KW-07 Of Kevin, Coffee and Coincidence

Trusting in the universe part #295

Some time last year, I wrote a blog post about all the exciting things that I hope to grow on the barracks, including the more optimistic luxuries in a far distant future. Thing like carob and tea. I ended the post with a throwaway line “but, no matter how hot it gets here, we’ll never be able to grow coffee. Which is a shame, because we like coffee”.

As far as I was concerned, that was a good way to end a post, and that was that.

It can be mighty pretty here from time to time

But someone - I think we worked together at the same company in Switzerland, but it was a huge company, I don’t think we met - wrote to me saying “I import coffee beans, roast them here, and distribute them to high end places in Zürich. Would you like some?” I asked what he wanted in return - a mention in the blog, an Instagram post, and he was all like “nah, it’s good. Enjoy the coffee”.

He sent the coffee, and I enjoyed it. Actually, a little while later, he sent some more, just because he’s good like that, and I am sitting here writing this, and enjoying it once again.

It’s a story I tell to everyone who comes here, but I never mentioned it publicly.

In the background, big round chunks, drying a bit before being chopped up for heating. The middle ground are massive beach slabs for furniture. They’ve been drying for about a year now. If you were to buy one in the shops, it would cost you about 60 bucks. Foreground - cooking wood for next year.

Well, lately, we got chatting, and it looks like he’s coming for a visit, hopefully in March. He’s an interesting guy, and I am looking forward to having some company. He also seems quite handy - in his own words he kann also vieles ein bisschen - he can do a bit of a lot. Jack of all trades, master of none. Which is exactly how I like things.

Most of which, he taught himself by building a tiny house, and writing a book about it. A book which I bought a year ago, before I had even heard of him.

How’s that for a circular synchronicity? Coffee and tiny houses and the good old mutual appreciation society! Maybe we’ll take on a project here together and build a tiny house together in the forest. What do you think? What should we build? A tiny house? Hot tub? Sauna?

An afterthought. This sort of always happens to me. I think it happens to all of us, if we are aware of it. I spent a week kinda depressed about the collapse of the vineyard, and the friendship that went with it (still no reply from him, btw), and suddenly a new and equally exciting project crops up from an unknowable angle.

I guess it also means, your book recommendation for this week has to be The Tiny House Handbook. It’s in German, but not really. It’s mostly in amazing photos of amazing Tiny House projects.

I always managed to look surprised on photos. Even selfies.

You can get the book directly from the publisher here and you can follow Kevin on Instagram here.

My old hippy commitment to “trusting in the universe” is the easiest thing to forget. When things appear to be collapsing, it is usually - always - a space clearing exercise for something better. Has the universe surprised you lately? I’d love to hear your stories shared in the comments.

Peace and love (and really good coffee)

The Pirate Ben x