at talk. I’ll contact you by email.

]]> By: maria http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11592 maria Mon, 26 May 2008 04:09:56 +0000 http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11592 Butuki, so nice to hear about these lovely turns in your life! Like you, I too am finding community in the offline world very nourishing these days! (formerly of alembic) Butuki, so nice to hear about these lovely turns in your life! Like you, I too am finding community in the offline world very nourishing these days!

(formerly of alembic)

]]> By: Pica http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11591 Pica Wed, 21 May 2008 21:17:37 +0000 http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11591 Butuki: please email me; I can't remember your email address.... Thanks! Butuki: please email me; I can’t remember your email address….

Thanks!

]]> By: butuki http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11589 butuki Wed, 21 May 2008 00:56:02 +0000 http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11589 Hey everyone, thanks for the well wishes. The trip to visit Kevin was definitely a highlight of this year so far. In many ways it reminded me of families and places I knew when I was growing up in Japan, the same slow-paced, good-natured lifestyle and organic richness that I remember. Maybe that is one reason it felt so right. I really think we are all getting far too caught up in the fascination of our own technology and are drifting away from daily interaction with living things around us. Maybe that is why this lifestyle feels so sterile and unsatisfactory. Andy, I always thought I was happy being somewhat of a loner, and it is true that I like spending time alone, but I am realizing, painfully, that I very much need people around in order to maintain some measure of mental health. No man is an island... Pete, yes, the writing is getting harder, and I'm not exactly sure why. Perhaps, unlike a simple oral conversation, because it is constantly demanding and never really fits into the living of each day. I always feel like I've sacrificed part of the day when I take time to write in the blog, or even spend a lot of time on the internet. I feel like I haven't lived while I am doing it. Chris, I definitely want to go up and see Kevin again, perhaps when he isn't so busy! Naeba sounds great! Pica, yes I know what you mean about inflexible communities; there is a reason why so many people in the past moved into the cities. Just have to find the right balance of people. Japan can be very provincial, even in the midst of Tokyo, so it is something I always think about, especially as someone who isn't a white American. Hey everyone, thanks for the well wishes. The trip to visit Kevin was definitely a highlight of this year so far. In many ways it reminded me of families and places I knew when I was growing up in Japan, the same slow-paced, good-natured lifestyle and organic richness that I remember. Maybe that is one reason it felt so right. I really think we are all getting far too caught up in the fascination of our own technology and are drifting away from daily interaction with living things around us. Maybe that is why this lifestyle feels so sterile and unsatisfactory.

Andy, I always thought I was happy being somewhat of a loner, and it is true that I like spending time alone, but I am realizing, painfully, that I very much need people around in order to maintain some measure of mental health. No man is an island…

Pete, yes, the writing is getting harder, and I’m not exactly sure why. Perhaps, unlike a simple oral conversation, because it is constantly demanding and never really fits into the living of each day. I always feel like I’ve sacrificed part of the day when I take time to write in the blog, or even spend a lot of time on the internet. I feel like I haven’t lived while I am doing it.

Chris, I definitely want to go up and see Kevin again, perhaps when he isn’t so busy! Naeba sounds great!

Pica, yes I know what you mean about inflexible communities; there is a reason why so many people in the past moved into the cities. Just have to find the right balance of people. Japan can be very provincial, even in the midst of Tokyo, so it is something I always think about, especially as someone who isn’t a white American.

]]> By: Pica http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11588 Pica Tue, 20 May 2008 15:54:32 +0000 http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11588 53 pull-ups? Yikes. I'm glad you visited these friends, Butuki. I can imagine living in a loose community very easily; a tight one, well, less so. It gets too fraught. I like the idea of people dropping round and a spontaneous dinner growing out of that. 53 pull-ups?

Yikes.

I’m glad you visited these friends, Butuki. I can imagine living in a loose community very easily; a tight one, well, less so. It gets too fraught. I like the idea of people dropping round and a spontaneous dinner growing out of that.

]]> By: Chris (i-cjw.com) http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11587 Chris (i-cjw.com) Mon, 19 May 2008 11:27:33 +0000 http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11587 Miguel, I'm glad to hear things are going better. Coincidentally I was thinking of getting in touch with Kevin and seeing if you and he would like to get up Mt. Naeba before you leave for pastures new. 53 pull ups is quite something. I need to get my butt back to the gym.. Miguel, I’m glad to hear things are going better. Coincidentally I was thinking of getting in touch with Kevin and seeing if you and he would like to get up Mt. Naeba before you leave for pastures new.

53 pull ups is quite something. I need to get my butt back to the gym..

]]> By: pohanginapete http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11586 pohanginapete Mon, 19 May 2008 10:48:15 +0000 http://butuki.com/laughing_knees/friends-and-community/#comment-11586 Yes, why is it that writing seems to get harder, not easier? I'm noticing the same thing. Great to hear you've found something that looks like a direction. It certainly sounds appealing, with a kind of hard but delightful simplicity to it. As for the uncertainty about it, well, speaking from experience, a little trust goes a long way—trust, that is, that things will work out. Cheers Miguel; good luck with it. Yes, why is it that writing seems to get harder, not easier? I’m noticing the same thing.

Great to hear you’ve found something that looks like a direction. It certainly sounds appealing, with a kind of hard but delightful simplicity to it. As for the uncertainty about it, well, speaking from experience, a little trust goes a long way—trust, that is, that things will work out.

Cheers Miguel; good luck with it.

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