Why would an individual or family want to join like-minded others in a planned living arrangement? Community living offers connection and support: human essentials growing scarce in the single family model so prominent today.
Community is the ideal setting for shared child-care. Parents gain adult social time and rest, while children benefit from daily interaction with other adults and children.
The tasks of grocery shopping, preparing meals, preserving food, cleaning, and household maintenance can be shared leaving more time for studying, recreation, rest, hobbies, contacts outside the community, work, and creative projects. Shared work can be mixed with social interaction making it more pleasant.
Each individual brings their particular skills, teachings, talents, training, and gifts to benefit the community. In working, playing, and celebrating together individual community members are nourished and
grow through their relationships. When an individual or family needs to travel, their home is not left
unattended. Fellow residents of the home are able to care for plants, pets, and gardens knowing they will receive the same treatment when it is their turn to travel.
Elderly community members are less likely to find themselves needing to move out of their homes as their personal care needs increase. They can be supported by their friends and family within the community through the end of their lives.
Economic advantages are also gained through community living as the costs of land, buildings, utilities, tools, services, and maintenance are shared.
Community living requires significant levels of responsibility from all members. Coming to consensus in decision-making requires moderation of individual desires. The skills of patient listening and clear speaking are essential. The prospect of having to take part in regular meetings where every individual voice is equally important will lead many if not most people to conclude that they could never live in community. But for those who choose it, the depth of human connection and the diversity of shared experience makes community living a preferred way of life.
Gary Weidner
