My idea of ideal is: This probably isn't exactly how I want to express this idea, but...maybe you can put it in better words. Have several likeminded families buy a great amount of land, share gardening, canning, animals, etc. live separately on land, jobs off land?, our own choice of church, know families in other parts of the country who do the same, barter. We in Indiana could barter tomatoes(best in the world) and corn etc. for peaches(best peaches I've ever had) and cherries in Michigan. Then barter same for flax/linen in Wisconsin(if that's the right state) cotton from the south. Is this actually possible? Do you know anyone that does this? I suppose if this did work, we'd be attacked by the government and others...Could you imagine being successful and happy and getting away with it? What would it be like to live like this?

What's your idea of ideal?

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), May 10, 2001

Answers

Cindy The mormons have had that idea for many years. I have a grid layout for a intential community that I drew up years ago. Back then I thought 5 families, 100 acres, self-reliant, make your own power, grow 75% of own food, raise cows, hogs and chickens. A couple goats (aka lawnmower)worship as you see fit. Get togethers, cook outs and back yard activities instead of TV.

I went so far as to order all the power technology books. Even have the build your own underground house books. Throw in the books on solar, farm & ranch management, small engine repair and Henlys Big Book of Formulas and some odd other 1500 books in my library and I thought I had the start of a good knowledge base. Couldn't find 4 other families willing to put forth the effort to make it a reality.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), May 10, 2001.

I would love to do something like that!! I've been daydreaming about something similar since I moved here. There is a realtor who was willing to help - but I didn't have the idea fleshed out.

It would have been each family buying 5 - 6 acres of their own land (really sweet deal on the land, too) but setting up a community that way. Then, if someone wanted to leave or something, they could sell their land and go... It eliminated some fears of joining into a relationship where you couldn't afford to get back out.

I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on this!!

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), May 10, 2001.

Some families I know tried to do this preY2K. Found a piece of land and were going to try all the things you mentioned. It sounded great. We even went to a couple of the get togethers they had to discuss it. But it seemed like life got in the way. Maybe they weren't as committed as they thought. But one by one they backed out before it got off the ground until there weren't enough left to do it. Officially we are supposed to pay taxes on what we barter. One more ridiculous law we have! It does sound ideal but the reality is we are all human so we would mess it up and I really hate saying that!

-- Deena in GA (dsmj55@aol.com), May 10, 2001.

Cindy,It is a great dream.What you are discribing is a village.The only problem with the equation is people.The center never holds for very long.Look at the communes of the 60s and 70s.They all disolved in short order as soon as the me generation realized that there was a social responsibility involved.There are still a few left THE FARM is one.To my personality the place is like a socialist gulag.(all money in common,they vote on every minor aspect of life,blah blah blah...About the best that we can hope for is to settle in an area of like minded folks and try to be kind to each other.The problem is no more sense of community.Here I am an island of one on a fifedom of two on 60 acres.(my wife and myself)One neighbor has chosen to go to war over my wifes barn cats,one neighbor resents the fact that we had the cash to buy the property and they did not.So it goes.If you set up an intentional community there is always some one that will envy the better peice of land some one else got or don't like the type of flowers that someone planted next door.Villages used to work because every one needed each other to some degree whether it was common defense or sales oppertunity.Today unless you create an artificial dependence folks just won't be a community.They are a group of individuals packed too close together instead.

-- greg (gsmith@tricountyi.net), May 10, 2001.

i think that it could happen IF the whole shebang went down the tubes. We are all much too selfish anymore to extend the kind of civility that is needed to make this type of community work at present. When there are disasters people pull together and MANY become so incredibly helpful. There are a handful who loot and all that, but most people try to minimize any further damage.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), May 11, 2001.

I learned all I need to know from Star TRek. "We come in Peace, Shoot to Kill" LOL

Somewhere in my storage building among a zillion other things is my working journal on setting it up. I'll see if I can locate it and share a few ideas.

I once had the opportunity to buy a Town. It came complete with automotive body shop, bank, restaurant, 3 churches, 2 schools, 45 residential homes, a 145 trailer park, approximately 100,000 acres of land, and some odd 28 other buildings including a motel 6. The price $300,000,000.00 Me I thought that ws a fantastic deal. Could I get anyone remotely interested? No way, There "life" was to full to move and to start fresh. (BTW the town was in MO)

Some people say that you can't make it because of personalitys. I've always heard "Lunitics never unite" therefore you only need 5 guards at mental hospitals.

I believe its just a matter of getting families (here is a MAJOR key) that have a self-reliant slant. Diverse backgrounds is a plus. OK I'll hush I know you probably don't want to hear all this.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), May 11, 2001.

How many on this board would move to have a intential community?

Just for kicks what is your and your partners background?

Me, I have 20 years business experience. I am an inventor, writer of short stories (been published) and Information Specialist. I'm an avid reader averaging 3 books a week. I've ran a wood shop, mixed chemicals and been President of three corporations. My greatest asset (other than my family) is my Problem Solving ability.

My wife has great computer skills (Office suite 2000, Win 3.1,95 & 98, Powerpoint, Excel, She can scan, cleanup pics, etc) She has management skills as she has supervised 20 employees at different plants. She is an excellent cook, home taught alternative herb "doctor", She is very good with the public. She loves animals and gardening.

What about ya'll?

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), May 11, 2001.

I don't know if I'd move to an intional community....I might move to an area where people have similar goals and philosophies, but still are seperate in all ownership and not sitting on top of each other. It worries me to have too many people dividing a piece of land and making their own village for the reasons that Greg stated above. Something a bit less than intentional, like living close to eachother and setting up a network would be good.

BTW, I am of the opinion that networks should be set up as a precautionary action at any rate.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), May 12, 2001.

I have a set of "How- To" instruction reports. One of them describes setting up a Barter Depositry for Goods and Services. I can look it up if you like.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL. (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 14, 2001.