DwayneEMTP Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Yeah, so, this is going to sound dumber than most of my usual crap...but one of my pipe dreams for the near future is to start a commune. Or, as Babs says that has to many negative associations, a colony. My hope is to buy an old hotel where a bunch of us like minded people, (and I know there are many of you here!) can live and work, and pass our lives together instead of separately. I've, in the past, read most of the standard communal fare, the faux Walden Two starts, Twin Oaks, and such, but want to have a progressive colony, not regressive/back to the land type hippie thing. While growing up we once lived on a Hell's Angels commune for a couple of years, and it is undoubtably the finest time of my life. And having worked in Afg only reinfoced the idea that communal living, even in that environment can be happy, joyful, and fulfilling. Dust (Rob) and I talked about this a long time ago, playing with it as a mental exercise, and he suggested some philisophical/psycological reading on the subject which I found interesting, but only explored online and didn't actually purchase more in depth materials...so that's what I'm looking for now. If any of you have stumbled across such things, or have mad Google skills (I primise you that the first 30 things that pop up in a quick search have been well reviewed by me), or have ideas, intuitions, solid factual info on such subjects, ect, I'd be grateful for them.... (DFIB, this sounds right up your alley, doesn't it Brother?) I figured that asking here was a long shot, and those that think I'm a shithead should feel free to fire away at my insanity...but also thought that it was worth a try...perhaps we might even start up a dialog. Babs has asked me to make a two year plan to stop flying away from my family...and, believe it or not, this is it.... Thanks all for any help that you can provide or any conversation that you can offer! I'll be traveling for the next several day so may be off and on, so please don't believe me disinterested should I not respond to posts right away... Dwayne
Bieber Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Hey, I'll come live in a commune with you! =) Just don't ask me to try the punch. As far as reading suggestions, I'll do some poking around. To be honest I hadn't ever thought too much about communes, so this gives me an excuse to learn something new.
DwayneEMTP Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Heh, yeah, no punch, no charismatic leader, no religious center, though charisma, religion, and punch are welcome at non toxic levels... You'd be welcome Brother... Dwayne
Bieber Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 It could be fun... =) I've always been a fan of large families. Though I gotta say, I imagine that living with you would require double bolt locks on my door just to stave off any pranks you might pull on me as I sleep!
nypamedic43 Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 I've not done any reading on the subject, but it sounds like it might be something to look into. Just think of the possibilities for our kids...having allllll those people to look after them and give them different views and insights and well....just different life experiences to choose and learn from. WOW!! Would be awesome 1
DwayneEMTP Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Yeah, it's amazing to me that we spend all of our time working to live separately, and saving so that we can spend a few days a year with those that we love, and that feed our spirits.... Weird, right? When it costs a small fortune to feed and house two people, but very little to house those that come after, and despite what most people tell themselves, no one really likes to be alone. And I agree, it would be amazing for the kids, as it was for me. From 7y/o to 9 or so we lived on the commune, and look how awesome I turned out! But there are a lot of political/emotional/legal points to ponder in the meantime...but doesn't a hotel sound like it would be awesome for this kind of a project? Private bed and bath with communal work, meals and entertainment? And no worries about pranks...I think that living quarters need to be sacred except for the cleaning folks...Though I may shave your Beiber hair if you fall asleep on the couch...
chbare Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Dwaye, ever consider taking an anthropology or sociology class? It's interesting, but independence is often an integral social component of society in the United States. Babies have their own cribs, kids often have their own rooms, children are often assessed on individual achievement examinations and so on. The somewhat non-communal behaviour you seem to point at is not unexpected. However, you see that change somewhat in areas where other cultures are heavily integrated into the overall social structure.
Richard B the EMT Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 So call the collective/commune what it's called in Israel: a Kibbutz. Old girlfriend used to live on one, old co-worker still does. (I've never made the pilgrimage to that country) 1
DFIB Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Dwayne, I am impressed that of all the things we talk about you remembered my incredibly moronic, altruistic practice of giving stuff away. In fact I have thought frequently of your advice about getting and not getting paid. It is true that all societies have an intrinsic need to gather and often separate from other segments of society into a communal world where the values of mutuality could be cultivated and individual needs met by the communal resources. In modern society, at least in my humble unscientific opinion, we get these needs met by interacting and “paying it ahead” so to speak an entire network of family groups, church groups, social clubs, coworkers and friends that help each other out with no expectation of gratification but an informal understanding of fraternal requital. I think that in the society where I live we have a communal society where a very large group of friends help each other. For example, I haven’t paid for a Dr. visit in years but am available when they need help with cross border commerce or an extra set of hands in the OR. When my daughter was born I gave the anesthesiologist a dog because he wouldn’t take my money but I helped get his daughter a scholarship in school. There is true friendship and loyalty among us. I love these guys but I don’t know if any of us would want to give up independence and individuality. You have a very interesting idea and something that I have never thought about in the terms you put forth. Most communes have a common unifying thread, religion, politics or some other need that unites them. The idea of being together with no unifying factor has never occurred to me and I will have to do some thinking and reading before I can form an opinion. If you get a hotel make it a Radisson or a Ritz. No motel 6 please.
DwayneEMTP Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Edit: DFIB, not only do I not remember a moronic thing that you've said, but not even anything simple....Your ideas are always well considered with a really cool energy.... LOL DFIB, gonna have to be a hotel 6 brother, no Radisson budget here.... I'm convinced that a colony doesn't need religion, or a charismatic leader to survive. I believe that they did in the past because the leaders were intending to survive on coversion of the uneducated. I think a modern colony, as Skinner propheseized nearly a hundred years ago, must be progressive. The leader of such a society that is attempting to recruit followers instead of leaders is almsot certainly going to fail. I want computers, and microwaves, women with shaved armpits and legs, men well trimmed that are strong yet with respect for all. I want people that will want to laugh, love, and succeed so that the generations that follow will have a model for success. I have no desire to be retro....but progressive. I truly believe that you can love, and laugh, and yet still produce. Thanks to my friends, based on my career, I don't believe that production and misery have to be synonymous. I would give much to come and visit you where you live DFIB. Think what could be produced if the passions of both were united daily, instead of being forced to visit via internet? My apologies to all if this sounds like recruitment, as that's not my intention. Only to allow others to see my silly vision so as to be able to punch holes in it. I just don't really see that many. I think that the uneducated and scared need someone to follow. But I believe that the strong can see that there is a better way, but that way is so severely unaccepted as to make it's consideration laughable. I'm pretty much used to being laughed at. I'm not so bright, not much to look at, so what do I really have to lose by thinking differently? What would it be like to know that when you went to work that those that you love were home with 20 other people that knew and cared for them? That when you had to earn a living that those that you love were cared for when sick? To know that if you were unemployed that there were others that were happy that you would care for their kids while they worked? Does it sound socialist? I can see that, but it shouldn't. Because everyone pays their way. They just pay less, and get more....Easy, right? Again, I don't expose my ideas to try and convert, but to encourage criticism....I don't know what's right, only what seems right...I'm grateful for any ideas.... Dwayne
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