Forming an Intentional Community/split

[bullfrog]

Anyone that thinks they can take the risk of doing things that make them unhealthy or feels they can let health issues go until they can afford it is being unrealistic. Even with Medicare you will most likely spend over $100 a month and could spend an additional $250 a month on auxiliary insurance in order to remain able to take care of yourself as you age. Had a friend this last year let a cavity go untreated and got infection throughout his body. Fortunately he was young and healthy enough that after almost a year he is able to finally have enough strength to take care of himself. You would have to eat, exercise, be awful lucky and have some really good like minded friends to get old and live well on $700 a month without some illness bankrupting or killing you. Average age for life span went down slightly this year mainly due to Covid. Living simply and concentrating on good health practices should keep you busy while you figure out the less important issues.

 

[GoingMobile]

Just want to say, about Social Security, that delaying taking it is not a guarantee you will live to receive it.

My husband died a month after his 65th birthday.

We started drawing our SS when we were 62, after much thought and talking with many others.

We had both worked since we were 15.

So sorry to hear that. I guess concepts like "the future", and "value" as represented by "money" are really just abstractions, with no guarantees. Reminds me of the book "Be here Now" Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Seajatt]

I would be interested in an intentional community too, even if its mobile. The way we're doing things now in this country...
Well, look around, you can see the results for yourselves.

 

[Cammalu]

I would be interested in an intentional community too, even if its mobile. The way we're doing things now in this country...
Well, look around, you can see the results for yourselves.

That’s kinda what the HOWA Caravans are already doing.

 

[MotorVation]

There are thousands of 'intentional communities' all over the country. They're otherwise known as towns or cities etc. If you form another one, please let me know so I can avoid it, except maybe to resupply.
There will be people who want to run it, tell everyone else how they should be living, and or, profit from it, just like in, um, towns and cities

 

[Walt]

I have seen communal groups that lived in separate dwellings and still managed to 1) work together on certain projects and/or 2) assist each other with projects. Our current cultural ideas don't encourage much cooperation for individual goals, but it is possible. We have a long tradition of this in the U.S. we all gathered to build your barn, and then we helped turn my field. Etc.

 

[frater secessus]

I often wonder if there are possibilities of creating lobbying groups for retired people who live in vehicles

Escapees has some kind of lobbying arm.

 

[Ripper238]

There are thousands of 'intentional communities' all over the country. They're otherwise known as towns or cities etc. If you form another one, please let me know so I can avoid it, except maybe to resupply.
There will be people who want to run it, tell everyone else how they should be living, and or, profit from it, just like in, um, towns and cities

Well that's clearly not the idea here, but a valid concern if focusing on ones self. A tribe of people working together to form a co-housing community is a lot different than a town/city for profit and control.

O and you wont be able to resupply, you will need to be part of the community to barter with others. Money is no good here!

 

[Morgana]

I think that intentional communities run the gamut from wonderful to horrible ... that to make one succeed you have to work hard and work smart ... and that, like anything involving human beings trying to get along (including this forum!), it's always a risk because we are complicated and unpredictable creatures.

I've lived in a couple of group houses (less intense than communes, more group-focused than plain rent-sharing arrangements). They seemed like a good thing but not really my cup of tea.

Towns and cities are not the same thing as intentional communities. People live in towns/cities because they were born there, or drifted there, or had to be there for work, or liked the nightlife or the beaches; they may never meet their neighbors or care to. People in intentional communities come together specifically to build/shape a community. That's what puts the "intentional" in "intentional community."

 

[afblangley]

There is a website directory of intentional communities in the US.
https://www.ic.org/

 

[LargeMarge]

[edited for brevity]

... edited for brevity ...

...multi-age Danish co-housing communities...To pool...suggest it to my Ameri-normal friends.

We operate a small organic teaching farm near the outskirts of Eugene, Oregon.
We share the acreage with a couple-three dozen other workkampers in RecreateVehicles and various versions of home-built HouseTrucks.
.
We are in our third year here.
Our 'Tribe!' thrives because:
* we have a farm to run...
* we have grocers relying on our deliveries...
* we have animals to raise and process...
* we have farmer market events...
* everybody here is drawn to this simple way of living...
* we have no managers nor administrators, everybody is hands-on responsible...
* we built and maintain a reputation of reliability.
.
A major part of our cohesion is each individual's recognition of the fragility of the Oregon economy.
We need to stick together; the alternative is personal collapse along with this global collapse.
.
Everybody we know is barely making it... hand-to-mouth, no reserves.
This includes business operators and the government agents.
.
We pot-latch every meal.
We are constantly tossing in new ideas, experiences with our greater community, plus impressions from our chums around this planet.
We agree -- individual, couples/throuples, and as a tightly-run business -- few will survive alone.
.
Well, individuals may survive alone for a while, but they will be 'absorbed' by groups... probably without them getting a vote.

