Finding community how to join an ecovillage or intentional community

265 Pages·2007·9.51 MB·English

by  Christian, Diana Leafe

Advance Praise for
Finding Community
Open-hearted and hard-headed in equal measure—and with a delicious sense ofhumor
—Diana Leafe Christian takes the reader on a comprehensive tour ofthe world ofeco-
villages and intentional communities.This is the volume for those exploring the options
and willing to learn from those who have already trodden the path.There could be no
better guide on the path ofexploring this lifestyle.
— Jonathan Dawson,president,Global Ecovillage Network;
author,Ecovillages: New Frontiers for Sustainability
When you combine encyclopedic knowledge plus wry humor plus a realistic assessment
ofwhat the future holds for all ofus,you get the wise advice in Finding Community.In a
world after fossil fuels,it can extend the keys to your next car,your next house,and the
rest ofyour life.Ifthere is a silver lining to the clouds on the horizon,it will be found in
the redesign ofhuman communities.No one knows this subject better than Diana Leafe
Christian.To a troubled world,here is the core ofthe solution.
— Albert Bates,co-founder,Global Ecovillage Network;
author,The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook
Through long experience and sheer social honesty,Diana Leafe Christian offers essential
resources for and catalogs the oh-so-many pitfalls as well as delights ofvisiting and join-
ing a community.Finding Communityis like having an explorer’s compass and a roll of
charts under your arm as you embark upon unknown waters.All the more important to
learn these essentials before you’re out at sea!
— Richard Register,author,Ecocities: Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature;
president,Ecocity Builders;founder,International Ecocity Conferences
Diana Leafe Christian has done it again! Her Šrst book, Creating a Life Together, has
become something of a bible for would-be community founders. Finding Community
promises to be just as important.Thoughtful,thorough,and engaging,and enlivened by
stories from the trenches of real community life,it’s a must-read for anyone seriously
seeking community.
— Liz Walker,author,EcoVillage at Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable Culture;
cofounder and director,EcoVillage at Ithaca
This charming and commonsensical guide to approaching intentional group living
should be read by every serious community-seeker.It offers an amazingly knowledgeable
perspective,warmly sympathetic but sometimes wryly humorous toward both commu-
nities and those who visit and join them.
— Ernest Callenbach,author,Ecotopia
An amazing,comprehensive,collaborative and kaleidoscopic achievement! By showing
communityseekerspracticallivingexamplesofcohousingprojects,ecovillages,andother
intentional communities,Finding Communityhas the potential to change the suburban
way oflife and help North America reconcile its ecological footprint.
— Professor Declan Kennedy,architect,
and member ofLebensgarten Ecovillage,Germany
This stunning overview ofecovillages and intentional communities is not only a terrific
read,but abounds with essential,profoundly important information for anyone seeking
more community and a sense ofbelonging in their lives.
— Joan Medlicott,author,The Ladies of Covington Send Their Loveseries
and The Three Mrs. Parkers
Finding Communityis full ofwisdom and “Convenient Truths”for anyone wanting to join
an ecovillage or intentional community,and packed with advice for ecovillages and com-
munities wanting new members,too.
— Max Lindegger,cofounder,Crystal Waters Ecovillage,Queensland,Australia;
director,Global Ecovillage Network Asia/Oceania
Heartwarming and fun, Finding Community will help readers make informed choices
about joining a community.Diana Leafe Christian knows what people want!
— Hildur Jackson,cofounder,Global Ecovillage Network (GEN);
co-editor,Ecovillage Living: Restoring the Earth and Her People
N S P
EW OCIETY UBLISHERS
Cataloging in Publication Data:
A catalog record for this publication is available from the National Library ofCanada.
Copyright (c) 2007 by Diana Christian.
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Diane McIntosh.Cover image copyright (c) Sally A.Sellers.
From an original hand-made quilt entitled “Excess Pleasure”.
Printed in Canada.
First printing March 2007.
