Packing it Up for Present Moment Retreat

You know how some things are just meant to4. Question: What is relationship to move to
be? Well, that is the case with a little resort thatMexico to your citizenship in America? Answer:
sparkles like a diamond on the shores of theThe ‘American Dream' was more like a
Mexican Riviera. Present Moment Conscious Livingnightmare to me with all it's multi tasking and
Retreat ( co-founded by Tom Morisette and C.J.keeping up with the Joneses, and I longed for a
Page, is the manifestation of a dream to sharesimpler life with more time for being in the
their talents in yoga, massage, qigong, andmoment, being in service to others needing
conscious living with the ultimate dream ofpositive energy in their lives and honoring my core
eventually initiating social change.values.
Fascinated with what motivates someone to pack5. Question: How long in practice of Buddhism?
up all their things, including cats, dogs, householdAnswer: Although not devout, I've held the
goods, and drive all the way from Minneapolis in aBuddhist traditions and practices in high regard for
caravan of 5 vehicles to Troncones Beach,30 plus years. I try to live my life from a place of
Mexico, we decided to pick Tom's brain a bit toloving kindness, and through the retreat we hope
find out more about this Camelot of spiritual andto create a catalyst for personal growth and
physical renewal, and his motivation for bringing ittransformation.
to life.6. Question: How did you get others on board?
1. Question: What did you do before PMR?Answer: I rounded up a group of like minded
Answer: My formal education revolved around theindividuals who were willing to put others before
fine arts; painting, clothing and footwear design,themselves, passionately sharing their individual
interiors and exteriors, landscape design and more.skills and gifts to lend a positive and uplifting
I owned and operated two businesses; one funkyexperience for all of our guests. All of the
men's fashion boutique called ‘Exile' inprinciples of Present Moment Retreat currently
downtown Minneapolis, and the other a smallwork an average of 16 hours per day WITHOUT
health and wellness company called ‘Naturalpay. Our reward is the satisfaction of a
Life', which sold and distributed natural painmeaningful job well done.
management tools and therapies.7. Question: Any particularly interesting or rivoting
2. Question: How did you come up with the ideapoints/stories? One story is that Myself, CJ,
for PMR? Answer: I sensed a void in the wellnessTaylor and Jessie...along with 2 dogs, 3 cats, 5
community for mind, body and spirit centers thatvehicles overstuffed with a household's worth of
catered to BOTH personal practice such as yogafurnishings set off for Troncones from
and the healing arts, and luxury boutique hotelsMinneapolis. We didn't get any farther than Des
which cater to clients with discriminating pallets forMoines before the 17 foot truck broke down for
fine dining and a zest for outdoor adventure. Wethe first time. That adventure was dotted with
modeled Present Moment after an intimate familymore trials and tribulations that could have ever
village in Bali, Indonesia, where fresh indigenousbeen anticipated, including electrical breakdowns,
ingredients, quality service and attention to detailtire blow outs, wildly swaying trailers, near
are the cornerstones of the environment.impossible boarder crossings, getting separated
3. Question: How long between idea and inception?with no money or form of communication, and
Answer: Although the original idea has beenfinally converging in Troncones, filthy, broke and
constantly in a state of change, once I found therunning on nothing more than fumes...only to dust
property and began sketching the original designourselves off and begin again.
was about a month.