cash-free living and peace, love, and abundance

so, lately I think a lot bout how wounded our culture in the USA is.

the mainstream goals are painful and not really about finding the heart or embracing the mystery of life and love.

we get a real powerful message from so many directions that success is defined by living in separate, decked out quarters, by working to accumulate wealth and provide for YOUR OWN as best as you can, maybe offering "charity" to others when it is convenient, but otherwise taking part in a system of capitalism and consumerism that is hurting literally billions of individuals around the world increasingly threatens the ecological well being of the planet.

so, i am a student mama raising three kids, and my husband and I are thinking about trying to do cooperative living in some way. I put out a classifed ad in the rainbow family section and help wanted, and it has been great to start networking with folks--though haven't found an immediate fit yet---

if you're interested check it out below, but also, wanted to kinda start a converation about the question of, hey, how do we escape the system of consumerism and capitalism that separates us away from knowing each other as sisters and brothers and pushes us to act in competition with each other, rather than in cooperation and community?

I'm new here and am coming feeling so alienated from the culture in this country at large and wondering what others here might think about these questions.

ok here is my note about homesharing--

We are a happy, friendly family living in a rented old farmhouse in rural south east PA.

We are looking to share our space with a mama or couple with child/children who want to do collaborative childcare, unschool together, barter through help with domestic stuff, maybe garden with us, etc. Not looking for cash contributions unless you, like us, are working and have an income to spare.

The potential personal space we have to offer a family is humble, small, and in rough shape but could be cozy with a little of your energy and elbow grease. We do have a bedroom for temporary use though where you can sleep while we work on getting the space that is available long term ready for you. The shared house space and is nice, light, set up for kids.

Looking for happy, down-home, bright, loving, gentle, relaxed, anti-racist energy. Smoking outside only, nonviolent with children and others, not a hard drug user or excessive alcohol user, love the world and your children, these things will work for us.

Our kids are 1, 9, and 13. My husband is a professor and I am a grad student in psychology, but was a rainbow sister long time back, and I miss the fresh energy and the belly button love. We unschool and I am home with the kids.

Email me at a.lea78@yahoo.com and tell me something about you or reply here if you think you would like to collaborate--

 

I can tell you from my own experience and the experiences of my friends that the more you separate yourself from the society at large the more difficult life becomes. I have one friend who is living without any utilities. He cuts his own firewood for heat, that's a big job, has little light at night, and only watches TV when he visits me. He does have a job, but spends his money on his property payments and improvements. Cooking and food storage is a big problem, especially in the summer.

You don't have your age displayed, but, if you remember the communes of the 60s, they all fell apart because life was hard. Personally, I found a happy medium. I live in a private subdivision in the middle of the forest in Georgia. I paid off the land and built my small house myself in the 90s. I'm now retired as of last month and live a simple life. I do have electricity, but no other utilities.

There are advantages to "living off the grid," but the grid does make life a lot easier. What it comes down to is finding the place that suits you best, somewhere between hardship and convenience.

If you need any advice on how to make life easier "out there" I can give you some suggestions on most topics.


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thats awesome!!! good for you!! how long have you been unschooling? i just read a book on the subject and i just really learned about it this year but i think its brilliant.

this was exciting to read cause this is the first time ive ever heard anyone else bring up unschooling before.

do your kids like it???