Page 7 - LLR-Exploration II

Introduction

Welcome to your first Xsense document—the Exploration. Let’s step back for a moment and reflect why we
are here. We are here and we are coming together to envision a new place: the next incarnation of the La
Lomita Ranch.

What is a place but its stories? And what are stories but a personal way to describe what was memorable
and meaningful? What is meaningful? What matters? What is real? And, what lasts?

With the goal to define those parameters for the La Lomita Ranch, let us introduce you to the unique Xsense
methodology: we like to think of places like trees. Real trees. Trees with roots, a trunk, branches, leaves and
fruit. The DNA in the tree’s roots define its fruit. An apple tree would not grow lemons and an olive tree
would only grow olives. There are trees that don’t grow anything. Trees that have no roots but are adorned
with shiny ornaments. Christmas trees, like unsustainable and inauthentic places, don’t last. They interest us
for a short time and then they are thrown out. We want to build what lasts and to do that we first look at Notes: You are invited
the roots of a place. This first Exploration document looks at the very end roots of the place. Notice that end
roots are not connected to one another, they are isolated topics that relate to the project and you will find
these isolated (sometimes random) topics unfolding as you meander through the pages of this book. to take lots of notes,

The goal, of course, is to see some of these roots connect and eventually become a strong trunk. We’ll work jot down ideas and
on this in the upcoming envisioning session. We will discuss what’s important and what isn’t, how things
connect, and what fruits could possibly emerge. Some of us may identify missing roots. Some of us may be thought of how you can
in love with one roots and not another. The good thing is that a tree is wonderfully flexible. We decide how
thick a root becomes and we decide how a root is defined. It’s a blank slate.
bring back the roots of
This book is designed to you can jot down your very own ideas in its margins. You are identifying what might
be meaningful to you or the target market, and especially within your very own craft. You may even have an La Lomita in your
idea what kind of fruit this root could become. Write it down. Sketch it. Attach it with meaning. Have fun!
very own craft.
Tear the pages apart and rearrange them … wear them…whatever it takes to connect to the contents.

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