social networking

Is this gonna be another Ello? I like the mission statement of this platform, but I'm always wary when a new social media site comes along — because I know there's every chance it won't be here in six months.

Maybe UpTrust will prove me wrong. I hope so. How is your experience so far?

Want to join a co-living community? I'm not sure if posting this here is appropriate...but I'm going to err towards using this space as I would Facebook, only for non-promotional things (aka only things I want to post instead of things my company wants me to ;). Admins, take it down if not welcome!

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Hi friends. Would you like to live with me?

I and my friends are starting a big new endeavor. For the past several years, 7 of us have lived together on a lovely piece of land in Bastrop, Texas (just outside of Austin). Now - joined by a few friends from California - we are moving en mass to Asheville, North Carolina. We've bought 28 acres of land in Marshall NC, just outside of Asheville, and we plan to build a neighborhood.

THE REASONING:
ONE: Texas is hot, and we like working outside.
TWO: Austin has gotten big, and we're homebodies.
THREE: Asheville is awesome.

We are looking for others who would like to join our project.
Primarily, we’re searching for landmates.
But we’re also open to investors.

We have space for 6 more households to join the project. We're also interested in extended community members who want to support, with the benefit of visiting, attending events, and helping get the project off the ground.

Here's what it looks like:

The land comprises two hills and a valley. It has a stream and springs. It's 10 minutes from Marshall, 30 from Asheville, and feels very private and peaceful.

Each hill is divided into plots for residents. 6 plots are still available, each of about 1 acre in size. 10 acres will be retained for farm, orchard, and green space. We also plan to install a community / event space in the valley.

We have pending contracts for grading, roadwork, well, electric, fiber internet, and soil testing. This work will start as soon as county permitting is complete (likely Dec/Jan), with an estimated completion of spring to summer 2026. Then home construction can begin. If all goes well, move in can begin by fall or winter of next year.

About the residents: we are a group of therapists, mediators, entrepreneurs, programmers, producers, artists, and farmers. We are multigenerational (no kids yet, but we have the grandparents if you bring them!), multicultural, and multifunctional. We are not the hippies your mother warned you about...well, we are a bit, but we also like running companies and getting shit done. 

We envision something that is partway between cohousing and a neighborhood, where everyone pitches in for the projects they care about and we keep meetings to a minimum. We envision optional weekly dinners and recommended bi-yearly retreats. We envision co-working, co-tending the garden, inviting each other on walks, and introvert time alone in our homes. We are high contribution, low ideology.

If this sounds up your alley, message me and I'll send you more information. Then, if it's a fit, we can set up a call.

Will you be my neighbor? 🙂

More about the project: https://tinyurl.com/wncllc

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P.S. If you want a ready-built community, we will also be selling our land in Austin-area, which has several buildings and a farm on it already. LMK if interested or you know people who are.

Is it possible to 'focus circle' the current state of the world? When I went through the Level Up program at Relateful.com and facilitated what was then called 'Focus or Birthday Circles', it was sometimes suggested that I as the facilitator could be the object of the meditation, instead of focusing on someone else. I never chose to do this and have no idea what that experience is like. But it got me curious recently... is it possible to have a person stand in as 'the current state of the world'? Could we have the focus be on this person as a way to get to know what it's like to be the state of the world and be with it?

Who should date me? I get really pumped about what can be possible for online dating in UpTrust.

For example, someone having high current trust scores from a majority of his exes.

Or me going through all my single friends who are the gender I date and posting on their Dating Recommendations tree posts like I adore him as a friend and would totally want to date him if we wanted the same lifestyle! He gives the best hugs and is someone whose opinion I value highly when I make major decisions. I’d like to see him with a woman who embraces spirituality and likes throwing Superbowl parties.

So here’s my personal test-drive. Feel free to populate this tree with your opinions on my dating life, recommendations, questions, etc. <3

A Jhana rabbit hole. Someone on X/Twitter introduced me to a meditation retreat company called Jhourneys that focuses on helping people get into Jhana states. Apparently there are different stages of Jhana. People describe them as states of euphoria, bliss, joy, and contentment that stay with you and some have shared that they have more capacity to be with the harder more challenging aspects of everyday life.

Any one have any experience with Jhanas?

Last night I listened a podcast featuring a guest who has been experiencing these states since the early 80s. (https://jhourney.transistor.fm/episodes/being-happier-than-you-ever-realized-for-no-apparent-reason-leigh-brasington) The energetic transmission was profound.

I’m really curious to learn more.

A Jhana rabbit hole. Someone on X/Twitter introduced me to a meditation retreat company called Jhourneys that focuses on helping people get into Jhana states. Apparently there are different stages of Jhana. People describe them as states of euphoria, bliss, joy, and contentment that stay with you and some have shared that they have more capacity to be with the harder more challenging aspects of everyday life.

Any one have any experience with Jhanas?

Last night I listened a podcast featuring a guest who has been experiencing these states since the early 80s. (https://jhourney.transistor.fm/episodes/being-happier-than-you-ever-realized-for-no-apparent-reason-leigh-brasington) The energetic transmission was profound.

I’m really curious to learn more.