young neo-hippie in need of help

so, i'm seventeen, and i'm just about to graduate from high school, and i feel like i know nothing about myself.

i want to get my hands dirty and do some actual hard labor.

i feel like my whole life i've contributed very little to anything.

i want to do something like work on a farm, but i also very much want to keep music a huge part of my life, as it is now. i could not imagine not playing for too long a time.

does anybody think they could point me in the right direction or give me some very much needed advice and guidance?

 

WWOOF is like a program where you can go and work on a farm anywhere in the world and they give you food and a bed. search it on the internet

join a band, make art, do interesting things in the world, surrender to the flow of love, learn about edible/useful plants go live in the woods, don't participate in the signing of any form, find a group of people to help you lead a nomadic hunter gatherer life style and maybe grow some small crops and find abandoned houses/anything to live in. totally redefine yourself, make up a language or a religion, or a philosophy, help those who you can, share what you can, we are all one, we've all got a place here on this planet..

live authentically and speak poetry when you have it and don't be afraid to go alone sometimes

you could come and work on the farm i am tending, but then nothings gauranteed

 

wow, that is just exactly what i wanted to hear

i want to know that there are people out there who really believe that not only is that a possible option, but, a very positive option.

WWOOF sounds very interesting, but i definitely lean more towards finding a group of people to just travel across the world with, learning about everything anyone will teach me.

if i can't band together some people who share my interest in music and work ethic, i mmight just become a WWOOFer.

thank you so much.

 

i know that i now have things to think about now, and some possible direction, but..

does anyone else have any alternate insight?

i would like to know everything i can about what options or situations are available to someone like me.

 

If you really wanna get your life into perspective why don't you join a commune? There a tons of communes which are basically like having part time / full time jobs.

A very healthy lifestyle is provided for you. Then all you have to do is sit back and work on your music, or research things you're interested in.

 

well, i'm obviously interested in living in a commune (re: the title of this forum), but i don't really have any idea on how to find or join a commune

i wouldn't say i'm picky, but i would like to know what i'm getting into before i commit to anything like that.

i just want to know exactly what i would be doing in one of these communes.

 

IC.org

be careful, and use your gut when scoping out communes/ecovillage/communities.

Just be wary of anything that requires that you throw down money, or has a central infallible authority instilled in an individual, or exclusive group of individuals.

Otherwise, its simple.

There should be plenty of places both known and unknown in Cali for you. Hell i envy you, your in one of the best states (despite high average living costs). Its a hell of a lot better than Texas IMO.

 

This is the exact reason why I believe communes should blog.

"A Day in the Life" series, "Commune structure", whatever.

People don't like to wander in the dark. I think if some communers really wanna change people's way of living they should shine some light on the subject. Inspire the world through your example, ya know?

 

this will sound harsh, but get a real job.

you will gain endless knowledge about how the world really works. and you will better understand your fellow man and his daily hardship.

 

What is your definition of a "real" job?

One can gain insight to the mechanics of this world in almost anyway. Even if you a bum living next to his beloved liquor store gains perception of the world, albeit more of a view of the underground/street life. Of course, im sure the OP wouldn't necessarily want to become alcoholic street trash. However, that just illustrates the learning one can obtain in even the lowliest of lifestyles.

 

i Totally agree.

that's probably the biggest reason i didn't step right into a random commune, i don't even know what goes on..

and, to what makihiko said about getting a "real job":
i thought these were hip forums, not forums for straights who like to wear suits...


hahahh!! listen to me, insulting people like a hippie..

 

He might have been referring to a blue collar like job. Or he may have just meant any job.

I agree though, to hell with wearing suits, unless of course it was a bright zoot suit. That would be nice to wear to board meetings...

 

I was looking at that thread about Echowood and you can go there for 2 weeks and check it out. I don't think you will ever know unless you try it. When I was 18, I left home and lived in a van for 3 months.

 

i also saw that, and i also saw you have to be eighteen even to visit.

i've already emailed them, so i guess i'm waiting on that.

i think, rather than just living in a van, i would probably look into travelling hardcore with this: couchsurfing.org

unfortunately, that also has an age limit to eighteens only.

so, i've got a couple of good ideas, but for now, i have to make light of either living at home for little while, or trying to move out for a couple of months.

either way, i've got to get a normal job, anyway, so..

here's to bright zoot suits in board meetings!

 

Have you thought about living in a co-op? My daughter is 17 now, she moved out when she was 16 into one of the local co-op houses. We live in a college town so there are always people looking for cheap living accommodations and it doesn't cost much to live there. She wanted to be close to her job and close to campus. I have to say that it has been a good experience for her. Not always easy, as she lives with about 30 people, but I think it was the best situation for her to go into leaving home.
Best of luck to you, I hope you find what you're looking for.

 

what is a co-op??

sounds fun..

 

It can be a really fun living arrangement-if you don't mind noise. Here is a good article on our local co-op houses:
http://www.lawrence.com/news/2007/may/07/crowded_house/
I'm sure there are many across the country. My daughter visited a really neat one in St. Louis. I guess they tend to be in areas where there are universities maybe. The ones here say they are student housing but there are a lot of non-students living there.
The house is HUGE, there is constant activity. People have to be voted in to live there so as to weed out the folks who don't play well with others. Since my daughter has been living there they have only had a problem with one person (this girl liked to help herself to things that didn't belong to her, mainly cash) and she was evicted. Generally though, the people are really cool. Hope this helps.

 

o my god,

co-op = exactly what i want..

how could i find a co-op to live in?
short of walking around looking for one..

it doesn't seem as though these kind of places would advertise anywhere..

 

Cool! Glad I could help. I did a google search and didn't come up with much. You're right, they don't advertise... BUT... I found a link that should be a good place to start:
http://www.nasco.coop/guide/
There is a search option on the left that will help you find whatever location you're looking for. There are more of these places than I had thought!

There is this one too:
http://www.ic.org/
I haven't really looked at this one but it was on one of the Sunflower House websites.

Again, good luck!

 

thank you so much!


i've found a coop in massachusettes that i am very interested in joining

i've filled out an online application and so now i anxiously wait..