Paperback ISBN:978-0-86571-578-3
Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part ofFinding Community
should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below.
To order directly from the publishers,
please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772,
or order online at:www.newsociety.com
Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:
New Society Publishers
P.O.Box 189,Gabriola Island,BC V0R 1X0 Canada
1-800-567-6772
New Society Publishers’mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an
ecologically sustainable and just society,and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment,in
a manner that models this vision.We are committed to doing this not just through education,but through
action.We are acting on our commitment to the world’s remaining ancient forests by phasing out our paper
supply from ancient forests worldwide.This book is one step toward ending global deforestation and
climate change.It is printed on acid-free paper that is 100% old growth forest-free (100% post-consumer
recycled),processedchlorinefree,andprintedwithvegetable-based,low-VOCinks.Forfurtherinforma-
tion,or to browse our full list ofbooks and purchase securely,visit our website at:www.newsociety.com
NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS www.newsociety.com
(cid:2) (cid:3)
Contents
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
Introduction: Ecovillages and Other Intentional Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xvii
What This Book Can Do For You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xvii
Who This Book is For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
What is an Intentional Community? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
SECTION 1: COMMUNITIES: AN OVERVIEW
Chapter 1: Why Community? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
You’ll Impact the Planet with a Smaller Ecological Footprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
You’ll Feel Safer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
You’ll Most Likely be Healthier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
You’ll Save Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
You’ll Grow as a Person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
You’ll Experience Connection and Support with Like-minded Friends and Colleagues . . . . . . .10
You’ll Have More Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Chapter 2: Ten Most Common Fears about Joining a Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
1.I Don’t Want to Live out in the Boonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
2.I Don’t Want to Live with a Bunch ofHippies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
3.I Don’t Want to Live a “Poverty Consciousness”Lifestyle with Limited Resources . . . . . . . . . .13
4.I Don’t Want to Live with countercultural types who are trying to avoid responsibility . . . . . .13
5.I Don’t Want to Have to Join a Religion or Take up some Spiritual Practice I Don’t Believe in14
6.I Don’t Want to Live in a Hierarchical System or Follow a Charismatic Leader . . . . . . . . . . . .14
7.I Don’t Want to Have to Think like Everyone Else.What ifit Turns out to be a Cult? . . . . . .14
8.I’m Afraid I Won’t have Enough Privacy or Autonomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
9.I Don’t Want to Have to Share Incomes or Give all my Money to the Community . . . . . . . . .18
10.What ifwe all Can’t Get Along? I Don’t Want to Live with a Bunch
ofBad-tempered,Dysfunctional People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Other common questions about community living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
vi FINDING COMMUNITY
Chapter 3: Community Living-Day-to-Day (excerpt from Communitiesmagazine) . . . . . . . . .23
Chapter 4: Ecovillages: For Future Generations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Ecovillages — Multiple and Various . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Human-Scale,Full-Featured Settlements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Five Characteristics ofEcovillages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
But Is it Really an Ecovillage? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
“Lifeboat Communities,”Future Generations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Chapter 5: Cohousing Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
The Costs ofCohousing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Joining a Cohousing Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Cohousing Communities and Non-Cohousing Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Elder Cohousing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Chapter 6: Urban Communities: Group Households and Housing Co-ops . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Urban Group Households . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Organized Neighborhoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Housing Co-ops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Senior Housing Co-ops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Student Housing Co-ops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Chapter 7: Rural Homesteading Communities, Conference and Retreat Centers . . . . . . . . .55
Homesteading Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Conference and Retreat Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Chapter 8: Spiritual Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Spiritually Eclectic Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Communities with a Common Spiritual Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Camphill Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Chapter 9: Christian Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Service-Oriented Christian Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Catholic Worker Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
L’Arche Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Chapter 10: Income-Sharing Communes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Radical Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
What’s It Like Financially? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Why Are Income-Sharing Communities so Well Known? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
BeneŠts ofIncome-Sharing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Challenges ofIncome-Sharing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Who Income-Sharing Works Well For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
CONTENTS vii
SECTION 2: RESEARCHING
Chapter 11: What Does It Cost? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Factors in the Cost to Join . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
“IfI have no funds can I still join a community?” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Cohousing,Housing Co-ops,Conference Centers,Spiritual Communities,Communes… . . . .88
