Dear Getting a Life Readers, Friends and Associates:

Once again we share some thoughts and report on our activities over the last six months.

Getting a Life Website Coming Soon!

Inspired by fellow Getting a Lifer’s, Tom and Jenifer Morrissey and with the help of David’s cousin, Glenn Spaulding, we are developing a website which will function as a forum to share ideas and information with a wider audience. Beginning with the NEXT edition of the Getting a Life Report, this newsletter will reside on the website and be available to anyone in the world who has an interest. We will send out a brief e-mail to those on our current mailing list notifying you when a new GAL Report is available and how to access it on-line.

Therefore, it is important that we have your most current e-mail address. Please notify us if you have recently established an e-mail address or if your address has changed. Also, to save time, paper and postage we will no longer send ANY newsletters in a paper format. For those few readers who are not on-line, the newsletter will be available on the new website and can be printed out at most public libraries or from any computer with Web access.

With this new format we plan to provide regular quarterly updates of the GAL Report plus other items of interest, pictures, links to other websites and special features.

One of the Special Features we have in mind it a “Where are They Now?” section profiling those Getting a Lifer’s we interviewed for our book back in 1996. We envision one or two “profiles” in each newsletter that would update the situations of our beloved “book people.” For example, we know several who have achieved Financial Independence in recent years and others who are still plugging away doing the steps of the YMOYL program. So, Getting a Life Book People, let us know what you’re up to now. Is YMOYL still influencing your life? Are you still doing the steps? What difficulties or stumbling blocks have you encountered? Here’s your chance to stand up and be counted and inspire other’s to transform their lives! Pictures would be welcome if you’re so inclined.

Getting to be Rainbirds…

In the last GAL report we mentioned our tentative plan to begin spending three months a year in San Diego to be closer to our new grandson, daughter and son-in-law and Jacque’s parents. That plan has firmed up largely as a result of a generous offer from fellow Getting a Lifer’s, Jackie and Jeff Saar who live in Jamul, CA just east of San Diego. Jackie and Jeff have built a guest “Yurt” on their property and have invited us to stay there when we become “Rainbirds.” We checked out the Yurt while in San Diego over the holidays and think it will work great as our temporary home. Our current plan has us leaving Seattle right after Thanksgiving 2002 and staying through February 2003. The Yurt is about a half-hour’s drive from Kimberly and Felipe’s place in San Diego and we look forward to the opportunity to do some serious grandparenting!

By the way, we must congratulate Jackie and Jeff who declared Financial Independence in March of this year when Jackie “hung up her gunbelt” and took early retirement from the Sheriff’s department. Jeff will continue to work two or three days a week as a boat carpenter in San Diego.

This plan also means that our humble Seattle abode will be available during the winter months. Let us know if you or anyone you know might be interested in a winter house-sitting opportunity in rainy Seattle.

Getting a Dog…

After being “Dogless in Seattle” for 16 years, Sophie became part of our lives in January. She’s a true “Voluntary Simplicity” dog as she was given to us by a member of our old Voluntary Simplicity Group who could no longer take care of her due to some life changes. Sophie is a five-year old, black, flat-coated retriever who weighs in at 60 pounds. She is a very gentle, even-tempered and obedient dog who has quickly become part of our “pack.” Although having a dog adds some complexity to our lives, we’ve also learned a lot from her. Dog’s lives are simple and straight-forward. They live in the moment. They don’t worry about the past or what’s going to happen tomorrow. Their love and devotion is unconditional and they enjoy simple pleasures like chasing a ball or going for a walk. We think there’s something in their outlook on life for us humans to consider.

Getting into Study Groups…

David continues organize and lead various study groups. In late 2001 and early 2002 he mentored his second Your Money or Your Life Study Group using the New Road Map Foundation’s YMOYL Study Guide. About 10 people jump-started themselves toward Financial Integrity, Intelligence and Independence through the magic of group study and support. Again, we encourage you “advanced” YMOYLer’s to consider taking the “next” step and becoming a mentor to a group in your area.

David also organized and hosted two Voluntary Simplicity Study Groups using the Northwest Earth Institute’s Study Guide (go to: www.nwei.org for more info about their Study Guide program.) About 20 people participated in these groups from January through April. We explored many aspects of simple living including: “Living More with Less,” and “Do You Have the Time?” About 12 of the Voluntary Simplicity graduates have now moved on to study “Deep Ecology” using the NWEI materials.

