My name is Maya and I've been lookin around on the internet and on ic.org and stuff for a legit commune. In my head, a commune is a place where people live together away from society, because they want a different kind of world, so they create it. A commune is a place where everyone works together to grow food, raise animals, build homes, take care of one another and live peacefully in nature. Of course I'd like to find like-minded people but a big part of a commune means being open minded and free, which means accepting people who aren't like minded, as well. I don't care if people are nudists, gay, free love, smoking or sober, anarchists, socialists, pro or against anything. What matters to me, is to be a part of a community where people are allowed to be themselves. The only things I am strictly against are violence, hate, guns, rape, or abuse of any kind. but it's been really hard to find a commune! I don't have much money, and I plan on only working on the commune. It's also important to me to be allowed to smoke and grow cannabis. I have been having a really hard time finding a commune that isn't religious, exclusive, expensive or far too small. (i don't want to live in a community of less than 20 people.) What I'm asking is 1) does anybody know of a good, open, loving community, willing to take in new members, that would be tolerant of my lifestyle and affordable? 2) if not, does anybody want to join me and figure out how to make this happen? Starting a commune myself could be sort of scary, but it could also be really fun and rewarding. If some people want to get together, pool together knowledge and resources, maybe we can start a commune in Washington or Colorado (somewhere where weed is legal recreationally. I'm not trying to be a criminal- just live by my lifestyle choices in peace) I'd like to maybe get together some people with knowledge about farming, raising animals, building homes, etc and we can see what we can do. all input is appreciated~ thanks. peace and love
There are many kinds of communes. Some want you to buy a house there and it can cost you $200,000 to join. Others will allow you to join once you have proven yourself to the members. It usually takes 1 year to show the members that you really intend on staying and are not just there for a vacation. There seem to be more small communes than large ones. In my opinion, a commune should not have more members than can sit together for supper together behind a large table since the communal meal together gives the members a sense of being part of a family. 5 - 25 members would be ideal in my opinion. For some reason, religious communes seem to be the most successful and longest lasting. Since you are interested in a secular type commune, you should actually visit some that are in your area so you can get an idea of what the people and lifestyle are like. Starting one yourself can be difficult unless you have lots of money or are able to find some rich members who will pay for the land and buildings. The cost of land has really gone up now and there are few areas that are affordable unless the land is so marginal that nothing will grow there. Drugs are another issue. All communes have their own rules. The 2 problems that led to the demise of many communes in the past were drugs and underage runaways. If a commune gets a reputation for either, police visits and all kinds of harassment from the local government will become the norm.
How to say this....communities that are made Must protect what they have Communities that are starting - well no one wants to be part of something that's going to take a Lot of work and will probably fail anyway Big secret is that all the people who really Are the community leave and the community just stumbles along and pretends to be what they once might have been - because the takers have driven the givers and doers out, and want to establish the minimum that must be done - and real communities don't survive that way. Hopefully in some places people keep on giving of themselves and don't allow people in who want to limit what they give to the community - for you must give yourself. And no you don't and as a matter of fact it is impossible that you all be the same - but you HAVE to Build community - not just live in it. And it takes community to build community, 1 person doing it for others insures it won't work - you all have to be doing it fully - because this Is who you Are.
Maya, you seem to know what you want which is good, but I'm curious about some of your criteria. Why do you want to live with 20+ people? Why do you list "no guns" along with things like "abuse" and "rape"? Guns are a tool and essential to those who truly live off the land in remote areas. A couple of points too: 1) Communes MUST be exclusive. They have to select members wisely or they will fail. Takers, anti-socials, etc run the good people off. 2) Pot may be legal in your state, but it is still a federal crime. The current AG is unconstitutionally choosing not to prosecute, but that can change on a whim. When you can't find something suitable on IC, doesn't that make you wonder why? Maybe the things you are looking for or exclude are the very things that make a commune fail or succeed.
