tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532437989518213944.post5581670075496309315..comments2023-08-09T06:41:19.004-04:00Comments on Capricious: The escapeMsKittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351871810353355382noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532437989518213944.post-23843092452886108532015-10-28T09:46:57.448-04:002015-10-28T09:46:57.448-04:00Not just Goenka retreats, Jane, I think I'm do...Not just Goenka retreats, Jane, I think I'm done with retreats, period. At least for now. I haven't meditated well (or often) for over 2 years now, although the desire is there. Not strong enough, apparently, but there. So I'm out of practice. Other retreats at least allow some flexibility -- either scheduled periods of walking meditation alternating with sitting, or the freedom to get up and stand or walk when you need to, inside the meditation hall or outside. No meditation police! Seems that we both have good intentions, but are not doing much about it! I do have to say, however, that the things I learned in my first Goenka retreat, over 10 years ago, are still part of my daily approach to life. Not the meditation, but the 'art of living' that's taught. I will always appreciate that.<br /><br />Thailand is seeming less and less likely by the day, even with the help of some friends who know it well. As always in my life, it comes down to money. And right now, time. I'm at least 6 weeks away from possible departure at any time until I actually apply for renewal of my passport. And then there might be 6 months, maybe more, time to stay over there until I need to return for housing. It's a lot in some ways, but not enough financially. I had a brief thought of using a crowdfunding thing, but then found that they do it by sending emails to friends and family with the request. NO WAY am I going to hit up friends and family for money. So, that's out.<br /><br />Aging pets do tie us down, but we love them. I'm sure a mid-winter escape would be highly appreciated up in your northern climes, far more so than here. Can you get away for a short time -- a week or two? Leave them with friends or a sitter? That was always hard for me when I had a cat, because of the cost. And probably hard on the cat, too, although she was pretty easy going.<br /><br />Appreciate your reading all this stuff. Hope this particular post came across with all the humor with which it was written. I could see the humor even while it was happening, laughing at myself as I stumbled through the darkness.MsKittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09351871810353355382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532437989518213944.post-55022717754381307362015-10-27T20:09:09.370-04:002015-10-27T20:09:09.370-04:00Yep, sounds like you're done with Goenka retre...Yep, sounds like you're done with Goenka retreats. Can't say I'm rushing to sign up for another, either, I've been lapsing in my meditation practice for the past year or more and need to get my body back into sitting for long periods before I'd try another, and probably try the technique at home for a while. So many good intentions, so little actually done!<br /><br />Thailand would shake things up for you, and I've heard it's cheap. It's hard to face winter coming on without planning an escape. But I'm tied down with aging cats - correction, I've tied myself down to my aging cats. <br /><br />JaneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com