Many of you are probably aware of Vicki Robin’s latest project of promoting Conversation Café’s. Conversation Café’s are hosted in public spaces by volunteers and are open to anyone who shows up that is interested in serious conversation on important subjects. About 20 regular Conversation Café’s are up and running in Seattle after a successful “Conversation Week” in January. Vicki has attracted media attention locally and nationally on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation.” David is a regular participant and co-host at one CC in Seattle. For more info on Conversation Café’s go to: www.conversationcafe.org.

Getting into Churches…

In the summer of 2000 we volunteered to speak to church groups through an organization known as Earth Ministry. Earth Ministry tries to connect Christian church congregations to issues of the environment and the earth and encourages sustainable lifestyles. In late 2001 we were asked to do some speaking gigs here in the greater Seattle area on behalf of Earth Ministry. So far this winter and spring we’ve done four presentations on the ideas in Your Money or Your Life including one to a junior and senior high school Sunday School group! This is a new venue for us which has caused us to adapt our “standard” presentation to include an emphasis on spiritual values (For you veteran YMOYLers, think Step 4, Question 2.) It’s been a rewarding process and we’ve had positive reaction from these audiences. For more info on Earth Ministry go to: www.earthministry.org.

Speaking of churches, we’ve been attending the Interfaith Community Church (IFCC) here in our Ballard neighborhood of Seattle since September 11, 2001. David was mysteriously attracted to this church that fateful day as he walked through the neighborhood contemplating the events of that morning. The concept of an “Interfaith” spiritual approach was highly appealing to him and seemed to be a natural evolution from his study of Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme’s “Universe Story” and the Joanna Macy “Intensive” he attended last summer. The IFCC is co-pastored by Sufi Muslim, Jamal Rahman and a Native American Shaman raised in a Christian (Catholic) tradition, the Rev. Debra Lajimodiere. Speakers from all spiritual traditions are regular guests as well. The idea of an Interfaith community is to recognize and honor the common values and teachings of all spiritual traditions while respecting the differences.

David just returned from a workshop led by Jamal titled: “The Sufi Path of Peace” where he learned more about Sufism and the interconnectedness of all living beings through wisdom stories, chanting, meditation and walks in nature.

Financial Integrity Associates (FIA)

Many who are receiving this newsletter are members of FIA and are well aware of its goal of promoting the YMOYL program throughout North America and the world. For those of you who are not, we encourage you to check out the FIA website at: www.fiassociates.org. FIA is hoping to expand its activity this year starting with regional meetings around the country. David has agreed to be the Puget Sound Region’s FIA Regional coordinator. A Puget Sound Area regional FIA meeting will be held in Seattle, June 22, 2002 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Interfaith Community Church Fellowship Hall at 1763 NW 62nd St. Please RSVP to David if you would like to attend. This meeting is open to current FIA members and anyone with at least six months of active work with the YMOYL program. The purpose is to share experiences and ideas and re-invigorate FIA work in the region.

For those in other parts of the country, check the website for regional conferences in your area.

International Association of Sustainable Business Organizations (IASBO)

David bicycled from Bellingham, WA, to Whistler, BC, CANADA, in early April to represent the New Road Map Foundation and FIA at the IASBO Northwest Regional semi-annual conference. Although a destination ski and recreational resort seems like an unlikely place for a sustainability conference, the Whistler community is making a valiant effort to implement sustainable practices into their community. They are initiating a campaign called “It’s Our Nature” with separate modules aimed at households, small businesses and tourist facilities. Also at the conference, there were encouraging reports on sustainability projects by Eco-Trust, CANADA, Eco-Trust, USA, the Bowen Island Community (off the coast of Vancouver, BC), Mountain Equipment Co-operative and the “Fairview Project” in Salem, Oregon.

This last project is particularly exciting. Several dedicated sustainability advocates in the Salem area have negotiated with the state to purchase an abandoned 275 acre complex that was once a mental hospital. They are developing a plan to turn this site into a model eco-community preserving as many of the existing buildings as possible. The site will be bicycle and pedestrian oriented with cars limited to the periphery. Although just in the beginning stages, this project could prove to be a working model for all of us.

Jacque’s Corner…

Jacque expanded her involvement with yoga by becoming a yoga instructor late last year. Trained by the owner and director of our yoga studio, she began teaching 1-2 classes a week in December and continues teaching 2-3 classes a week. The only problem with this schedule is that she finds it more difficult to get in her own yoga practice!

