The entries in this section represent ideas that have been translated into forms that walk within the borders of acceptability; I think of them as stealth systems that quietly offer centripetal opportunities through a subtle subtext. The surface appearance of these economic entities is transparent: a place to retreat, some lovely pottery, a chance to get some woolen items to keep bodies warm in winter. The centripetal intention behind each is to offer a chance to slow down, appreciate silence, get in touch with the deeper stuff. That "stuff", the essences of life, are delicate whispers which are either unheard, ignored, or unsolicited in the commerce and chaos of a material-based growth economic paradigm. Finding them requires an intentional search for, or serendipitous discovery of, situations, people, environments, experiences that reveal centripetal moments.

The Garden House came into being in 1987. The adventure was to see if this activity would achieve some unknown sense of harmony among the Tradeoff family members (Simplicity sometimes quarrels with Complexity, Income can get hissy with Privacy,  Freedom gets miffed when Responsibility starts to speak). Decades later, an observation is clear--the social benefit far exceeds the financial benefit. I had not anticipated the rich connection with people who have made their own adventure to try a small cabin on the eastern end of a small island miles, if not states, from their home. Guest comments reflect an iceberg tip of this experience (some of the written ones are included at the Garden House site). The personal conversations with guests reveal a spontanaeity, intimacy, appreciation, and depth that are the essence of refreshment. Regardless of what is happening in the news, (which is often both boring and depressing), there is a human connection here that seems timeless, enduring and endearing, reminding me of my own gratitude for being able to participate in the unexpected stories we share. Given the population pressures and the cost of land, excluding now all but the very wealthy from owning property here, it is all the more important to preserve what silence and beauty there is, and at the same time, to share it.

The Hot Ice Studio was born in the early part of this century when I became entranced by the beauty of crystal glazes. My adventure in this part of the forest reveals a richness of complexity I did not imagine. Figuring out how to grow crystals seems upon reflection the easy part. As in my experience with the Garden House, where social value trumps economic value, the best part of the Hot Ice experience is a quiet delight in bringing beauty to others. I've been privileged to become a witness and/or recipient to their discovery of centripetal connection.

Warm Hearts is an abbreviation for the concept "Warm heads, hands and hearts", a spontaneous outcome of a desire to help a 13 year old Nepalese girl stay in school so that she might fulfill her desire to become an eye doctor. The accounting for this connection requires a quiet bow to centripetal forces that form the sub-text for the stuff that really matters. We were graced by stumbling into an opportunity to help leverage a developing-nation family out of poverty. Once again, the juice is in receiving something that the economy can never deliver.

In the action bins of life, we can see ourselves as a mixture of inactive, reactive and proactive. The evolution of consciousness more or less impels us to move from inactive to reactive, and, further, to move from reactive to proactive. Knowing that the early bird gets the worm shames us from claiming we are victims when we are hungry. Taking that all important first step becomes way easier when there are some no-brainer unambiguous choices. Here are a few; please add your oar to the water.

Here in a remote corner of America, we are wired. Few can, or want to, escape from the firehose flow of information, however much of it is repetitive (think the morning commute reports) or depressing (pick your favorite war, calamity, unsolved problem). There are, however, lotus blossoms growing in the swamp of daily infomuck, one of which is the One Laptop Per Child initiative. A seed from this lovely flower has landed on Orcas Island, resulting in OLPC Orcas. For virtually nothing in time and dollars, many blessings can grow.

Orcas Island has distinct neighborhoods. One in particular is known for its alternative lifestyle, independence, and Thoreauian-like marching to the sound of a different drummer: Doe Bay. I've christened the area the Doe Bay Triangle. Ground zero for the DBT is Centripetus. One of the many Centripetus offerings is JoeBay U. Even though the DBT appears as a remote outpost (to anyone living in Eastsound, Doe Bay is in the Far East), no one escapes the need for some familiarity (cheerful or not) with digital tools. These devices, from the fob that unlocks your car, the microwave in your kitchen, any of a number of remotes controlling any number of "ICE" devices (Information, Communication, Entertainment), your computer, cell phone, camera, mp3 player to the lonely (and sometimes inscrutable) alarm clock, enable and sometimes enrage your life. JoeBay U was created to offer an opportunity for anyone to improve his or her understanding, competence, confidence and comfort with creative expression using digital tools. JoeBay U course offerings emphasize two major learning categories:  creative, imaginative communication-centered writing (a right-brain innovation-oriented learning environment), and a rigorously rational, organization and digital tool building/using left-brain learning environment. Within this learning world, JBU serves information on a plate of kindness, patience, attention to detail, and awakening to discovery.

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