Westercon in Phoenix is 4th of July Weekend!

For info call Traci Bray - Group Reservations (623) 535-2521.

JOIN US FOR A FRUIT, CHEESE AND BAGEL BRUNCH AT WESTERCON ON SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 AM TO NOON
LIVE THE DREAM ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES/POLY MEET POINT at WESTERCON“JOIN US FOR FRUIT, CHEESE, JUICE, AND TALK!
SUNDAY MORNING 11-30-03 TIME: 10:30 to noon

Were you inspired by the Line Marriage from MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS, warmed by the Nest in STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, fascinated by the even more unusual group marriages/empathic groupings in Spider Robinson™s Star Dance and Callahan stories? Dreams can come true...This get-together is for those already into multiply committed relationships and those who want to learn more about them. People like us do not only exist in SF books! Come meet some kindred spirits. We'll share our experiences in real triads, group houses, open marriages, etc. LOCATION: Ask at HOTEL registration desk for room number of Live the Dream or see note in Westercon Newsletter.

 

Life Styles Convention in Las Vegas is July 8-11, 2004.

Meet fascinating people from all over the country living a variety of alternative life styles. Call 714-821-6117 for info.
Terry and Paul Brussel-Gibbons will be presenting An Evening of Caressive Touch from 5 pm to 7 pm on Thursday the 8th.
Share an evening of Joy with your Love (or someone with whom you want to Grow Closer). Experience the delights of touch, cuddling and massage combined with deep spiritual connection. Guided fantasy and romantic music heighten the intimacy. The famous Car Wash concludes this play shop. Each participant is washed by many, many caring
hands...Couples only for this activity.
Bring massage oil and/or corn starch, and towels.

Sat July 17 11 am to 4 pm Life Styles

Convention Discussion: How are Poly/Multiply Committed Relationships Different From Swinging? Levels of commitment are usually considered the primary difference. It is obvious that sex in a group marriage is not swinging. However, is it swinging when a man makes love to a lady whose kid™s Bar mitzvah (and wedding) he attended and has been on a Convention Care teems with for several years? What if it takes place at a œswing party? Is casual sex with a stranger at a poly gathering swinging? Where do you fit in or want to fit in? Will Jarvis, a writer whose articles on lifestyles have appeared in magazines in the US and Canada for over a decade, will give us his input on Poly vs. swinging topic. He will also give us a preview of his new Star Fox series (novels and possibly video). His main character is an ambassador from another world who is gorgeous, poly, empathic and has unusual metaphysical Powers...
Pot luck lunch and socializing in Al Denny™s beautifully landscaped Garden which contains water falls and every kind of flower from orchids to blossoming cacti. Bring your own meat to barbeque and a side dish to share “ Location: West SF Valley 20360 Haynes St. in Winnetka (note this is the correct address not the one on the map in our last news letter). That is west SF Valley. Phone day of event only: 818-888- 1226.

 

Saturday October 2 11am on into the evening...

11 am to 4 pm. Sensitivity Group “ A Throw Back to the 60 s? Exercises verbal and non verbal, in the Jacuzzi and out “ ways to grow closer are the theme of today™s EXPERIENTIAL meeting. Bring finger foods to feed each other for a Tribal Feast lunch. We™ll order out for dinner and watch some beautiful, fascinating SF on our new big screen high definition tv. CALL TO TELL US IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE STAR TREK (ORIGINAL, NEXT GEN, DS 9 or ONE OF THE MOVIES) OR BABYLON 5 . ROBIN WILLIAM™S BICENTENNIAL MAN IS ANOTHER POSSIBILITY. IF YOU ARE IN POSSESSION OF A CD OF AN SF (NOT HORROR) MOVIE WHICH FEATURES SOME BEAUTIFUL VIEWS, WE WILL CONSIDER IT. IF NO VOTES COME IN, WE™LL CHOOSE ONE AT THE MEETING.
Location is the group home of Terry, Paul, Marcus, Carl and Will in Winnetka at 8515 Penfield. West San Fernando Valley.

