May-June 2001 LTD Newsletter
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TERRY, PAUL AND MARCUS ARE BEING
HANDFASTED AT RENAISSANCE PLEASURE FAIRE! IN THE WEDDING GARDEN
SATURDAY JUNE 2 AT 1 PM
This event is by invitation only, but if you
think you should have gotten one and did not, please let us know.
A few seem to have gotten mislaid in the mail. 818-361-6737. Being
in a committed relationship with more than one significant other
has been a long time dream for all of us. We are very excited
about making our vows before friends and family (of both the blood
relation and the water brother variety). The reception this is
getting at Faire from long time acquaintances and those newly
met is beautiful--warmth, well wishing and almost no raised eyebrows.
Perhaps our way is becoming more acceptable or it might help that
Faire Folke and SF fandom are rather well intermingled... In any
case the focus seems to be alot more on our happiness than on
our weirdness. Blessed Be!
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Sunday June 3 12 noon to four pm.
(and first Sundays until further notice). SEE WHAT WILL BE THE
NEW SITE OF A CLOTHING OPTIONAL GROWTH CENTER AND RESORT IN A
BEAUTIFUL, NATURAL SETTING (It's currently an open house at Betty
and Sandy's private estate until they can turn it into an operation
that can be open for normal business to the members.)
You are Invited to 33333 Mulholland
Hwy in Malibu as guests of Terry and Paul Brussel-Gibbons for
picnicking, hot tubbing, swimming and good company. Current LTD
membership card required. Suggested donation to Elysium Institute
is $15. Call LTD hot line at 818-361-6737 to request a map to
get you there--leave your fax number.
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Saturday June 9 Heinlein's Future
History Series--Poly Focus 11 am to 4 pm (moved to second Saturday
due to Terry's Birthday on the third Saturday)
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We will discuss Heinlein's writings
relating to Polyamory from Stranger in a Strange Land in the 60s
to his final "To Sail Beyond the Sunset" published shortly before
his death in the late 80 s. He covers everything from wedding
ceremonies for a group marriage to how to raise kids in one. He
has triads, multi generational group marriages and single couple
open marriages all represented along with rules of how to be happy
in them. Most of his major characters in this series which stretches
over a quarter century wind up in a group marriage in a way which
almost makes sense! How can we use the more practical advise in
these novels in our own evolving relationships? Afternoon activity:
Improv skits:Be your favorite Heinlein character. CLOTHING OPTIONAL
JACUZZI AVAILABLE ALL DAY--bring towel and sandals. Location:809
Lashburn St in Sylmar 5 or 405 north to San Fernando Mission off
ramp. Take Laurel Canyon to Hubbard. Turn Rt. one block to Pearwood
rt. one block. House is at Pearwood and Lashburn.
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LIVE THE DREAM ANNUAL CAMPING TRIP
July 20 to 22 Mark your calendars. LAKE CACHUMA is north of Santa
Barbarra off of Highway 154. Tent or Van camping is available
by the lake itself--no hook ups. There will be a boat tour on
Saturday afternoon (buy ticket there), a moon lit walk by the
lake, and marshmallow roasting. Sunday could be brunch in Solvang,
a Danish style town nearby. There we could wander around together
afterwards enjoying the unusual shops--perhaps sharing a ride
in a horse drawn carriage. The other option would be brunch in
Santa Barbarra and a sea side art show, followed by a ride on
the beach in a (group sized) surrey with a fringe on top...We'll
see what works for those who attend. Cost:$2b n5 for 1st person
in car+ $18 each additional person in same car if check is received
by 7-10, $35 for 1st person in car+ $25 for each additional person
rates apply at campsite.
Send check made out to
Success Center
6454 Van Nuys Bl. #211
Van Nuys, Ca.
Saturday night dinner, marshmallows and camping fees for Friday
and Saturday nights are provided by LTD. All other meals are bring
your own food. RSVP A MUST BY JULY 10 818-361-6737
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Loving More (the Poly Conference)
is at Harbin Hot Springs in northern California June 22 thru 24.
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AUGUST 1997 Opening circle. Lots
of new faces here almost (?) outnumbering the old friends, presenters
and poly icons seen seen each year. The net with its poly activity
actually is drawing some real people who don't think our life
style is a new fantasy game.
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A lovely woman with an even lovlier
voice sings songs which stir the blood and are poly oriented.
She sings one about being her whole untamed self rather than "shrinking
to meet your expectations" and wanting her love to be his whole
self too...Rough Ride and so it can be. Her other song at opening
is writen for the poly family she is part of--Ravenheart. I discover
this delightful creature is wife and water sib to Morning Glory
and Oberon and therefore part of my own nest. I resolve to grow
closer as way opens.
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The place of conference this year
is one which does not permit nude bathing and I notice that even
though the option existed to be nude in the main conference room
we weren't. I think it cut some of the intimacy and certainly
the free feeling. The breath taking beauty in which we nestled
and view of trees from every window may have been worth that...
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Women's circle Saturday morn and
someone's in pain because her lover let her sleep alone while
exploring someone new. They needed clearer agreements and she
needs to work on jealousy. How many times have I heard this story
in 25 years of living this lifesyle? Too many, but each the pain
is real and cutting. I yearn to heal it. I tried to find her later
to give her the hypnotic tape I created for that--Intimacy Without
Jealousy. Could not find her or remember the name she gave. Couples
attending a poly conference or even a party need (preferably writen)
agreements to keep someone from getting hurt. Leaving a lover
alone who feels abandoned can be as bad if you are poly as if
you are not. Consideration and compassion must be combined in
an arcane mix with freedom.