Do Communities Tell You What It Costs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Sample Costs:What it Costs to Join a Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Chapter 12: What Does It Take to Live in Community? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Not for the Faint ofHeart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
What Works Well in Community? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Who Does Well in Community? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Who Does Not Do So Well? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Preparing for Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
What Do Communities Want from You? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
What About Young People Just Out ofSchool? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Chapter 13: The Communities Directory,the Internet, and You —
Researching Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Print and Internet Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Communities Directories and The Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Separating the Wheat from the Chaff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Chapter 14: Your Criteria for Communities to Visit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Where to Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Community Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Can the Community Choose Its Members? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Age ofMembers and Rate ofMember Turnover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Independent-Income and Income-Sharing Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Your Future Community:Ideals and Realities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
SECTION 3: VISITING
Chapter 15: My Marathon Tour of Communities
(reprinted from Communitiesmagazine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Chapter 16: Planning Your Visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Setting up Your Own “Marathon Tour”(or Multiple Shorter Visits) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
What to Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Bring Work Gloves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
viii FINDING COMMUNITY
Don’t Bring Fido . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
When You Arrive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Chapter 17: Excerpts from a Community Seeker’s Journal
(reprinted from Communitiesmagazine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
Chapter 18: How to Be a Great Guest (and Make the Most of Your Experience) . . . . . . . .147
Community Etiquette:What Hosts Would Like from Visitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
How to Get What YouWant from Your Visit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
That Elusive “Sense ofCommunity”:Don’t Count on It Yet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
“Come Here,Go Away” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Did You Hear About the Visitor Who? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
The “Great Guests”Hall ofFame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
Chapter 19: Seriously Seeking Community (reprinted from Communitiesmagazine) . . . . .163
Chapter 20: Evaluating Your Visits
(And Debunking Some Assumptions and Expectations) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
Signs ofHealth,Signs ofDistress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
Assumptions and Expectations:What’s Realistic? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
SECTION 4: JOINING
Chapter 21: Taking a Second Look . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Mission and Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Overall Friendliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Aesthetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Your Children’s Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Potential Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Chapter 22: Choosing Your Community: The “Insider’s Guide” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Who Owns the Land? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Financial Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
Do You Get Your Money Back IfYou Leave? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
What Are Grounds For Asking People to Leave? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
What Legal Entity Does the Group Use to Own Property? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186
How Does the Group Make Decisions? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
CONTENTS ix
Who Has Decision-Making Rights and When Do They Have Them? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
The Membership Process:Organized or Laissez Faire? “Narrow Door”or “Ya’ll Come”? . . . . .189
How Could You Make a Living,Really? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
What Else Should You Consider? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
IfNo Community Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
Don’t Marry the First Community that Asks You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193
Chapter 23: The Membership Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195
Courting and Assessing the Community While They’re Courting and Assessing You . . . . . . . .195
I’ve Got Major Challenges — Should I Tell Them? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197
Taking an Even Closer Look . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198
Stranger in a Strange Land? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
Chapter 24: Entering Community Gracefully . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
How to Win Community Friends and Inšuence People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
“Come Here,Go Away”— Take Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Like a WolfEntering a WolfPack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
Developmental Stages ofthe New-Member Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213
What IfI Don’t Like It? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
What IfThey Say “No”? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
Chapter 25: “The longest, most expensive, personal growth workshop
you will ever take!” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217
Community on a Bad Day (reprinted from Communitiesmagazine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
We Set Out to Change our World (reprinted from Communitiesmagazine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219
Appendix A: Sample Community Membership Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
Appendix B: Can Living in Community Make a Difference in the Age of Peak Oil? . . . . . . .229
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .243