Thinking…
I am seriously thinking about community living.
I have spent years looking at them online and dreaming of starting my own. I know there is a part of me that is scared but I am feeling ready … ready for community living!
Now how to get there.
Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions are greatly appreciated!
I am not sure..
forming relationships with like minded families…strong relationships. If we had known the people we were going to live with a little better, things might have been very different!
That does sound like a great idea. What kind of community living did you have in mind?
Looking at the history of ‘intentional communities’ – how most fail – it is somewhat like family living. Some folks get along, some don’t, some end up having opposite ideas and values after a time. Families are yours for as long as you live. You might choose to be distant or not to communicate, but they are still family. It is easier to ‘quit’ a community – easier than the idea of divorce – most choose the easy path when the going gets tough in communities. Must be deeply shared goals, shared values (especially regarding children), shared legal safeguards.
How do you find the others??
Well, I have many ieas but I seem to be drawn to something this … Dancing Rabbits. But something smaller would be fine too! The idea of sharing gardening and maybe operating a CSA would be lovely! I have so many idea but am willing to adapt! I love to hear others ideas of eco living and community life! I am learning!
Finding others can be tough but I believe that with good communication and a kind, forgiving, trusting community/family we can learn to live together. We are not looking for the easy way but a positive way! Honestly, I would love for the community that I live in to also have my family … generational living is wonderful, tough at times but indeed with many rewards!
Howdy. This is granddaddy.
Never a member, but was deeply involved in the developement of 2 very different communities. One was religious retreat and the other was a doctor, who became a naturalpath and Homeopathic practitioner after he realized alopathic medicine was somewhat wrong. Any how, The doctor had 8 families liveing together on their homestead type farm. They had a fish pond that they raised a ton of fish in every year, trout. Gree range ducks, geese and chickens. 3 Jersey milk cows, natural beef, goats and sheep. Huge garden.
They all had their own houses completly independent, but I helped build them A group canning house, so as to save all the farm produced, an overshot water wheel that powered an old timey refrigeration unit for a walk in freezer locker that was 12×16′x9′ tall. The canning house had a great kitchen where each family would take turns 5 days a week to prepare a dinner for all. Big commercial stove. They could either eat there, or take their share home. They all homeschooled, so they took turns as each parent had their own special talents and fields of study to pass along. Those kids were learning college skills at 12. Classes were always outside if weather permitted. They learned by experiance as well as by books and boreing lectures. They had a great community, and everyone was very happy and felt so productive.
Unfortunately, the doctor died of an immediate heart attack in 1980, and I lost contact with them. There was much more, but thats the gist.The other group was not quite as cohesive, but better funded. Lost contact with them about the same time.
It’s doable! Takes determination and dedication by all involved.
jp