Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 05:37 AM

Age merely shows what children we remain.

All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again.

Doubt grows with knowledge.

Few people have the imagination for reality.

There is nothing so terrible as activity without insight.

We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Joybell
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 11:50 PM

I just love the ads that turn up here. They're offering me a luxury retirement home with a golf-club frontage.

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Joybell
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 11:47 PM

George Coppin ("Father of Australian Theatre" -- but actually more active in promoting touring entertainers) set up a retirement home for old entertainers. Not quite the same idea -- but worth mentioning. It still exists as far as I know -- in Melbourne.

There's often whole towns going up for sale, in Australia, in the bush. We've often talked of how great it would be for a bunch of old Folkies to collectively buy a town.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 11:04 PM

Very funny thread. I didn't see at first it was so old but it makes it even better.

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 10:17 PM

There are those of us who still talk about this. Trouble is agreeing on where to do it.:-) Lot of fun to reread this!

Peter was a little off, though...it might've been better is this were true: you forget that the revolution came in 2 ought ought-6, when Britney Spears became President, and all the folkies finally went into guerilla warfare, and brought down the whole capitalist globalized system after the market crashed on speculation that Mudcat Enterprises was going to nationalize Canada to recycle the money it had made after absorbing Microsoft.

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 09:03 PM

"In the Mudcat Attic Dorm, of course, right here at our house. We'll have to put in a lift!"

Reminds me of a conversation we were having one year at Rivendell Housing Co-op where I resided for years in Lansing, Michigan. We were talking about how to retrofit the house for we elders and one of our members suggested a lift, a large basket with a block an' tackle to run it up, powered with appropriate shanties. Well, the discussion soon degenerated into the specifics of the "basket case" or "basket cases" that would be hauled up. Most of the older residents subsequently moved out and the last Thanksmas card I received evidenced that there were actually parents with children living there now. I do send them periodic CD's and hope that they are appropriately amused.

If you're in Lansing, for a good time stop at 731 W. Genesee St. and then send a full report.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 08:42 PM

OK, I'm just about ready now. Where do I sign up?

Seriously, this is worth reading just for Rick Fielding's send up of ancient Big Mick, Spaw, Katlaughing, and Old Father Joe. Read it and weep?

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: open mike
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 01:22 PM

i DO live in an intentional community
and there are 80 acres right next to us
which may go on the market soon!!
meadows, woods, a stream, and I would
be very interested in helping people
establish a community there....
we have 50 acres with 8 partners
and some mud catters have ssen the
neighborn=hood when they cam to the camp out
i hosted in june....come on down!!
there is a turn of the centruy house
but most of the place is un developed.
check out these resources for more info
on Intrentional Community:
Fellowship for Intentional community
http://fic.ic.org/
(publishers of Commuinities magazine)
http://fic.ic.org/cmag/index.html
http://fic.ic.org/cmag/89/4289.html
http://www.cohousing.org/
global eco-village
http://gen.ecovillage.org/
http://www.smallcommunity.org/events.asp
the community in Virginia which we used
to help publish communities magazine
when i lived at Limesaddle Community:
http://www.twinoaks.org/
I plan to write an article about the
Llano de Rios and New LLano communities
soon and here is some info on them:
http://www.lpb.org/programs/utopia/article.html
http://www.lpb.org/programs/utopia/history.html
So -- UTOPIA is possible!!
Let's do this!!
Laurel
25+ year long resident of a community

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 12:45 PM

In the Mudcat Attic Dorm, of course, right here at our house. We'll have to put in a lift!

We had a Mudcatter here for several months in "retreat" mode. Hardi and I have conducted several kinds of retreats. We'd love to have people come.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:25 AM

well, after meeting all the Shellbacks last week, I sure would like it if everyone I cared about were 'handy'...not right next door, but within an hours drive..*grin*. If I win the lottery, (gotta remember to buy a TICKET someday!), I will build a library, auditorium, jello pit, and all related folkie needs in a central location, and we can meet as needed for music, scholarship, and licentious cavorting.

Where? ahhh..there's the issue, mountains? seashore? which side of the world?

I guess the true joy is in the dreaming and occasional meetings....

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:12 AM

I know of a retirement town for old folkies - it's called Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex.

Old folkies never die - they just forget the words
- Ask Pete Chopping !

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 10:13 AM

refresh just for fun...esp. Rick Fielding's first posting.**bg**

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Genie
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 02:55 AM

I think it was "60 Minutes" that ran a story a few years back about a retirement home in Italy for opera singers. These folks spent most of their day singing, sounding better than most folks ever do--and making cracks about each other being lousy singers!

Can you imagine an old Mudcatters' home with similar dynamics? Sounds like a riot!

Genie

¤;- )

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 07:03 PM

Helen, I had just refreshed it, along with this one, yesterday. In fact several people have posted to it.

