Transition time

Last week I wrote that I have been resisting starting to sort out and pack my bags, because it would be a part of emotionally checking-out from Chicago. But last week we had three days of classes on "transition" which signalled an official start to the packing season.

My goal is to get everything back into the two suitcases I came here with. You probably know I like to travel light. Adam helped me move with a small truck from Toukley to Narraweena, but it only took me a couple of hatchback loads from Naraweena to St Ives, where everything I own (except for a couple of suitcases here!) sits in the corner of a spare room. I've managed to need less stuff, rather than more, over time, which is a nice side bonus of celibacy & priesthood. You don't need to own a fridge. People don't give you knick knacks. Technology helps too. Laptops are smaller than desktops. Who needs a shelf stereo when your computer plays CDs?

We are collecting clothes here for Burmese refugees in Chicago, via one of the college staff who is Burmese. So lots of clothes, especially the warmer stuff can go there. I've tried to resist buying books other than those I'm actually reading while here, even so, I seem to have bought quite a lot.

Also helping in minimising packing is summarising everything. I'm going through all my notes and typing summaries of all the good and practical stuff. It's great to review and remember everything. Lots of stuff makes more sense in hindsight, so my summaries are better than the original class notes.

So back to the transition class. It was a really helpful process. The first day was mostly personal reflection, writing responses to some questions which are targetted to how we will tell the story of this year when we get back home. Having journalled and blogged all year means that a lot of the words are pretty much on the tip of my tongue, but it's good to revisit the stories, even for myself. The second day was working with a partner in telling the story, then getting feedback from them, using observation techniques we've been learning this year to help identify where there is energy and what the key challenges are. The third day was a whole group session with each person invited to say what this class/group has meant to them this year.

This coming week will be lots of 'lasts' - last hamburger night, last poker night, etc.