42 Paradigm Changers: #2 Our Garden

 Feb 5, 2025

#1 was a snap. #2, not so easy! 

 

One version of our garden//temple

 So many change makers came to mind. To name but three:

• Ivory Island Light station

• Kitamaat village

• The Thomas Crosby V

After a few days of pondering, I have come to the conclusion that the list must proceed in no particular order. So, today I explore the effect that our garden/temple has had on my life.

First and foremost, it has shown me a way to answer my migratory needs and also develop roots. Allow me to explain?

I have been cursed with the absolute bedrock need to migrate every Spring and Fall. I could fight it, but at an extraordinarily high cost. I don’t have an accurate count but between the ages of 17 and 40 I changed my residence at least forty times. 

A little aside: M’lady and I often think alike. But when it came to one opinion we were diametrically opposed. I saw our life together as a continuation of my Gypsy lifestyle. She saw one job, one residence as the ideal lifestyle.

Back to the story. For many reasons M’Lady and I decided to live in the Philippines.  For equally valid reasons we found ourselves needing to return to Canada.

Once the compelling reason we had for living in Canada dissolved we began to dream of returning to the Philippines. When M’Lady was asked to return to the Philippines and start working in her chosen field in her ideal location the die was cast.

Our return took a few years - M’Lady needed to finish her Master's Degree. But return we did.  

Home Sweet Home

Once we returned it needed another year before our first piece of land was bought and our beautiful bamboo house was constructed.  Once we were settled in we began to dream of buying more land. As the gods would have it we were able to buy two parcels of land that were adjacent to our small plot. 

Once we had our land the garden showed me a possibility I had never known before. I didn't have to move every Spring and Fall. All I had to do was change the garden!

Our new house

Admittedly I got carried away one year and we actually ended up building a new house but most years it has just been a question of reworking this or that bit of our garden.

M’lady had her needed home base that even a howitzer wouldn’t suffice to get her to leave, and I found surprising satisfaction as my roots sank into the ground.

To change from a gypsy into a rooted natural part of our garden has been a powerful paradigm shift. I belong. No longer am I a constant stranger. Paradoxically now I truly can live within but not of the world. 

Thank you, garden!

Brian