A Response to a Friend in Wisconsin

Hey lovely!

Eva, how wonderful to know that there are beautiful people seeking community. I'm sorry that I have not responded sooner, but I have had much to think about in the way of communities. Once again, Aña and I have ended up at the community that runs Breitenbush Hot Springs. This place has so much of what I would desire in a long term community, but unfortunately falls far from the wants of sustainability and self sufficiency. Reading the news, crazy articles, and books about the peak oil theme, it seems self sufficiency will soon become a way of survival.

Aña and I have been fostering a great deal of conversation and some action here, but it's slow going. Part of the older generation is reluctant to change and processes are steeped in bureaucracy. For example: a proposal we submitted to raise rabbits for meat in a 90% omnivorous community won't be decided on until October. We might not be here to to benefit from the decision.

We're currently trying to decide if we want to try and stick around for a year or take off traveling to explore existing sustainable communities. Maybe in New Zealand? Maybe in Tennessee? If we stick around for a year we will be acquiring more skills while saving money. Then again, the value of the dollar is staged to collapse within a year or so. Crazy times we live in. So much human malice and destruction and so many quick changes on the horizon make it difficult to know what to do.

On thing is for certain though. Having a community is a viable way to survive and maintain sanity. The benefits always have outweighed the tribulations or me. For now I plan on continuing to acquire skills that will hopefully benefit a community I end up in. When and where that will be I'm not sure. In the maximum of five years time I hope to have an abundance of useful skills and assets to contribute to and help build an amazing community.

Much love and thanks for sharing your dreams,

Rob


On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 9:30 PM

----Forwarded Message----

Hi friends,

It has become more and more apparent (to me, and maybe to you too) that creating community makes me slightly giddy, simultaneously relaxed, nourished, inspired, and self-assured. I would like to start a conversation with you about the kind of vision that a community we make should have. I realize that I may not end up sharing land or a house, or even a city with some of you, but I also realize that the potential for any of those three things can and will be a reality, given the right intention and follow-through. It also seems possible that in a year (ok, 2), the opportunity to buy land for a cooperative-style community could come about. I would love to be deep in our conversation by then, and possibly ready to ease on into it. How do you feel about that?

What is realistic to achieve in creating a community? Producing our own food (or a large percentage of it)? Providing education for our children? Providing educational opportunities for others? Creating a retreat for ourselves and others? Producing a cash crop that we can earn a profit on? Rehabilitating a nature preserve? Other beautiful things you desire for your community?

Jack and I have been talking about putting some roots down in Madison, and feel like it would be nice to not 'rent'. It would also be nice to be in a close proximity to Madison, yet have legit wilderness around us. I recently came upon this property: http://madison.craigslist.org/reb/2295147453.html . I'm sure it won't be available by the time we are actually looking to establish something, but it give you an idea of the space, the beauty, the proximity that my brain has identified as ideal.

Thanks for taking time to read this. I appreciate just knowing that community is important to you, and that you are looking to fufill deep human needs through creating it. If you have time and inclination, it would be great to hear your ideas.

Love
Eva