 

[RonDean]

We operate a small organic teaching farm near the outskirts of Eugene, Oregon.
We share the acreage with a couple-three dozen other workkampers in RecreateVehicles and various versions of home-built HouseTrucks.
.
We are in our third year here.
Our 'Tribe!' thrives because:
* we have a farm to run...
* we have grocers relying on our deliveries...
* we have animals to raise and process...
* we have farmer market events...
* everybody here is drawn to this simple way of living...
* we have no managers nor administrators, everybody is hands-on responsible...
* we built and maintain a reputation of reliability.
.
A major part of our cohesion is each individual's recognition of the fragility of the Oregon economy.
We need to stick together; the alternative is personal collapse along with this global collapse.
.
Everybody we know is barely making it... hand-to-mouth, no reserves.
This includes business operators and the government agents.
.
We pot-latch every meal.
We are constantly tossing in new ideas, experiences with our greater community, plus impressions from our chums around this planet.
We agree -- individual, couples/throuples, and as a tightly-run business -- few will survive alone.
.
Well, individuals may survive alone for a while, but they will be 'absorbed' by groups... probably without them getting a vote.

Nothing against the "farming" groups, but I gave up weeding and such when I gave up owning land.

However... I would love to belong to a group of Nomads with an affordable home base somewhere. I would even do my share of the weeding and bill paying.

I think we forget just how much our ancestors needed to work together to overcome challenges and support one another. All too often, today's "American Individuality" seems to result in a lack of concern for other people.

 

[MotorVation]

Towns and cities are not the same thing as intentional communities. People live in towns/cities because they were born there, or drifted there, or had to be there for work, or liked the nightlife or the beaches; they may never meet their neighbors or care to. People in intentional communities come together specifically to build/shape a community. That's what puts the "intentional" in "intentional community."

Having been a member of several 'self-governing' organizations in my life I'm going to stick to what I said. Name them what you will.

That said after I made my comment yesterday I wish I could have retracted it as it put me in a negative mood for the rest of the day.

That said, I didn't have to say it.

"There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" -Revelations LOL, just kidding

 

[rruff]

However... I would love to belong to a group of Nomads with an affordable home base somewhere.

I fantasized a bit around 15 years ago when a ranch north of Silver City NM was for sale. 1,000 acres for $1,000,000. Beautiful wooded land and meadows, Bear Creek ran through it, year round climate as good as you can get outside the southern CA coast, < 1/2 hour from town, easy highway access, etc. Plenty of room for a big community! I never checked to see if that would have been legal due to zoning, though...

 

[txmnjim]

I fantasized a bit around 15 years ago when a ranch north of Silver City NM was for sale. 1,000 acres for $1,000,000. Beautiful wooded land and meadows, Bear Creek ran through it, year round climate as good as you can get outside the southern CA coast, < 1/2 hour from town, easy highway access, etc. Plenty of room for a big community! I never checked to see if that would have been legal due to zoning, though...

i love that location! it probably would be worth 5X that today if not more

 

[user 423]

Even with Medicare you will most likely spend over $100 a month and could spend an additional $250 a month on auxiliary insurance in order to remain able to take care of yourself as you age. Had a friend this last year let a cavity go untreated and got infection throughout his body.

I'm taking penicillin right now because of an infected tooth that broke in half last year. I hadn't gone to the dentist mainly because I have no dental insurance but also because of COVID. I go in next week and hate to think how much it may cost.

 

[bullfrog]

Infection got in his brain after traveling from his tooth to his internal organs, thought for sure we had lost him. He had great insurance just with Covid, dislike of doctors, being very independent and 3 trips of 300 miles round trip he was too weak to make on his own to finally get a diagnosis it almost destroyed his body. It will be a difficult recovery, but he is managing pretty good. I still kick myself for not getting him drunk and kidnapping him so I could get him to a major hospital sooner.

 

[rruff]

i love that location! it probably would be worth 5X that today if not more

I see there is already an intentional community on Bear Creek. Southwest Sufi Community. 13 people on 1,500 acres.
https://www.ic.org/directory/southwest-sufi-community/

 

[JDub]

I always carry a supply of these of various types. They are the EXACT same thing prescribed by your caregiver. EXACTLY.

https://fishmoxfishflex.com/
Cheers!

 

[JDub]

There are thousands of 'intentional communities' all over the country. They're otherwise known as towns or cities etc. If you form another one, please let me know so I can avoid it, except maybe to resupply.
There will be people who want to run it, tell everyone else how they should be living, and or, profit from it, just like in, um, towns and cities

You must be talking about HOA's. Some of the worst Napolean wanna be's stand for election in those things. My bud has a home in one of the communities that make up "The Villages"retirement development in Central Florida. He's about ready to move to get away from those types...