IN THIS BLOG I ASK MY READERS TO CONSIDER WHO BENEFITS THE WORLD MORE----THE GENERALIST OR THE SPECIALIST? AND WHICH IS MORE LIKELY TO LIVE THE RICHER LIFE?
Reading a bit of poetry from a stage he built himself for the benefit of our group.
WIN members (Wandering Individuals Network) dancing in the desert on a functional dance floor we constructed in a few hours--when the club wondered if such a thing was possible. You'dhave to dance on it to appreciate its elegance. Folks really enjoyed dancing under the stars.
We met years ago on a remote California trail and immediately exasperated our girlfriends with a non-stop philosophical dialogue. We play off each other so well--cranking up any group we are conversing with---that it is a standing joke among our RV club--that the two of us are not allowed at the campfire at the same time. He keeps me in stitches with his humor.
His whole life has seemingly been an adventurous experiment---3rd of 8 children--son of a fundamentalist preacher. He describes himself as a freethinker--having no religious certainties---rejecting conventional Christianity--embracing an ever-evolving "spiritual" approach. Raised in San Bernadino, Ca. I have quizzed him carefully about the roots of his extraordinary creativity---will share that with you later.
He does not hesitate to do spontaneous, ridiculous things. I've forgotten what this was about--but it shows his playful openness.
The only picture I could find showing his (intact)motor home Before he began creatively altering it. We were camped somewhere in Central California.
Incredibly, He took a saw and cut out a huge slab of it. Who else do you know that would do this to a perfectly good 40 foot motor home?
Ah but see what he's done with that hole---made a slideout--giving lot's more living space inside.
One day he needed a roadworthy trailer----so he built one--out of wood---only the wheels and axels are metal. This one also disassembles to store flat--- out of the way.
The above are just minor projects to him. What really occupies his mind is the betterment of humanity. A current project is to design a revolutionary new kind of house--made of foam---super heat efficient---cheap to build---perfect for cold or hot climates.
A close up of its interior.
RANDY COMMENTS: I don't have the pictures to do justice to this man's accomplishments and vision. ( lost in my old computer)---will just have to tell you.
1. He invented and patented the "Pet Patio" now being sold to RV owners. (allows pets to go safely outside the RV.
2. Designed and built a modern home in Arkansas.
3. Has entertained crowds with a solo stage performance--singing and playing
3. Has entertained crowds with a solo stage performance--singing and playing
4.. Has lived communally with several intentional communities--sharing his creativity with them.
5. Has trained extensively in personal growth-----read widely---is curious and interested in almost all aspects of the human condition.
6. Invented a folding guitar.--Works great!
7. built and operated a coffee and buiscuits stand in Quartzsite.
I've quizzed Ron carefully, searching for the roots of his creativity. He thinks all of us are endowed with a measure of it but that many have its impulses stifled with fear or driven out by caregivers in the name of other values like conformity, memorization or repetition. Creativity happens naturally and requires only to be respected in its early bumbling expressions. He remembers being curious and courageous as a child and he thinks these two qualities feed each other in an upward spiral. His father noted his interest and more often invited him in on work projects than his siblings---and he gained skills in carpentry, motors, machinery, electricity, welding etc.
7. built and operated a coffee and buiscuits stand in Quartzsite.
I've quizzed Ron carefully, searching for the roots of his creativity. He thinks all of us are endowed with a measure of it but that many have its impulses stifled with fear or driven out by caregivers in the name of other values like conformity, memorization or repetition. Creativity happens naturally and requires only to be respected in its early bumbling expressions. He remembers being curious and courageous as a child and he thinks these two qualities feed each other in an upward spiral. His father noted his interest and more often invited him in on work projects than his siblings---and he gained skills in carpentry, motors, machinery, electricity, welding etc.
RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: At the apex of the human personality pyramid 5 types are represented: (in no particular rank)
ENLIGHTENED : Those with extreme clarity of IDENTITY---living as though they are immortal---regarding the world as playful illusion. e.g. Buddha, Rumi
AUTOTELIC---(auto= self---teleos=end) (from the book FLOW by Csikszenmihalyi) ---folks super skilled at generating happiness.
SELF ACTUALIZED---Fullness of Being (I've described this one fully in a blog dated 3/31/08.
GENIUS: Profound insights and skills in a particular field---like Einstein or Darwin.
RENAISSANCE PERSONS---people with very broad skills---who are fascinated, challenged and determined to improve the art and operation of the world. My friend Ron fits this last category.
Like Franklin, he now puts his ideas out to the public--inviting anyone to use them. I think his idea of foam houses could revolutionize our notions of shelter. He's currently building a large scale model.
Anecdote: As I left him in Quartzsite, Az recently, I presented him with a special towing challenge I've been wrestling with---how to attach a single leveling bar to my current hitch to shift some weight forward. He said he would think about it. I left, headed for Blythe, Ca. 8 minutes later he called with a perfectly good solution.
Anecdote: As I left him in Quartzsite, Az recently, I presented him with a special towing challenge I've been wrestling with---how to attach a single leveling bar to my current hitch to shift some weight forward. He said he would think about it. I left, headed for Blythe, Ca. 8 minutes later he called with a perfectly good solution.
3 comments:
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Here is a positively BRILLIANT -- and very creative -- animation about WHERE conventional education has gone wrong; how we train our kids away from their genius level of creativity in kindergarten to something progressively less as the school years churn on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
[If the link fails to display, just do a search on youtube for "education" -- IIRC, it was the 3rd one down.]
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sail4free
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It seems Ron is an ideal friend on many levels. I suspect we could all learn something from him. I will expect an intro someday.
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Ron's foam panels remind me of a 'dome4dummies' I built using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). The weathertight shell (walls AND roof) is built using 13 square panels and only 4 triangles. The edges on all four edges of the square panels are at the same angle -- making them interchangeable and able to pop into place regardless of orientation.
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As a practical matter, the bottom edges of the 8 wall panels are left flat so those edges can bear direct on the footing/foundation/floor. The shape is incredibly strong -- high winds are deflected and mostly go around it. We designed one using 8 foot square panels and it's large enough for a one bedroom sleeping loft upstairs.
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sail4free
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