June 5, 2018 – Sausalito, California

“So…what is this ‘Jubilee’?”

…I ask Jeff as we sip our drinks at the local Starbucks. Unable to bring myself to adopt his methods (borrowing a newspaper and using their hot water to make tea), I purchased a coffee instead. Jubilee, other than being the name of his boat, he informs me, is also a biblical tradition he had alluded to in previous conversations.

“The seventh day is the Sabbath, right? The day of rest. Then the Sabbath year is every seven years – during which there is no planting or harvesting of crops. Instead, the community shares the yield from the soil. After seven Sabbatical cycles comes the Jubilee. So when the Jubilee happens every 49 years, historically, all the prisoners are freed, debts are forgiven, and property is returned to its original owner. A year devoted to the Lord, like that.” He tells me that there are efforts being made to reincorporate such a tradition.

Well, that’s a fascinating idea.

We finish our drinks and head to the community garden for a grill-out. This garden lies behind a coffee shop on the south side of Sausalito. Jeff tells me that he met the owner of the shop at a city council meeting. This communal space for locals to grow their own food was the result. A rare manifestation of human kindness.

Despite the small plot of land, there’s enough space for each participating member (Jeff, AJ, Endora, Arturus, and the owner, Duretta) to grow their choice of vegetables. For an “anchor out,” I imagine that having this privilege is immensely meaningful. There are radishes, corn, carrots, tomatoes, beans, various flowers, and more. We water the garden and greet the other members as they arrive for dinner. The evening consists of conversation, music, and fellowship. I offer to help all of the members in any way I can. Duretta gives me permission to film at the garden. Endora offers work on her boat. Arturus discusses some creative projects he has in mind. This could be quite interesting.

Given a new sense of meaning in Sausalito, I say goodbye to my new friends and retire to the Jubilee.

“Just living is not enough…one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” – Hans Christian Andersen