Achieving an impossible dream; How my former partner and I built a three level geodesic showplace home.
When two totally unskilled, moderate wage earners, who outside of our profession are fairly clueless share a dream. I'm writing this for those of the Sweeps membership who may have a dream they doubt they can ever achievef. while this plan is simple in application, be aware it is the naysayers who will seek to make you feel. Believe me both of us got very discouraged at times as folks would make negative remarks.
1. Avoid negative people at all cost. they are like dream vampires who will suck your spirit dry. Ignore comments like "I'll believe it when I see it" (they don't want to see it they want you to fail)
2. Developing your rough draft plan; I first used poster board and drafted a simple MISSION PLAN; e.g "Within three years we will have completed building our geodesic dome house in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It will be awesome.
3. Long term goal; In three years our completed house will be move in ready including the home water well, all needed furnishings will have been secured. We will have deposited X dollars in the bank for emergency, or misc items needed including a 6 month food surplus as we secure future employment.
4. Objective *a" Write various Dome kit companies for literature, other company paper ads, estimates of product cost.
Objective "b" Make a list of building tools that will be needed. Make monthly purchases of these items within our budget.
5. GOAL within one year identify an archetect/builder close to our property who would be willing to both do the actual building and to use their experience and skill to guide us through the entire process.
Continue on depending on what your dream is. Remember the GOAL is a long terms target you are aiming for. it is followed by fairly simple, what you imagine might be ACHIEVEABLE objectives. Each time either a goal or objective is achieved reward yourself with something you love. Draw a strong highly visible line through the goal or objective so you can visually be reminded of your progress. You can work on more than one goal at a time if you want faster results just keep it practical so you don't burn out.
Our next goal was to identify land to build on, thus my objectives included contacting realitors, friends, newspaper ads, OUR best objective for this goal was to visit local bars, drink beer, play pool and let the guys know what we were looking for and one regular actually introduced us to our incredible master mind "Mark" who recognized AT ONCE the magic, and plugged himself into our vision.
You'll find more and more sweet little interventions that will suddenly also start sharing your vision and as time goes on it's no long just you but an entire team of magically minded skilled people wanted you to achieve the dream. Also, if the objective starts feeling too difficult, break it down into easier little steps.
A friend of our in Rapid City found that a small acreage was for sale VERY cheap. (We found out later the reason was because of the lands odd position which almost ruined the entire project.
I was thrilled that another magical thing was that this slice of land was located at the base of where Black Elk had his vision. I felt this was a sign we were supposed to be there as I have native ancestors. Not Lakota people but Cherokee.
In the spring of year two we had found our dome building kit, most of the tools, and were ready to build.
Then the great disaster. The department of forestry advised us that our blueprints had the house sitting too close to the National Forest boundary and we couldn't build there. Mick and I figured it was over, but Mark wanted to think on it, he assured us it was going to happen. (Mick and I allowed ourselves to slip into the cesspool of negativity. but Mark was steadfast. Get used to the fact it isn't going to be all hearts and flowers.
The following day Mark drove up near the tent he said, "I have good news and bad news" he said the good news is we ARE building the dome." as for the bad news, it was almost laughable "Bad news that it's going to be MUCH bigger, (Three stories) and suspended over water) the creek running near the road on the east end of the land. Mike and I were flabbergasted WTF?
You see, Mark had built himself a bermed in underground house and fell in love with using cement. He decided to suspend the house on cement pilings anchored into the land, with the east end suspended over the creek.
Mark hired two helpers and by the end of the third year the house was finished and totally gorgeous, Cedar shakes over the roof, both cedar and some hard wood I forgot the name of.
The last goal was our home, water well, we had contacted the drilling company way ahead of time because wells all over the Black Hills had been going dry. Our concern was not enough water which meant constant hauling water from town. Marks wife Patty does water witching so she used her bent wooden dowser to help locate water. The dower dipped in a suitable location. but Patty said, "It just doesn't feel right...I want David to try" I had no clue about this witching business tell Patty explained later.
I walk around with the bent end pointed up, at first there was nothing, then I got very close to where we wanted the driveway and Mick hollered, "Not there David" and immediately that damned stick nearly flew out of my hands into the ground and everyone saw it and some magical shaman.
The drilling folks didn't have to go too deep when they hit a literal gusher. The workers were all whooping and laughing, taking photo's, had me pose with the dowsing stick.LOL we must have built over a damned aqueduct.
In spite of the pitfalls, we were able to move in months before the target date. People who knew us couldn't believe what we had done.
This is just an example of a visual plan of GOALS and OBJECTIVES but following this tool id nearly no fail if you remain positive. You may not meet your target date but you will meet your DREAM.
Footnote; About water witching. like some corny Dr.Oz snake oil. be assured, there is nothing magical about the dowsing stick or me as the dowser. Patty say;s some can do it and most cannot. She said she sensed my closeness to the mother earth, how I seemed tuned into those surroundings. People who know me know how I feel about the mother and how a false belief that man has dominion over the land and it's beast and fowl. A TOTAL LIE coming from the pulpit. Man has dominion over NOTHING.