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There is a Family's panel which
my husband and I share with Ravenheart and other successful multi
adult families. We all field questions with Ryam moderating on
what works and what does not, who sleeps with who and when, etc.
Some questions are deep and insiteful inviting answers which require
thought and careful wording. Most are asked with and honest curiosity
or real need, unlike the conflict seeking of some talk show hosts
and morbid leering their audiences. The people in this room have
either been this road or are ready to travel it and want reliable
sign posts along the way. While still a lifestyle of pioneers,
we have reached a point where it is not necessary to reinvent
the wheel at every turn. Enough people have been doing it long
enough to have developed some workable rules which are being shared
in this panel and others being presented during the weekend. Articles
in this magazine as well as Green Egg and in Ryam's Polyfidelity
Primer and Deborah Anapol's Love Without Limits provide many well
worked out reliable guide posts to joy in poly relationships.
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In 1998 and 1999 Loving More took
place at Berkely University. This drew more people than had the
farther out locations, but cut way down on the oppertunities for
intimacy. We were lucky enough to have close friends living nearby
to stay with and were able to connect with others who were staying
with them as well as inviting an unusual woman from Sweden to
come back with us one evening. She is a lovely and sensitive artist
who was visiting our country to learn more about the poly lifestyle
and bring the knowledge home. She had been staying with a couple
and their children as a sort of nanny for several weeks before
the Conference. That evening, she sang to us (in Hebrew!) and
danced the Mysteries in ways which drew us together with love.
We have exchanged several E-Mails since then and look foreward
some day to making personal contact once more.
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I did not attend the 2000 Conference,
but Paul did. It was back at Harbin again and if I hadn't been
a presentor at the biggest Hypnosis convention in the country,
nothing could have kept me away. Paul went with one of our water
siblings, Star White, whose mate was attending a different poly
oriented conference in another part of the country. Multiple partners
can be a comfort at times. Paul says attendence levels did not
suffer greatly--most felt Harbin was worth the extra drive. This
year, Paul, Marcus and I will go for the first time as a triad--an
exciting prospect!
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Harbin Hot Springs features hot
tubs and pools in abundance, two of which are reserved for the
private use of our group. It is completely clothing optional.
One can sleep in a tent or inside on cushions or reserve a private
room if that is your desire. We all eat together in a big dining
room and the food is both healthy and delicious. It feels like
a real Family reunion. Many close relationships have started from
such gatherings. The chance to make contact with someone delightful
and having those warm evenings (free or in intimacy enhancing
workshops) to follow up on such connections really makes special
experiences possible... Call 303-543-7540 for more info.
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Lifestyles Conference happens in
Las Vegas July 26 thru 28. All kinds of alternative life styles
are represented here, though it started out as a swinger's convention.
Attendence gets bigger every year. Top accademic papers on alternative
ways to live and to love are presented here as workshops and seminars.
Swimming (sexy bikinis/trunks--not clothing optional) is a favorite
activity throughout the convention. There are eroticly themed
dances Thursday and Friday nights culminating in the big Masquerade
Ball Saturday night. The awards banquet on Friday honors those
who have contributed most to expanding our knowledge of human
sexuality as well as offering a fascinating key note speaker.
Founder Bob McGinnely is a political activist who appears on radio,
tv, the Internet (and occasionally court rooms) defending rights
which are dear to all of us who espouse sexual freedom.
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Terry, Paul and Marcus will be
presenting "An Evening Of Caressive Intimacy" Friday night. This
will give couples a chance to deepen their connections with eachother
through massage, touch, and guided imagery. Techniques will be
offered for achieving intense, full body multiple orgasms sharing
as deep with your partner in spirit as in body. Home work assignments
must be done in private rooms! For more info, call the Lifestyles
Organization at 714-821-6117.
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Both these conferences offer great
chances to meet open minded kindred spirits from all over the
country.
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LIVE THE DREAM WILL BEGIN MEETING
QUARTERLY FOR OUR 3RD SATURDAY DISCUSSION EVENTS WHILE CONTINUING
TO MEET MONTHLY AT ELYSIUM AND TO OFFER OUR SPECIAL HOLIDAY EVENTS.
THERE WILL BE A JUNE MEETING, A JULY CAMPING TRIP, A MEETING IN
SEPTEMBER, OUR HOLIDAY PARTIES IN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER, AND A
MEETING IN JANUARY 2002. AT THAT POINT WE WILL REEVALUATE WHAT'S
BEEN HAPPENING TO SEE WHAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US. ANYONE WISHING
TO COMMENT ON THE NEW MEETING SCHEDULE OR TO LEAD EVENTS BETWEEN
MEETINGS OR AT THEM SHOULD CALL THE LTD HOT LINE AT 818-361-6737
AND TALK TO TERRY, PAUL OR MARCUS.
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WHAT EXPERIENCES/
ADVICE/ Book reviews CAN YOU SHARE RELATING TO THE POLY LIFE STYLE?
We'd like to run it here and/or on our website, livethedream.org.
SEND TO LTD ADDRESS OR E-MAIL IT TO [email protected].
Tell your poly friends or those just thinking about it to look
us up on the web. The site contains both articles on our lifestyle
and upcoming events.
PLEASE FILL OUT AND MAIL THE MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION NOW or at least call to indicate an interest in
continuing to receive this newsletter by USPS. NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
ONLY IS FREE BY E-MAIL--WE NEED YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR THAT.
REGULAR MEETINGS ARE NOW FREE WITH CURRENT MEMBERSHIP CARD.
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