Its actually happening thanks to some of you!

I just wanted to say that I joined this forum because I was interested in communal living and needed a little direction. I found, thanks to some of you nice folks, what I think is the perfect place and my membership visitation starts Aug. 17 at Twin Oaks in VA. I just wanted to say thanks because I really think this is the path my life needs right now and this forum helped immensely. Good luck to everyone else and wish me luck!

 

Hi

I lived at Twin Oaks for 5 yrs,'99-'04, if you have any questions I would be happy to provide you with info. I managed the Hammocks business, cooked, did Town run, accounting for the Tofu business, baked bread and had many great friendships. Truly my biggest growth edge to date.

Dragonwolf

 

Hi Dragonwolf,

It sounds like you had a great life there. I am literally bursting with anticipation to be able to go there and share in the experience. 16 more days! I do have many questions, thank you so much for offering your assistance. Did you feel that you had adequate personal space? Are you able to maintain a firm sense of autonomy? How difficult was the adjustment after moving there and then after moving out? What did you miss most while a member? And if its not too terribly forward of me, why did you leave? What do you miss most about life at the commune?

Feel free to answer any, all, or none of these questions at your leisure.

Thanks again,
Sweet

 

I live at Twin Oaks Currently. I would be happy to answer my take on these questions.

I used to live in Brooklyn, so I have very little expectations for personal space. That being said i have no problem with the indoor spaces at Twin Oaks. We each get our own bedroom and there are several common spaces. During the warm months the outdoor space is rather nice.

I have felt empowered and appreciative of the culture here. I feel as though i have a large amount of personal choice about how I contribute. There is, though, a strong cultural urge to be a contributing member.

I have seen some who come here and feel oppressed. These usually come in the following two forms: generic rebels and adults who are still growing up. It is easy to for some to fall into the trap of seeing "The Community" as either "The Man" or as oppressive Parents who wont lay off.

Basically, you get out what your bring into the situation with you.

See you in a few days!
-bucket

 

Sweet

First, I left because I found another community I wanted to explore, it is Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Colorado, I ended up staying there for 18 months. I also had come to a point in my life, at Twin Oaks, where I wanted to see life through another perspective, seeking other communes that spoke to me . I would go back were it possible, but, at this time I am still exploring. I am still livng the commune ideals, I have not lived in Mainstream for over 12 yrs.

I have not left the commune experience. I am living at Echowood in central Texas, egalitarian and income sharing, similar to Twin Oaks, only at the beginning stages. I also lived at Enota in North Georgia, went to New Orleans and volunteered for Common Ground after Hurricane Katrina as a Kitchen Coordinator, working with others, mostly college students, providing meals 3 times a day. I lived in an Army tent on a cot for the first week before I moved to another part of the city to start a kitchen from scratch, a whole facility run by 5 of us housing 225 students over Spring Break. I left the lower 9th Ward in New Orleans for Claymont Farm about an hour from Washington, DC, in West Virginia. I cooked for Retreats and did a lot of landscaping.

Back to the Twin Oaks experience. I had enough space, as I lived in Harmony most of my time there. My room had a loft, I had a sitting area for friends to come and hang. I did not miss much from the Babylonian world I had lived before, most everything was abundant at TO. I dare say that the only things I miss now about Twin Oaks, are some of my more memorable relationships with people I bonded. I am still, after 3 yrs, in touch with several people by email. I do honestly miss much about Twin Oaks, yet, I am ever so fortunate for my experiences. I have found many other communities thru www.ic.org that reflect the Twin Oaks lifestyle.

I am a wandering, gypsy nomad. I Pioneer my life in the ever evolving intentional community movement, exploring and experiencing all that is possible for a growth edge. I embrace diversity in all facets of my living as I open to more possibile outcomes. TODAY I live in the solution not the problem. Twin Oaks ROCKS!! Paxus Calta was one of many who made my experience worthwhile, you WILL meet him soon after arriving or at dinner.

Namaste

DragonWolf Wizard

 

Thank you so much Bucket and Dragonwolf for you input. Its really exciting for me to be talking to both of you. I am just so incredibly ready to go, meet the people, and see for myself. It's a little less than two weeks away but I feel like thats an eternity. It just seems so right, definitely the direction I would like to take my life, but it seems a little absurd saying that since I haven't even been there yet. I have scoured the website though, read articles in newspapers and magazines, read the newsletters for the last two years. I am a Twin Oaks junkie, or maybe groupie, I guess you could say. I am just so in need of a supportive environment, where I can live my life in a way that puts my beliefs about people and relationships, the environment, the government into action. I am willing to do whatever it takes, I just want to start now.

The biggest concern for my family is that there is contract that I must sign, ensuring that I must stay there for at least a specified amount of time. From what I could tell, the answer is no, and it just doesn't seem like that is something you would do but they won't listen to me.

I would welcome anything you could tell me about Twin Oaks. Thank you so much for indulging me.

P.S. Dragonwolf, it sounds as if you have led an amazing life. You truly are a rare gem. You have done so much and remained true to yourself and your beliefs, something that I have not had much of a chance to see. Good luck to you in all you do and may happiness rain down on you like riches from the sky.

 

Questions answered by The Wizard himself to you, Sweet.

All I will say to #1 is No, your parents are welcome to visit you at any time, there is no time limit to your being there. No contracts to sign or agreements to keep you form leaving any time you desire.

Question #2 is a harder one to answer, the way it is phrased, by Twin Oaks is, that at parties there will be all kinds of recreational substances, there may be what you mention available.

Thank you for the kind words. I am a Pioneer, not a Settler, though, were the kind of Man I seek to show himself to me, I would consider planting myself with him. I like diversity, rural areas, prefer the mountains, laid back living & focused work, he rarely shows up in communes. I am a happy & sensitve man in what I find myself involved in right now. I am nomadic, yet, this lifetime only in the US where there are so many Wonders, we rarely take the time to see. Living life, now, with no money is the biggest challenge, I am hopeful The Universe is showing me something for future use. I also am so into selfless service, letting go and stepping back to allow what is mine to do to flow into my living. Or better put....JUST BE!!

AS a sidebar I will say that I welcome hippie, dredded, bearded, furry chested men to write me about opportunities in living communally. I am so into accountability, trust, bonding, intimacy, living life in the moment, embracing simplicity, mindfulness & all ages of men, because to me, its not about age, knowledge or experience, its about the experience of "being" in touch with our inner selves, to walk together in shared relationship to peace, joy & contented-ness. Blessed Be the Goddess, All That Is & The Ascended Masters, The Elohim and US.....you& me for this Journey!!!

Kenric Pierce aka DragonWolf Wizard

 

You sound amazing. I would like to start a commune in South East Texas. I call it my fag hag retirement community. Several of my gay friends and I have been talking about this for years and I would seriously like to be with my creative friends as we approach retirement age. My ranch here in Texas is 740 acres. Have friends that are looking at a place in Vermont for the summer. We would go back and forth as the weather permits. Any thoughts on this idea?

Artqueen

 

That's wild I was totally gonna try accorn right next to there for my first dive into community.

I'm hooked on this boy that's hooked on video games, so I haven't made it.

I keep working for money in a town that sells video games.