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Helen
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 06:11 PM

Just in case you haven't seen this thread which I started back in Jan 99 about my idea for an Old Folkies' Home - other people don't come to us to perform, we go out and perform for them, jam sessions in the hallways, singing sessions in the tv room, etc
Old Folkies' Home/Retirement Village http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8393#51807

Helen

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 11:54 AM

I like it!! SIgn up now! **BG**

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Chip2447
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 03:04 AM

Gypsy Mudcatters hitting the open road in aging minivans, travelling between Mudcat retreats across the globe. Staying as long as they desired, before moving on to another retreat. A Mudcat timeshare type of thing... HMMMMMMMM.....While I'm not quite an old fart just yet, Methinks this could be signing up for...

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 11:55 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Mooh
Date: 24 Jun 00 - 10:34 AM

...I'll do the toilets...

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 24 Jun 00 - 07:45 AM

Guest, I'll bring you the lemonade. How about we get you a seated lawnmower. I hear that is a retired man's dream.
Relatively, I guess I'd be one of the 'spring chickens' around the community. So I don't mind offering up my dietetic services as Meal's On Wheel. I'll drive a golf cart around delivery prepared foods to your door. Puree, low sodium, diabetic (they get delivered first), whatever.
For those who are going to be shot in the head by a raging husband, you can order whatever you want off the menu.

Bonnie RD

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Mbo
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 11:35 AM

Reminds me of this guy one time, said "I want to die when I'm 98 years old--being shot by a jealous husband..."

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: WyoWoman
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 11:18 AM

And we'll just wrestle Catspaw to the ground each night in the Jello pit and plaster a pair of Depends on 'im so he doesn't have to worry about the whiz-bowl. He'll forget about the diapers and just remember the wrasslin,' and he'll always think he WON...

And yes, Dave, I'll die in a fiery motorcycle crash at the age of 106 when my much younger boyfriend (say, 80) tries to feel me up as we're speeding up a winding mountain road. There will be much teeth-gnashing -- okay, gum-gnashing -- and general lamentation, but everyone will agree that it was a great way to go...

ww

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 07:44 AM

I volunteer to mow the grass if someone volunteers to bring me a glass of lemonade occasionally...I do my best thinking when pushing a lawnmower around and around in a square. A man and his machine....

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 01:48 AM

Great idea, and I am all for it, but just a few dumb questions.
1. Who cleans the toilets?
2. Who mows the grass?
3. Who gets up in the middle of the night to make sure spaw hits the whiz-bowl without falling down?
4. How much will the "home owners fees" be?
5. Will there be covenants, and about what?
And, if we have the Tour Bus/Caravan Idea, we must have 2--smoking, and non smoking.

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 22 Jun 00 - 11:36 PM

Since I will die a violent death when I'm 93 (shot in the back of the head by a jealous husband) I shall decline residence. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Jun 00 - 11:17 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Oct 99 - 02:24 PM

Sure, 'Spaw, hell if ya want you can sign over your first born (possum, that is) and owe NOTHING! As long as you want undoctored brownies i don't think there should be a problem, but ya know the whole program was designed with your immortal soul in mind. I understand your wanting to feel good, esp. for a life of such longevity, but remember the rewards we wait for are sometimes the greatest of all, so just think what you might expect at 130 with all those Karmic Brownie Points instead of the kind that can become so evident in a physical way, if ya know what I mean.

BTW...thanks:-)

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Oct 99 - 12:06 PM

Hmmmm..........OK, as a pontificatin' old poop, I'd really like to get in on the ground floor Kat, but the installment plan seems a bit out of my bracket and I sure as hell ain't got the cash. See, after expenses and all, I find I can only afford about a buck and a half a month, requiring me to live to an age of 130 to pay it off....so my question is.....Am I covered as long as I don't get behind on the payments and can I get some Brownies instead of brownie points? If I have to go to 130, I want to feel good while I'm doing it.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Oct 99 - 11:27 AM

LOL....Naw, Ferret, 'sokay. I've been camping with my O2 on. Course ya hafta be careful, but they tell me it's not flammable itself, it just accelerates a fire, so we'll just have to be careful not to aim our cannulas at the fire or let our tanks get too close. Actually, Rog has adapted my concentrator, so that we can take it in the car, van or travel trailer, so no O2 tanks; it just pulls the oxygen outta the air and I breath! Oh....I 'spose it wouldn't hurt to have a fire extinguisher nearby. Maybe El Swanno will retire a truck at the same time he retires and bring it with him, then we can have it at the ready.:-) Oh,and he could still drive it in parades,a s we oculd have a MayDay one every year!

Thankya, Ferret.

kat

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Ferret
Date: 30 Oct 99 - 10:46 AM

Kat With all that oxygen about we better not have any Mudcat campfires near by or well all go up like a torch.

All the best ferret

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 29 Oct 99 - 08:52 PM

Mama Kats, I hate to be the one to tell you this but.............You and I are the only ones in this auditorium

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Oct 99 - 07:58 PM

rise up

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Oct 99 - 12:01 AM

Thanks, LilNeo

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 09:14 PM

Mama Kat, I think it's the competition. The brownies are selling like hot cakes on the 'Explain The BS Rules' Thread.
Little Neo

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 08:48 PM

Phine, LilNeo, you are excused.