From January through March, Jacque mentored a group of students going through this year’s Master Gardeners program. She shared her gardening experience with the new MGs and also sit in on this year’s lectures and pick up any new information offered.

Jacque also continues to be the lead on the evolution of our own garden which continues to expand each year. This year we’ve added another raised bed, planted blueberries and already harvested our first asparagus. She’s developed a system of starting seeds in the guest bathroom using fluorescent lights in the tub recess. (A great conversation piece!)

Jacque also continues her active involvement with the Pacific Northwest Needle Arts Guild, Seattle Knitter’s Guild and a couple of women’s groups.

Where Did the Money Go?

As most of you know, we pledged 97% of the net proceeds from Getting a Life to charitable and non-profit organizations. From 1996 through 2000 we did this through the New Road Map Foundation because they already had a funding committee established and we agreed with their funding criteria. We were pleased that during that period we were able to add significantly to NRMF’s coffers and support a host of worthy projects. Because of dwindling incoming resources and personnel changes at NRMF in 2001 they have indefinitely suspended issuing grants. Therefore we have had to decide how to distribute Getting a Life money on our own. After careful thought we chose the following projects to support in 2001:

The Cottonwood Foundation, White Bear Lake, MN ($1000) supports grass-roots, small-scale environmental and social justice projects around the world. Focuses on the projects of indigenous peoples. www.cottonwoodfdn.org

Puget Consumer’s Co-op Farmland Fund, Seattle, WA ($1000) supports the preservation of organic farmland in the northwest. www.PCCNaturalMarkets.com

Friends of P-Patch, Seattle, WA ($1000) supports urban community gardens in Seattle.

Northwest Earth Institute, Portland, OR ($1000) provides educational programs focusing on lifestyle choices for sustainable living. www.nwei.org

Positive Futures Network, Bainbridge Island, WA ($1000) Publishes “Yes! The Journal of Positive Futures.” www.yesmagazine.org

The Simple Living Network, Trout Lake, WA ($2000) The Best Darn Website on Simple Living in the world! www.simpleliving.net.

The Master Gardeners Foundation, Seattle, WA ($1000) Supports the Master Gardener programs in the Seattle area. This donation was for the MG Garden at El Centro de la Raza where Jacque has worked

The New Road Map Foundation, Seattle, WA ($500) support for Financial Integrity Associates (FIA) outreach work. www.newroadmap.org

Running Strong For American Indian Youth, Lorton, VA ($1000) to support the Porcupine Year Round School Greenhouse Project on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Total Getting a Life donations for 2001: $9500

Reading Recommendations…

Here’s some books we’ve enjoyed lately that you might want to check out:

• This Organic Life, by Joan Dye Gussow
• That’s Funny, You Don’t Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist by Sylvia Boorstein
• It’s Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness by Sylvia Boorstein
• Simpler Living Compassionate Life, Earth Ministry, edited by Michael Shutt. A collection of simple living essays from a Christian perspective.
• Affluenza; The All-Consuming Epidemic, by John De Graaf, David Wann, Thomas H. Naylor. If you liked the video, you’ll love the book!
• Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond. A very interesting thesis on why some civilizations developed and others didn’t.

How Big’s Your Footprint?

Are you a Bigfoot? Many of you are probably familiar with the concept of the Ecological Footprint developed by Mathis Wackernagel and Bill Rees a few years ago. It’s a great way to measure how our lifestyles impact the earth. As you may know, Americans lead the pack in overconsumption. We use on average 25 acres per person of the bio-productive capacity of the planet. Mexican’s use 6 acres by comparison and East Indians use 2 acres. Most Europeans use about 12-14. Now there is an easy way to get a “ballpark” estimate of your individual Ecological Footprint. Go to: www.myfootprint.org and take the test by answering the 15 questions. It only takes about 3 minutes.

Jacque and I each came in at 15 acres, not bad compared to the American average, but still a long way from sustainability. Six billion humans divided into the bio-productive capacity of the planet comes out to about 5 acres per person and that’s not leaving any capacity for other creatures! For more information about the Ecological Footprint check out this website: www.redefiningprogress.org. Thanks for keeping in touch with us. We look forward to hearing from you.For a Sustainable Earth,

David Heitmiller and Jacque Blix

P.S. Some of you may be receiving this newsletter for the first time as we expand our mailing list. If you DO NOT care to receive future mailings please drop us a note via e-mail and we’ll remove your name. You can also reach us by snail mail or telephone at:

1745 NW 59th St.
Seattle, WA 98107
206-783-2818