Chapter 1

There is a place I've heard of that is located on Vancouver Island in Canada.

It is a place where someone like me could go, stay for a while, get away from my problems, get close to the earth, interact with gentle people and somehow prepare myself to return to my world and handle my issues a little better.

I really want to get there and get away from here.

They say it doesn't matter what time of year you go there, it is always beautiful.  And wet.
January = Slush and rain
February = Rain
March = Rain
April = Rain
May = Rain
June = Drought
July = Drought
August = Drought
September = Drought
October = Rain
November = Rain
December = Slush and rain
They say that temperature rarely dips too far below freezing, nor too high above sweltering.
Mosses, moulds and mushrooms grow everywhere and on everything.

It sounds good to me, and there is an ocean nearby too, as well as a few breathtaking old growth forests to walk near and meditate in.

The deal is, if I can afford it, they would like me to pay $1,000 per week to live and eat there, they do not disclose their secret location and so they will pick me up from the Nanaimo airport or ferry terminal and drive me to their peaceful place of healing.  The thing is, if I cannot afford the thousand dollars, they will accept anything that I can pay, all the way down to nothing at all, if I meet their criteria.

On their webpage there is a personal questionnaire that I have filled out.  I answered questions about who I am, what is going on in my life that I need a place of restoration to cower in for a while, what I hope to gain from living with them, how long do I think I need to stay, what are my physical strengths and limitations, and what my plan for recovery is, if I have one.  Once they have phoned my references and discussed my answers among themselves, they will let me know if I am welcome to come.

I am on the edge of my seat waiting to find out if I can come.