I hope anyone might be inspired reading this has the same wonderful experience. When you believe you have turned a power switch on.
All my best. Namaste.
1. Avoid negative people at all cost. they are like dream vampires who will suck your spirit dry. Ignore comments like "I'll believe it when I see it" (they don't want to see it they want you to fail)
2. Developing your rough draft plan; I first used poster board and drafted a simple MISSION PLAN; e.g "Within three years we will have completed building our geodesic dome house in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It will be awesome.
3. Long term goal; In three years our completed house will be move in ready including the home water well, all needed furnishings will have been secured. We will have deposited X dollars in the bank for emergency, or misc items needed including a 6 month food surplus as we secure future employment.
4. Objective *a" Write various Dome kit companies for literature, other company paper ads, estimates of product cost.
Objective "b" Make a list of building tools that will be needed. Make monthly purchases of these items within our budget.
5. GOAL within one year identify an archetect/builder close to our property who would be willing to both do the actual building and to use their experience and skill to guide us through the entire process.
Continue on depending on what your dream is. Remember the GOAL is a long terms target you are aiming for. it is followed by fairly simple, what you imagine might be ACHIEVEABLE objectives. Each time either a goal or objective is achieved reward yourself with something you love. Draw a strong highly visible line through the goal or objective so you can visually be reminded of your progress. You can work on more than one goal at a time if you want faster results just keep it practical so you don't burn out.
Our next goal was to identify land to build on, thus my objectives included contacting realitors, friends, newspaper ads, OUR best objective for this goal was to visit local bars, drink beer, play pool and let the guys know what we were looking for and one regular actually introduced us to our incredible master mind "Mark" who recognized AT ONCE the magic, and plugged himself into our vision.
You'll find more and more sweet little interventions that will suddenly also start sharing your vision and as time goes on it's no long just you but an entire team of magically minded skilled people wanted you to achieve the dream. Also, if the objective starts feeling too difficult, break it down into easier little steps.
A friend of our in Rapid City found that a small acreage was for sale VERY cheap. (We found out later the reason was because of the lands odd position which almost ruined the entire project.
I was thrilled that another magical thing was that this slice of land was located at the base of where Black Elk had his vision. I felt this was a sign we were supposed to be there as I have native ancestors. Not Lakota people but Cherokee.
In the spring of year two we had found our dome building kit, most of the tools, and were ready to build.
Then the great disaster. The department of forestry advised us that our blueprints had the house sitting too close to the National Forest boundary and we couldn't build there. Mick and I figured it was over, but Mark wanted to think on it, he assured us it was going to happen. (Mick and I allowed ourselves to slip into the cesspool of negativity. but Mark was steadfast. Get used to the fact it isn't going to be all hearts and flowers.
The following day Mark drove up near the tent he said, "I have good news and bad news" he said the good news is we ARE building the dome." as for the bad news, it was almost laughable "Bad news that it's going to be MUCH bigger, (Three stories) and suspended over water) the creek running near the road on the east end of the land. Mike and I were flabbergasted WTF?
You see, Mark had built himself a bermed in underground house and fell in love with using cement. He decided to suspend the house on cement pilings anchored into the land, with the east end suspended over the creek.
Mark hired two helpers and by the end of the third year the house was finished and totally gorgeous, Cedar shakes over the roof, both cedar and some hard wood I forgot the name of.
The last goal was our home, water well, we had contacted the drilling company way ahead of time because wells all over the Black Hills had been going dry. Our concern was not enough water which meant constant hauling water from town. Marks wife Patty does water witching so she used her bent wooden dowser to help locate water. The dower dipped in a suitable location. but Patty said, "It just doesn't feel right...I want David to try" I had no clue about this witching business tell Patty explained later.
I walk around with the bent end pointed up, at first there was nothing, then I got very close to where we wanted the driveway and Mick hollered, "Not there David" and immediately that damned stick nearly flew out of my hands into the ground and everyone saw it and some magical shaman.
The drilling folks didn't have to go too deep when they hit a literal gusher. The workers were all whooping and laughing, taking photo's, had me pose with the dowsing stick.LOL we must have built over a damned aqueduct.
In spite of the pitfalls, we were able to move in months before the target date. People who knew us couldn't believe what we had done.
This is just an example of a visual plan of GOALS and OBJECTIVES but following this tool id nearly no fail if you remain positive. You may not meet your target date but you will meet your DREAM.
Footnote; About water witching. like some corny Dr.Oz snake oil. be assured, there is nothing magical about the dowsing stick or me as the dowser. Patty say;s some can do it and most cannot. She said she sensed my closeness to the mother earth, how I seemed tuned into those surroundings. People who know me know how I feel about the mother and how a false belief that man has dominion over the land and it's beast and fowl. A TOTAL LIE coming from the pulpit. Man has dominion over NOTHING.
I hope anyone might be inspired reading this has the same wonderful experience. When you believe you have turned a power switch on.
All my best. Namaste.
