In 1965 I was studying at UCSB, had changed my major to Physics or Chem, I forget. I had a friend named Jerry Paulsen, a skinny geeky kid from the midwest who was insanely smart. At the time, and still , UCSB was a pretty preppy place. Jerry told me about this place called Esalen, where George Brown, his prof, was going to give a seminar. At the time Big Sur Hot Springs (IIRC) was still he business name of the Lodge, and the sign at the top of the hill, possibly carved by Jay Kipp, still said Big Sur Hot Springs.

So I made the trip up with Jerry, and that was a huge turning point in my life. I LOVED the place. The people were great, and different LOL. Jerry introduced me to Dick Price, and I started bugging Dick every day,"Dick, do you have a job for me yet?" Finally he took me to Selig (Captain Slag) and said: "Selig, this is Buzz, give him a job."

Selig never called me anything but "Boy". Boy do this, boy do that, boy DO NOT SHARPEN my tools. He also taught me to build what was needed, not wanted, and to finish whatever I started. Selig was a mensch, to use Fritz's phrase. He was short, pigeontoed, and fiercely independent. He had no tolerance for time wasters and question askers, a sore point for the many many seekers of truth who bounced of off Selig's intransigence.

At this time I was living in a pup tent on the edge of Hot Springs Creek canyon, looking down on the round house from above. Liz and Gerald ( I forget his name, a brilliant guy with a bad limp) were living in the round house. The Barn had perhaps six inhabitants, Storm and Hugh, Ed and Cathy, Karl, and the farmhouse was a co op cooking center. I think Dick Price was living off property for awhile, at some nearby property . The South Coast motel did not exist. Jimmie Sellers, co manager of the restaurant with Pete Melchior, also lived in the Barn. Pete and Marya lived in the little house. Jan Sultan ( of the Rolf Institute) showed up with Dina Lagman shortly after I came to Esalen.

O, and Seymour Carter showed up as a camper on the lawn circa 66, I asked him (politely) to not camp on the lawn. He has gone on to a career as a Gestalt Therapist, of course. When I talked to him a short time ago ( 1985 or so LOL) we reminisced about our first meeting.

More to come