How often do we hear people complain about having unsatisfactory jobs while supporting a house and property that consumes all their free time and money?  Or perhaps we see people caught in the home rental cycle who have no hope of owning affordable property given the high cost of living today.  We hear cries of "not enough time in the day" followed by apologies for the lost connections with family, friends and neighbors.  Navigating through the daily "stuff of life" feels like a race run over and over again.  Somewhere in this picture we see ourselves wondering if there is some way to get off the treadmill.

A growing number of people are beginning to see the American Dream as the American Nightmare.  They're feeling compelled to think outside the box and rewrite the script.  There's increased talk of simplifying life, stepping away from a materialistic, self-serving way of life.  We're seeing movement toward a lifestyle that promotes alternative housing, alliances with others, shared workloads, and consolidation of natural resources, leaving more time for interest, hobbies, and service to others.  

Today "Intentional Communities" have emerged from the fringe culture to mainstream society offering hope to people feeling trapped by the American Dream.  In recent years ecovillages and co housing communities have been springing up all over this country.  

Other countries throughout the world have been forming intentional communities for many decades, so the idea certainly isn't new.

An intentional community is a group of people who live or work together pursuing a common ideal or vision.  Some communities share land or housing.  Some are urban; some are rural.  Some are luxurious; some are simple and designed to be less costly and materialistic.  Some offer a combination of private living space and shared space.  Most have a common commitment to cooperation and problem solving through consensus, with the goal of finding a more meaningful and satisfying way of life.  For some people community may provide a sanctuary from a world that seems broken' for others community is a base from which to form new social structures, to experiment with sustainable technologies, or to save money and have time for pleasurable pursuits.

Most communities embrace diversity as a common value.

There are a few buzzwords out there to describe the various types of community.  Co-housing communities are frequently in the news these days.  Looking on the surface like housing developments, these communities are partially or fully designed, financed and operated by the residents to reflect their core values.  Often there is a common house with space for gathering together... perhaps a kitchen and dining area, office space, guestrooms, or recreation room.  

There may be a shared community garden, small farm, designated parking areas, play space for children (and adults), and protected natural land.

Ecovillages concentrate on integrating human systems in concert with natural systems.  Their residents are interested in finding ways to reduce the negative impact of human activity on the environment.  They work together to provide basic physical and social/emotional needs while adhering to sustainable practices, using renewable sources of energy, and living in synergy with nature.

Religious/Spiritual communities are highly diverse.  The main thing they have in common is a commitment to deepen their spiritual life, and to promote changes that move them closer to their ideal.

Egalitarian communities agree to four principal values: egalitarianism, income sharing, cooperation, and non-violence.  Their structure tends to become more complex with increased membership.  Many of these communities have been able to reach out to other communities promoting projects, work exchange, businesses and educational programs.

Though communities are sometimes defined by category, in practice they are mostly a blend of different types.  For instance, one community of eco-minded people may chose to live in a solar powered, green built co-housing community; yet another group may choose to live in rustic 20-ft. by 20-ft. cabins with woodstoves and composting waste systems, while devoting themselves to a spiritual path.

The beauty of intentional communities is that they are a creative product of a creative group process.  They are by the people, for the people.  They can be a model for change when our old models seem outdated, impractical or unethical.  The intentional community model allows people to come together with a vision, to make important life changes, and hopefully to give something to each other and to our Mother Earth.

WARNER CONNECTS is in the beginning stages of exploring intentional community.  If you have some thoughts, ideas or questions you'd like to share, you can find us online at http://connects.warner.nh.us.

You can find WARNER CONNECTS members at our meetings on the 2nd Sunday of every month at Charlie Mac's Pizza at 5 pm.  Also, come to our potluck dinners held once every season, or attend Game Night with some of us at White Mountain Gourmet Coffee on Main St. in Warner on Friday evenings from 7 to 9 pm.

If you prefer phone calls, the following people are available to talk about intentional community:

Lou Schuller - 456-3055
Faith Minton - 456-3098
Mary Lamenzo - 456-3272

For yet more information on intentional community, visit www.ic.org.