Not all communes are middle age folk. I live on a commune and I'd like to state that the most of us here are under forty.
haha mister "garden..." wants us to do a vipassana course. it is a big trend today,among the tired backpackers in goa, who, after the "season", have partied too much and need to clean up. So, you go for a retreat for 10 days in a buddhist monastary, no smoking, no talking, no reading, no listening to music, no looking each other in the eyes. only guided meditation or walking within the monastery and eating and sleeping. After 10 dys, if you have managed to stay, you are rewarded of feeling HIGH..., naturally high.... HA.HA. actulally it cleanses your mind and you force yourself some discipline.... it is a kind of brainwash... a mild one though...
i forgot to say .... the high feeling stay only for a day or so, and then i have noticed on people who have done it (i have not), they tend to become a bit strange and less fun! that's for sure.... it cleans your mind, but it empties it also!!!
Yeah, last I'd heardseen almost all of NorCal is one big psychedelic commune or rather shall we say plantation of a curiously ever more medieval/newage quality...esp. during festival season. Pack your sack and see ya at the show, bro.