Okay, here's the story in a nutshell. I'd had a plan for my future finally figured out, and it was just a matter of waiting for our lease was up in order for us to be able to move. Well. The move is still happening, I'm just no longer a part of it. So now, I have a lease that expires in May that I can't renew (the apartments are being turned into condos, and I don't want to buy one). And then I found this board. I would absolutely adore the idea of joining a nomadic tribe, or a communal living situation. However. It would be impossible for me, short of winning the lottery, to get away with not having a job that didn't produce income for myself. Between credit cards and student loans...there'd be no way for me to completely cut the ties from the rest of the world. There's also the matter of me wanting to still have the option of going out and buying things, which seems like it is frowned on by most of these communities. How do you go about completely severing the ties from "regular" society, without having a major financial windfall? Or, are there communites out there that allow you to have "regular" jobs, so long as you live with them and help keep things running?
Ode to the dragon, Yah there are many communities that actually encourage their members to bring in cash. Much as we all might like to get apart from the ever turning rodents wheel - we all recognize that as long as we have any ties - buying anything, paying taxes etc etc - we must allow ourselves to look on the "filthy" money as energy. And energy is energy - money is stored energy. It's not the energy that is good or bad in and of itself, but how it is used - or abused. However if one waits for the major windfall - untill all the ducks are lined up in a row - "till they are ready' the most likely thing is that it will never happen. The nature of man is to continually want more - and it's the wanting we must learn to do without. Can't keep up with the jones'es, got to jones it LOL. Simplified living, Zenning your enviorment - choosing priorities. The Spirit should always mean more than the flesh. And without feeding our spirits our flesh will atrophy and Dis-eases will set in as we engage in the living death. Change will come - whether through actual death or the changing of the Way - Spirit will be fed ! Embrace your life - make Way for your changes - and remember these are Your choices - to thine own (higher) Self be true Blessing on your Way
I understand the futility of waiting for a windfall...which is why I asked the question in the first place. I guess it's a typical case of wanting your cake and eating it too. I want the community atmosphere, and want to contribute to it, but I want my freedom as well... I'm not talking about going out and working some high-level-high-paying job, I'm just talking about making enough to keep debt collectors off my back and maybe having a little leftover to buy a few things for myself, nothing extravagant. Things that I may want that the community cannot easily provide, but not something that would change the atmosphere of the community. My other thought was to find a community that would agree to keep me for at least seven years and declare bankruptcy. There has to be a better option than that!
I guess it's a typical case of wanting your cake and eating it too and what should one do with a cake ... if not eat it!
it takes time. pay off what debts you can and then work your way thru. my husband and i want to do so much but right now we are trying to pay for school. we have our ideals which we hold true and plan on in a few years after school..buying a farm land to raise our kids, run my business from and maybe try the commune thing...we'll just have to wait and see where destiny takes us
You talked about bankruptcy, that may work with your credit cards but it won't give any relief on college loans. I've often thought about living in a tent while working to save up enough to buy a small piece of land. I see no real way out of this materialistic world. You have to have money.
Thanks for the support everyone The more I think about it, the more I think I'm not strong enough to move away....not just yet anyway. I need to focus my strength on getting through each day, and healing. The best way to do that is to keep everyone at least an arm's length away emotionally, if not further. Maybe that will change, but not right now. And not for awhile either.
