Miroslav and Karmela Kiš set up a center for permaculture in 2005. They called it Motovun – Eco Town. Legally, it was an association, or a non-governmental organization. A couple of years later they decided to abandon it. They offered it to me, instead. As it is easier to change an association in Croatia than to set up a new one, I accepted the offer. I kept the name, but changed the focus of the association. In 2007, it became a center for sustainable development. After a couple of years, though, I decided to abandon the association. I had enough of my battle with Croatian government. I offered it back to Miroslav and Karmela late in 2008, but they declined it. They had other things in mind at the time. They left Motovun and eventually set up shop in a town close to Zagreb. This morning they called me and asked for all the documents pertaining to Motovun – Eco Town, which they would like to transform back into a center for permaculture. They would need to change the name, as well. As they tell me, it is still easier to change an association in Croatia than to set up a new one.

And so I started searching for the documents in my study. Much of its floor is now covered with books and papers that could not fit into the bookshelves. I spent close to an hour searching. Sweat dripped from my forehead, but I could not find a single document having to do with Motovun – Eco Town. Instead, I found all sorts of things that have accumulated over the years. And it is amazing how much accumulates in close to a decade. Most of the papers have to do with my three court cases dreamt up by the mayor of Motovun, but there are quite a number of other papers on the shelves and the floor. I kept shaking my head in wonder. Ten years only! Chances are that no-one will ever read all the papers I have ferreted through. I certainly will not.

In the end, I looked into my old computer, and there I found an entire folder dedicated to Motovun – Eco Town. I was delighted. I collected all the relevant files and sent them to Miroslav and Karmela. They have already thanked me for the stuff. Again, I am amazed at the effort that went into the non-governmental organization, which had its own website. There were hundreds of members from all around the world. And there were many attempts to stop unsustainable golf development in Motovun. Of course, all this would have been in vain had the global economic crisis not hit in 2008. Which is why I actually decided to abandon it. In a sense, our work was done. The real estate craze was over. And so was crooked golf. But the effort up to that point is still amazing. As I went through all the files on my computer, I felt ever more sorry for myself. Anyhow, I wish Miroslav and Karmela all the best with their new center for permaculture, whatever its new name. At long last, Motovun - Eco Town is dead as a doornail.