BAND OF BOONDOCKERS--PART 3 WHEN HEROES CONNECT

 HEROES (in Joseph Campbell's writings--and here) are people  who respond to the urge to wander into the unknown--muster the will to overcome difficulties--learn from their experiences and share what they learn with others.

All my current companions are heroes in this sense.  All have courageously left the safe and familiar--engineered a comfortable mobility---dared to roll into the unknown---opened up their senses to new experiences.

AND ONE MORE THING:  THEY HAVE CONNECTED-- FOR A TIME-- WITH OTHER HEROES.

The advantages of doing this are obvious and not so obvious:
We are a comforting presence to one another.
We exchange useful information for our journey.
We inspire one another to deeper adventures.
We reap the energy bonuses of collective efforts.
We enhance our sense of ourselves as we are reflected in our interactions.
We polish our social effectiveness.

My vision of our connection is similar to the story of the Knights of the Round Table.  Worthy people gather for all the reasons listed above and eventually formulate a QUEST for themselves.  Then off they go in ones or twos or more to do the deed they have imagined.

AND THEN THEY RETURN TO US---for all the reasons listed above. We are the family of their affection and support---the springboard of their quests.

A GRAND PLAN---RIGHT?  AAhh but everyone knows that that grand plan came crashing down at last--for reasons all too human: love, sex, power, greed-etc.

TO KEEP OUR GOOD THING GOING---TO AVOID THE ROUND TABLE DISASTER--I OFFER THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS AND INSIGHTS. (I have been involved in 4 such visionary enterprises covering 20 plus years. Here's what I've learned:)

1. Humans in close association have 7 primary challenges: PRIVACY, POWER, PERFORMANCE, PROPERTY, PEACEMAKING, PERSONNEL, PURPOSE.
2 These challenges can be approached in two distinct ways:
   A. Moral solutions--try to  "ENGINEER PEOPLE" (persuade" "compel" them to behave harmoniously.
   B. Technical solutions---ENGINEER SITUATIONS so that it is nearly impossible to "do wrong."
       (example: people speeding in the trailer park where children play:  Moral approach: Post a sign           urging a safe speed.  Technical approach: install a speedbump.)
       Believe it or not--most all the challenges mentioned lend themselves to technical solutions---and        thus it is possible to  eliminate  all those vast, wasteful misunderstandings and  rancor and make-wrongs of the moral approach. ( Detailing the how of this is grist for another post)
With squabbles  based on these 7 issues whisked away, people are free to SYNERGIZE and BLOOM.
   
 IMAGINE A CULTURE OF SYNERGY AND BLOOM.
     Imagine the Beatles in their best years---synergetic--creativity in bloom.
     Imagine paying no rent.
     Imagine a life in pleasant weather.
     Imagine a band of talented people to hear your ideas.
     Imagine a spirit of YES--people willing to play your games.
     Imagine a set of friends with no desire to own you, control you, use you.  Who watch you come          and go with equal joy.

THAT IS MY VISION FOR THE BAND OF BOONDOCKERS!