Tenting and sleeping at Destiny can be somewhat difficult due to the sloping nature of the property. Last summer, when I decided to alter my life and pass the majority of the summer on the Land, I knew I needed a better sleeping situation. So I quietly constructed a 10 x 10 foot tent platform according to the guidelines set forth from Land Use. I say quietly because "living" at Destiny is raising some issues and concerns for members of the community. Trust, exclusion, and ownership issues come up when some of us reside. I'd chosen to come under the radar to avoid public scrutiny or sentiment. So, most people don't know that I'm living on this cool little tarped platform off the meadow. Michel, on the other hand, completed a structure on a platform begun by Dhamiboo in 2006. He was not so quiet about his plans. The results for us individually were comfortable nights sleeping off the ground in fairly dry conditions. Michel was confronted with some of the community concerns and responses mentioned above.

Daisy's platform

This summer, I took the month of July off from my professional work in NYC to work at the Sanctuary. It was great to come back to my little platform in the woods and set up home for the season.   

Others have followed suit this season by using wood left over from our milling projects.

Clockwise are Matt's red tent, Autumn in front or his tent in the newly named Tawdry Meadows (where the septic system resides), Peter at his new platform east of the Crone Circle on the Old Drag, and Mr. Pendergast's platform.

 
Matt Bucy writes in the FCD worklist report:

"friday, peter and i put together a couple tent platforms. it took about a 1/2 hour a piece to assemble the frame and then we lugged them up to their sites with the help of moss and daisy and nailed boards to the frames to create the platform. we made them of green hemlock i bought from a local sawmill. i'm pretty sure some of the boards were only a day or two out of the mill so they were heavy! the platforms are propped up on rocks to keep them clear of the ground. i must say, it's awfully nice to sleep on the level. when we get to thinning the forest as part of our forestry program, we ought to have plenty of timber to mill for more of these. they're easy to make and light on the land. meanwhile, glitter and daisy kept up work on the porch posts, carving the tenons and reductions expertly. michel took up kitchen duties and learned how to make white sauce and used it in an innovative way with eggs and rice. it was delicious. "

Out In The Mountains 1986 – 2006

 First masthead

 Final masthead          

The masthead adds bisexuals...

The masthead once the paper went to newsprint

The following are the issues held in the collection. If you have copies to donate, please be in touch – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it – OITM back issues in subject line.

The masthead adds transgender...

     At our annual meeting in White River Junction, March 21-23 of 2008, the 25-35ish of us gathered approved a expenses and income for this year.  Check it out here.

      We have some fundraising to do, but in the faerie spirit we're expecting to make as much fun out of the task as possible.  Our main emphasis this year in terms of fundraising will be on showing folks a damned good time when we gather on the land this summer.  This year promises to the be the year of the Return on the Fabulous Gatherings.  So much time and energy  has been devoted to the critical task of buillding that many have recongized the real need to increase our level of play with each other.  Imagine:  Great food, fancy drag, circle massages, singing, dancing, wacky rituals, huge puppets, fabric to die for and love love love...

Other fundraising events in the works:

1. Cockette's Benefit in NYC (June)

2. Potential Art Show benefit in NYC

3. Walt Whitman phone-a-thon

4. Continued Mortage Pledges (Pledge 1/2 a month at $550.

5. Increased EFT donations

     Our Gift-based giving economy has been deemed a success, with feedback that folks would appreicate less emphasis on the EFT method of giving and perhaps less emphasis on money in general.  With that feedback in mind, a new donation/registration box, improved welcome materials for newcomers, and a light, and playful  money faerie are all in the works for this upcoming gathering season.

See you on the land this summer!