STRATEGIES for FRIENDSHIP
by Terry Brussel-Gibbons PhD, Clinical Hypnotherapist,
800-462-GOAL NOW (462-5669)

Hypnotherapy

Some of those who come to me as a hypnotherapist tell me that they have no friends, some adding that they do have acquaintances, but not real friends. Sometimes this happens because a person moves to a different geographical location than they grew up in. Often, though, the complaint comes from people who have lived in one area most of their lives. Why do some people have all the relationships they can fit into a busy life (and more) while others are miserably trying to survive in an isolated state--water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink?
I am blessed with a friendship circle of people who I love and care for and who care deeply about me. This did not happen by accident, though it did begin with the good luck of meeting fellow science fiction fans on a school bus at the age of fifteen and interrupting some disagreement they were having relating to Star Trek with my own (somewhat unwelcome) opinions. One of them became my first water brother (see Stranger in a Strange Land) and over thirty years later is still my closest friend. We formed a teenage "gang" of SF fans [(many of whom also dabbled with writing the stuff)]. We had parties and kidnap breakfasts, lunches together at school, skinny dipping by remote waterfalls (before any of us identified as nudists) and all kinds of horseplay kids usually engage in. Birthdays were remembered and celebrated by all, as were all the usual special holidays. Our parties and other activities, however, could turn at a moments notice or anyone's need into a sensitivity group of empathic listeners willing to share tears, joy and group hugs. I learned what friendship meant through high school sensitivity training combined with reading Stranger for the first time at age 15 and having kindred spirits with whom to practice the teachings of real and lasting commitment, deep sharing, and a love which could include many special others.
If you did not have the good fortune to blunder into a group like this as a teenager it does not mean that you can't have it now. You can call those who you would like to be closer to and invite them for dinner at your home or call a few such someones and invite them to a party. You are reading this out of an interest in the poly lifestyle which may be anything from a new exploration for you to a lifelong identification. You have a group of kindred spirits to share your interests with-- Live the Dream (or any other poly group you are involved with), Science Fiction Fandom Southern California Nudists, your local Church of All Worlds Nest ,, and any special interest group you go to. Go to the meetings/conventions of the group you are involved with. Meet people. Get names, phone numbers and E-Mail addresses. [Even if these are in the groups directory, getting that info from each individual is an invitation to contact them personally.] Offer to give a party for those whose birthdays are the same month as yours or your spouse's--publicize it in the group's newsletter or through E-Mail. Have a Thanksgiving Day pot luck or an Easter Egg hunt with adult prizes or personal gift certificates hidden in the plastic eggs. Offer to lead a meeting, an activity or plan a group get-away weekend. [Get involved at the volunteer level in a position which involves reaching out to other members and put something extra into the communication even if it's just a message on an answering machine--leave your own phone number for questions.] Have a sensitivity exercise as a party game or after meeting activity and see how it flies.
The Sensitivity Group afternoon activity being presented at the October 2, 2004 Live the Dream Meeting is one way to do this. [ The Spark group is another--ongoing weekly (310-453-4420--Irene) Go ahead and "steal" ideas and exercises to use with your own friendship group. Investigate. Almost every kind of interest group imaginable including your special thing is probably on the Internet. Type it into Google, Yahoo or what have you. Just don™t stop with the internet“be sure to actually meet the people you are connecting with and specify activities in your local area.
The bottom line is to be someone who brings joy to others and is known to care about them. Be someone who remembers birthdays and anniversaries and invites the gang to celebrate them together--at your place, someone else's, a restaurant, a local park--anywhere. Be someone your friends know is there for them when needed. Schedule regular times to get together individually or at least be sure the next date is on calendar--same with friends as with lovers (who are hopefully friends first). To have friends, be the best friend you know how to be to those you choose to draw close...

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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