Hello Chris,
I wanted to share a bit more information about Harbin
(www.harbin.org) and its sister spring near to Tahoe
(http://www.sierrahotsprings.org/). I am certain that
if your husband needs a little time off line and an
extraordinary level of TLC, Harbin is a good place to
look.
It's extraordinarily quiet near the top of 2500 foot
Harbin mountain: even cellphones are kept in the car
to keep the feeling of retreat pure. Almost all of the
healing arts are practiced there. Guests are invited
to take part in the three to four daily yoga classes
(donations accepted) and almost every type of massage
therapy is practiced there. Camping is available on
the grounds of most of these resorts, Orr
(http://www.andersonic.net/orr/) and Wilbur
(http://www.wilburhotsprings.com/) included. Better is
to camp close by and enjoy the springs by purchasing a
day pass.
Orr is a bit run down, but hey, it's been in the Ukiah
foothills since the late 1800's. You'll love the
charming main house set on the banks of a rushing
mountain stream, and the private soak rooms with the
porcelain tubs are a total trip. I stayed from noon
until 10:00 PM at Orr for $ 22.00, and there was no
urgency to leave. Of course, if you are really daring,
you might wish to find your own spring, and this
online resource tells where many are located:
http://geoheat.oit.edu/
Yes, there is a church in the background at Harbin &
Sierra, but it's presence is barely noticeable. You'll
hear very little recruitment talk, and you'll notice
members in charge of their lives, planning moves to
Hawaii or planning a hot spring resort in the moutains
of Arizona or writing grants for Watsu centers in
Austrailia. You are welcome to sit in on a Satsang, a
truth telling service that's more intense than a
sermon. Otherwise, get a dose of ecstasy by talking to
one of the residents. They gush, but with a tone of
total sincerity. On night, Niahonta shared with me her
plans and preparations for buying her own horse.
Imagine a thirty-something woman talking with the
enthusiasm of a child, but reasoning with all the
coherence of an MBA, but making it all work with very
little money.
There's a kitchen to prepare food, but only vegetarian
food may be prepared there. There's a pool where one
can be social, but it's whispering only in the square
pool, and silence in the 115 degree pool and the cold
plunge pool. Guests and residents feel the vow of
silence and privacy is a sacred matter, and a discreet
security force is only a phone call away.
At Harbin, It's very liberating to soak in the 115
degree pool, and then climb the stairs to dunk in the
60 degree pool, alternating between hot and cold for
as long as you wish. Be sure to talk to Quanyen, the
Chinese statue on the cold pool deck. She hasn't
addressed me yet, but Harbin regulars tell me its a
matter of time.
Of course, if you want the spa treatment without the
hippies and with the modernity of swimsuits, there's
always Calistoga, the last stop north in Napa Valley.
I stayed for a few nights at the Calistoga Inn
(http://www.calistogaspa.com/), where the pools close
at 11:00 PM and open again at 9:00 AM. I've also heard
that Dr. Wilkinson's is a great place to take the cure
of the waters (http://www.drwilkinson.com/). The
clothing required pools have closing times, where the
24 hour pools have no clothing requirements to go with
the no closing time. Where ever you go, drink the
water. It's usually filtered and totally healthy, and
it slakes the deepest thirst.
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