Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bike/bus from your house to Tamalpa?
Both my house and the Tamalpa institute are up steep hills, so biking is not practical unless you have an electric bike. There is no bus that goes between here and there. Most Tamalpa students either rent a car (I can take you down to the pick-up location and help you), or car pool with other students also renting in Fairfax.

How long does it take to get to Fairfax?
You can walk down the hill into Fairfax in about 25 minutes. It's a sweet, safe, little California hippy town.

Is the house quiet? Is it near places where I can walk and be in nature?
The house is large, tidy and quiet. It is very close to the open space--if you walk out of the house, up the road, you come to the woods and nature in about ten minutes. There are trees all around us. We have a garden and a patio where you can sit, and two living-room areas, so you can either be in company or in solitude, as you choose. We're pretty low-key and easy.

How much is the rent? Does it include utilities?
The rent is $950, including utilities: electricity, gas, internet, water. There is a washing machine and a dryer, and you have full use of the house including the kitchen. A cleaner comes in once every two weeks, and we all take care to keep the place clean and tidy in between.

Can I work for part of the rent?
No--the Tamalpa course is very intensive, and you won't have time for anything else! The rent is already very reasonable for this (very expensive) market--I keep it reasonable in order to support people from other parts of the world coming to study at Tamalpa.

Have you had Tamalpa students before?
Yes, we have about ten students, so we are familiar with the Tamalpa program, and the experience, and we love hosting Tamalpas. We have stayed friends with many of the people who have stayed with us.

How do I get there?
When you arrive at SF airport, follow signs for "Ground Transport" and then "Airporters". You take the Marin Airporter (a big white bus with a rainbow on the side) to Central San Rafael. It costs $24 and you pay in the bus. I should be able to pick you up at the San Rafael stop, and bring you to the house.

We will show you around the next day, take you to Fairfax, help you with car rental if necessary, and show you where you can buy food! We try to make it as easy as possible for you.