Several hours go by and nary a bite. Thought sure the Free Karmic Brownie Points would lure them in. Must rethink ad campaign! Drat!!

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 04:36 PM

Mama KatSageWalker, I have to go to the bathroom.

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 03:48 PM

PONTIFICATION ALERT:

Is not self-censorship the best a humane citizenship can hope for? Should we not strive to harm none through the spoken or written word and our actions? And, yea, though we may think someone the south end of a northward trekking horse, is it not better to tell them how nicely they are looking these days, telling a small lie, rather than call them the former? Is it not said in the good book of Pooh, that one should always share the honey pot, deferring to their guests rather than exercising their ownership in a selfish display of gluttony? Do not the elders say we must always give and let our attackers help themselves on into the brick wall, rather than stand in their way, resisting and being crashed into and harmed, thus causing harm? And, in one's intimate moments, is it control we seek or utter and compleat surrender. To feel or not to feel is not necessarily the definitive question; rather ask the motivation of the suggestor and the reply of the suggestee. Is it not important to delve into the cheek, determining placement of the tongue in such statements, thus discerning the motivation? Is it not wonderful to ponder these and other questions of the Universe in this, the Center of the Web; weaving our thoughts into the minds of humankind, thus spreading the Gospel of Phoak, expounding and expanding the parameters of the mind, heart, and soul while also expanding the pervasiveness of The Tao of Phoak? Join us, now, brothers and sisters, for 'tis a noble endeavour we seek to accomplish and other intangible rewards await the eager participant.*

*Show this monograph at your first meeting and receive 5,000 free Karmic Brownie Points.

May be redeemed only upon completion of complete training program and one year service in the wild outbacks. Call now to sign up. Have your credit card ready! Program is only $1,599! Easy monthly installments available!

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: MMario
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 03:36 PM

I don't see that as censorship, I see that for "oops! I went a little too far"

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: WyoWoman
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 03:31 PM

Oh, puhleez. We aren't going to start censoring ourselves, are we?

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: DougR
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 12:59 PM

Little Neo: You are right. I apologize.

DougR

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 12:58 PM

Well then WW, maybe you could just render yer asunder mine and we could get on with some serios disrespectin'.

Spaw - (best I could do since you took the other line)

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Allan C.
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 11:22 AM

We have met the Mudcat and he is us!

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Bert
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 11:12 AM

But if we were all together we wouldn't have the fun of visiting Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: WyoWoman
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 10:55 AM

I sort of like McGrath's ideas on the subject. Then we can all write "folksongs" about the revolutions and counter-revolutions and feuds and blood revenge and future generations can pass on the stories of our great comings together and rending asunders.

And Spaw, that 'comings together' part had nothing to do with you...

WW

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 09:39 AM

Thank you, Allan. I will look into that site.

Den, another planet? Aren't we already from another planet and just colonising this one?*BG*

'Spaw, so glad to see you're still *in form*! Curses on moving ISPs!

Escamillo, what can I say, darlin'? Your words touch my heart and inspire me. Thank you, my friend.

luvya'll kat

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Allan C.
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 08:40 AM

I agree with Little Neo about checking out what works. Here is a site with some descriptions of some of the Intentional Communities. Many more can be found in the descriptions listed in the Communities Directory which is mentioned in the first paragraph on that page.

I am well acquainted with one of the oldest communities in the eastern U.S., Twin Oaks. It is a clear example of the fact that such communities CAN work, CAN survive, and can be very pleasant places in which to live.

There are many, many options as to how to make a community viable. Another community near where I live, called Shannon Farm, is set up so that the people who live there can work regular jobs, "off campus" so to speak. It sounds much like what Kat describes.

In short, there is a lot of information out there. One need not re-invent the wheel. The Communities Directory is filled with samples of workable ideas.

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 08:04 AM

My ISP moved and has been having problems getting anything working again. So now that I have read this, anyone who believes that I git got on that thing.......

THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES:

Spaw: Oh......Well in that case, ask me again tomorrow.

WW: Ask you what?

Spaw: Ask me how old I am.

WW: Geeziz Spaw....Don't you remember a thing? I can tell just by feeling your balls.

Spaw: Ya' can? (drops pants) Okay, go ahead.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 07:57 AM

Patrish, how about calling it 'Folk Elders'

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 07:32 AM

In my dreams....

A retirement home for old folkies run by young folkies who would look on mudcatters as a valuable resource. These home could be scarttered all over the world and we could have exchange trips. Old folkies from America spending a summer in UK and vice versa. And when we got really mature and started forgetting the words of songs the young folkies could remind us...

Patrish

Subject: RE: Retirement/Retreat Community for M'cats
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 07:00 AM

Mama KatSageWalker, maybe there should be an investigation of other retirement/retreat communities. Look at communities that are successful to learn how they have been able to sustain themselves.

While on a kayak trip in the Queen Charlottes BC, I once stayed overnight at a commune that had been successful in the 80s. All that remained were 3 families of which 2 were not speaking to each other.

Little Neo