Ocala, Fl 2009!

Hi everyone!
I'm planning on coming to the Ocala gathering in February. It's going to be my first Rainbow Family experience and I'm super excited about it.
Thought I'd introduce myself and my current adventures.

I've been traveling since this summer visiting different radical/progressive communities across the country. While I'm working in exchange for room and board I make short documentary films about the community. You can check out some of my videos here: http://billatube.tripod.com/
Is anyone interested in helping me film a video on the Ocala gathering and the rainbow family? You'll probably see me running around barefoot trying to interview old hippies, don't be shy.

My money has pretty much ran out so I'm done traveling on Amtrak. Exciting stuff. Is anyone on here driving home to Gainesville or Atlanta?

My favorite folk artist http://www.myspace.com/evangreer is on tour (on his bike!!) through Florida in February and he is playing two shows in Gainesville on the 24th and 25th. Are any of you driving up to Gainesville before those days? Or better yet is anyone willing to leave the gathering with me for a couple days to see this amazing revolutionary perform?

Then I'm starting an internship with the Open Door Community http://www.opendoorcommunity.org/ in Atlanta, GA on March 1st and am hoping to get a ride there either from Gainesville or from the gathering.


I figure I'll probably be able to work this all out after I get to the gathering but I thought I'd get on here and see whats up anyway.

 

You can interview this old hippie when I'm patching up your cut and bloody feet.

Zen

 

If not myself, there will be others that I know of that travel back & forth from Gainesville to Ocala,during the Gathering. If you want to interview an older hippie than Zen, I might be able to give you a few stories. I'll more than likely be at the Front Gate/Welcome Home

 

Ooooh, Al. Pulling rank on me,eh? LOL!!!!

Zen

 

Not rank,just seniority. LOL back at you.
Love & Peace, Al

 

Welcome on your journey to the rainbow trail!
Just a little word of love...please be aware that there are some sensitivities to vidio taping at a Rainbow Gathering. Please ask permission before capturing people on video. (And love the trolls!!! And the fairies and elves too.)

 

I'm always pretty sesitive with the camera. I feel very uncomfortable myself if I don't ask permission first.

Zencoyote, it's so kind of you to offer to bandage my bleeding feet. I will certainly be tracking you down at the gathering.

 

anyone from the northeast heading down in need of ride
Much blessing and love to all pleace contact me at questwss@hotmail.com if we can link up im up in the northeast NYC area and would love to attend will contribute for gas

 

Hey, I added you on livejournal. I think your project is amazing! My boyfriend is also a filmmaker and I've often thought of how amazing it would be to document the very people you're documenting.

 

WHAT?

SINCE WHEN?

Oh.... you are thinking of ye ole ways and days!

Not the new ways and days?

We Love You

Now... we not only have people filming non-stop... they are now taking it upon themselves to copyright and trademark all aspects of the gathering.

Make sure you put on your best ironed patchworks and comb your dreadlocks!

Even kitchens can get in on the ego trip!

Warriors of the Light

Lmao.... I just remembered how one of that kitchen's crew had stopped in Boulder on the way to the Arkansas gathering and dumpster dived two big boxes of organic chocolate bars.

When asked to share some he replied "No way Bro! I have to keep these for the gathering to bring to trade. This is like gold to me! I'll trade you one bar for a nugget!"



I am surprised there has not been a photo booth at the gathering yet!

"Come one, Come all! Have your picture taken at a real live Rainbow Gathering! All for the small price of 3 cigarettes or one bar of chocolate! For a nugget... we will put your picture on a Frisbee, coffee mug, or t-shirt! Maybe even a calendar! Next year, we will have an old fashioned wardrobe setup, where you too... can even look like a hippie with authentic clothes worn by real life 60's era hippies!!"

It could be right next to the battery operated laser show!

 

I want to be in pictures. Oh please give me my 5 minutes of FAME.

 

Hmm. I don't like to be photographed, nor do I like to be filmed. If I were asked, I would say no. However, others do not feel that same way and if it does not bother them, why let it bother you? I think it's about permission.

And yeah, I think it's absolutely silly to commercialize it, and to copyright it. I guess it has to do with how you feel about film as art, and how it is done. I don't believe we need pictures to make memories, because the memories are the pictures, but I think there can be a form of art in documentary if done correctly. Also, if people are made aware of alternative living styles, as the op is doing, I don't see the harm in that either.

That said, in Michigan in 2002, a man was asking to take pictures of young women who had been in the river. It was very, very sketchy because the women he was asking to photograph were topless or completely nude. He was seeking these women out in specific, there were plenty of clothed women around.

In West Virginia I saw a woman freak out because she thought she heard a camera. She was yelling at everyone on the path saying she swore she heard the camera and wanted to know who it was because she did not allow photographs. That was unfortunate, and I don't want to say it was an overreaction because being filmed can be VERY violating. So that is why I think it's an iffy subject, but it's one that we have to realize not everyone has the same view on. Not everyone believes if they're filmed their soul just got stolen, but we need to respect those who do not wish to be filmed.

Sorry for the epic post. In reality, I have next to no photos from any gathering I ever attended, and I always wonder how people manage to take so many pictures anyway.

 

Check out the space pics of Ocala 07" On Micrsoft Virtual Earth I can see you setting in the front of RJ's Bus!!!!LOL!!!

 

Forkman, Oh please give me a link, cause I Love pictures of Me. "Happy Trails'
Will I see you in Ocala?

 

FORKMAN! How ya been? Haven't seen you since you and your old lady made those fine ganja gi goodies up in W.Va.
See you at Ocala, if you're going.

Al, I got in a little tussle with a troll on AGR. Says he may come to Ocala to kick my ass. Calls himself Bishop. If he shows up at Front Gate looking for me, tell him to take a number and I'll get to him ASAP. LOL!!!

Zen (what?me worry?)

 

how could you possibly do that LOL. That site is too Hot for me,with all the flame wars going on. I thought somebody with a name like Bishop,would be a pleasant,Spiritual person. I'll watch your back at Front gate,because
Blessed are the PeaceMakers. "Happy Trails" and see you in Ocala.

 

All I can say about AGR is....lesson learned.

This is my own fault. I momentarily forgot assholes have no sense of humor. He threatened family with violence on a "bus from hell with a giant picture of Charlie Manson on the front". Soooooo.....all I did was let him know that all gatherers are not "peace, love and donuts" and he would get duct taped. I considered it a polite warning.
Pissed him off. 'Course my writing that I use 'gorilla tape' and if I had my druthers he'd be taped, taken to A-Camp and tossed into their shitter. I thought it was funny....he went BUGSHIT!!!!! I've been threatened with just about everything but a rectal insertion of a watermelon. I'm still laughing. No worries, bro.

See ya soon
Zen

 

Ok, just had to say, you two are too much fun! If you're making it to the Annual in NM this year, keep an eye peeled for me; My wife & I'll be coming in on the 21st with the Musical Veggie's Seed crew. Ask for Kryn (pronounced krin); I'd love to meet you guys & hear some of these tales in person!:cheers2: :hat:

 

If I'm part of that duo, I'll be in N.M. I usually show up early (at least a week or more before the first) If we aren't captured and "chained" to Welcome Home like last year, we might just camp "down in" this year.
(I'm supposed to be a "Handicamper" but I only take advantage of the parking space)

I'd love to sit and tell stories....but please....my tales of Woodstock are only for when I'm really baked.

Zen

 

Do you two live in Orlando? Why don't you come to Ocala and hear our stories earlier, but you'll have to share a brew :cheers2:at Front Gate/Welcome Home with me,but I can be baked also.