Live the Dream is an education and support group for those who, originally inspired by the writings of Robert Heinlein, Robert Rimmer and Marion Zimmer Bradley, are now ready to LIVE such alternative lifestyles as cooperative living, open relationships and group marriage. Many of our concepts on multiply committed relationships come from Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land. Live the Dream also sponsors a Nest of Church of All Worlds, the real life, thirty year old spiritual movement inspired by that same book
For more information, including recorded information about our upcoming events, call LTD hotline # at (818) 886-0069, ex. 3. RSVP this number.

Tell your Poly curious friends to look us up!

 

Saturday, June 7, 2003 (2nd Saturday)
LET'S DO THE RENAISSANCE PLEASURE FAIRE

Together! (St. Helen's park in San Bernadino).
Terry, Paul and Marcus are celebrating the second anniversary of their Braiding ceremony at Faire in 2001...We have a lot of learning still ahead, but our triad is working! Call (818) 886-0069, extension 3, if you plan to join us at Faire. Do let us know you're coming or finding us at opening will be catch as catch can. If you can't find us, try reaching Terry on her cell phone: (818) 335-6552, OOPs, it wasn't invented yet... Never done Faire? Lusty wenches, Shakespearian comedy, Olde English music and dance, unusual crafts, and the Queen's Show make for quite a day...
For more information, visit their web sit at: www.renaissancepleasurefaire.com

 

Friday June 27 to Sunday June 29 (Fourth Weekend)
LTD'S ANNUAL CAMPING TRIP

At Lake Cachuma in the Santa Barbara area off of Highway 154. There will be a boat tour on Saturday afternoon (buy ticket there), a moon lit walk by the lake, and marshmallow roasting.
Cost: $25 each or $18 each if two or more are in one car and check is received by 6-17-03, $35/$28 rates apply at campsite. Send check made out to Success Center: 7949 Woodley Avenue, Suite 117, Van Nuys, CA 91406. You can also pay by credit card by calling (800) 462-5669.
Saturday night dinner - bring something yummy to share. LTD will provide wood for the fire and marshmallows for desert.
Camping fees for Friday and Saturday nights are provided by LTD.
OUTING TO SOLVANG ON SUNDAY! Call to tell us if you want to have Sunday Brunch together there or do a potluck picnic at one of the lovely parks nearby. RSVP (818) 886-0069, ext. 3.
For more information on Lake Cachuma, visit their website at:
www.sbparks.org

 

LETS SING AND SING AND SING AND SING TO OUR HEARTS DELIGHT! FILKING AHEAD

Saturday July 12 , 2003, 6:00 pm until ?
LAFA Filk WILL BE FILKING AT OUR HOME
Potluck dinner at 6 pm

Then lets sing into the wee small hours...
Filk-science fiction folk singing at the Penfield group house. (address below) We'll share the joy of song from the seriousness of the Balad of Appallo 13 to the absurdity of Banned from Argo (a Trek filk with scenarios such as Jim being beamed up with the remnants of his pants McCoy, inciting whores to riot and Uhura getting into the planet's communication's net "The bodies were there but the clothes they wear were no where to be seen."
We'll do poly songs, too, such as Kathy Marr's Jealous of Your Time and HeartWarming (for her own housemates). Guitars, piano in residence and other instruments welcome. It's "Pick, pass or perform." You may bring your own compositions, sing/play those of others or only provide the essential function of LISTENING. Music and words available to choose from. While some filkers have great voices, others have voices no better than yours or mine. The idea is to have fun!
Address: 8515 Penfield Avenue, Winnetka, CA 91306
Directions (good ones this time)
FROM THE SOUTH
Take the 405 Freeway north to Roscoe, make a left off the exit, make a right on Winnetka, make a right on Chase, and make a left on Penfield.
FROM THE EAST
Take the 101 Freeway East to the 405 Freeway North to Roscoe, make a left off the exit, make a right on Winnetka, make a right on Chase, and make a left on Penfield.
FROM THE WEST
Take the 101 West, get off at Winnetka, make a right on Chase, make a left on Penfield.
FROM THE 118 (EITHER DIRECTION)
Take the 118 to Tampa, make a left off the exit, head south to Devonshire, make a right, head west to Winnetka, make a left, go south past Parthenia to Chase, make a left, continue to Penfield and make a left.

House is the 2nd house on the West (your left) side.

 

July 25 through 27, 2003
LOVING MORE WEST CONFERENCE
Loving More (the Poly Conference) is at Harbin Hot Springs in northern California

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...This year, Paul, Marcus and Terry will present at "Learning to be Three" on Saturday, July 26th, 2003 from 3:00 - 4:30 PM at the lower pool. For more information call ((800) 424-9561 for more info or visit their web site at: Web: www.lovemore.com

 

Saturday, August 2, 2003 from 11 am to 4 pm
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ALTERNATIVE?

Line Marriage from MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS, STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND's Nest? Perhaps you've been fascinated by the four way group marriage in FORBIDDEN TOWER (based on a real one which lasted sixteen years). We'll talk about these fictional alternatives, their pros and cons--how they might play out in the world of here and now, those who've done it will share experiences in real triads, group houses, open marriages, etc. WE'LL WORK OUT SOME ACTION STEPS FOR BRINGING YOUR DREAMS FROM FANTASY INTO REALITY!
THOSE CURRENTLY LIVING IN TRIADS (OR MORE-ADS) WHO COME TOGETHER ARE ADMITTED FREE FOR THIS EVENT-MUST RSVP.
Afternoon activity: Jacuzzi and socializing-bring towel and sandals. It's clothing optional.
Potluck lunch - Bring something health & delicious to share
Location: 8515 Penfield Avenue,
Directions: Same as Filking event
RSVP: (818) 886-0069, ext. 3

LOVING MORE VINYETS (article)

Opening circle. Lots of new faces here almost (?) outnumbering the old friends, presenters and poly icons seen each year. The net with its poly activity actually is drawing some real people who don't think our life style is an new fantasy game.

A lovely woman with an even lovelier 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 written 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.

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 time the pain is real and cutting. Couples attending a poly conference or even a party need (preferably written) 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.

A bisexual married couple who have been involved in the polyamourous lifestyle of multiply committed relationships since their teens shares how each of them discovered their bisexuality and how it has affected their experiences in relating to outside lovers together and in bringing special loves into their lives. They are part of an intimate friendship network, some of whom have been in relationship with them for 20+ years.

A workshop on conflict resolution presented by Lver and Patty was excellent. It seemed to speak directly to some stuff my own partner and I were going through, so I dragged him over to it from the video presentation.

There is a Family's panel which includes 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 insightful 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 audiences. The people in this room have either been this road or are ready to travel it and want reliable signposts 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 Loving More magazine, 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.

Tell your Poly curious friends to look us up! WHAT EXPERIENCES/Book reviews, etc CAN YOU SHARE RELATING TO THE POLY LIFE STYLE? We'd like to run it here.

GIVE US YOUR STORIES. We need your stories for research purposes--your names will remain anonymous. If you have been hassled by the government for your lifestyle, particularly by any child services department, we want to hear from you by phone, in writing or by E-Mail.
Our phone number is 818-361-6737.
Our mailing address is
6454 Van Nuys Blvd #211
Van Nuys, CA. 91401.
Our e-mail address is: [email protected]

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