The weekend was one of celebration, quiet, and calm. Something that I needed. We started on Saturday by attending the wedding of a friend from East Wind. We haven't seen each other in 12 years, but it seemed as if we had never stopped sitting around picnic tables chatting. It was like a mini hippie reunion (there were 9 (counting the bride) and I was so happy to have that moment. It reminded me of what I wanted so badly then - progressive, smart, community - and how important that is to cultivate in your life where ever you find yourself.
For those of us who aren't living in community any more we asked questions about how it changed us, did we find what we were looking for, and are we happy now. Mostly the answers were vague and airy but mostly filled with yes. We didn't find what we were looking for, but we are happy now. It was amazing (to me who has drifted back to a mostly mainstream life to see so many of us back in one place - sharing this magical day with one of our friends.
We had always said that if we ever saw one of the 72 commune members out in the world we would stop to say hello, even if we didn't exactly like them, because they were members of a moment in our life like no other. I assume it is how members of the military feel, survivors of natural disasters, or victims of war (goodness is living in community that bad?)
I talked for a long time with B. who is still living at East Wind and is now really one of the old timers and he said that he uses community to further his own creative work rather then expecting it to fulfill some larger community dream. If you can do that you can be happy there, but if you have idealized moments of Walden Two then you can't.
So, the weekend started with a joyful celebration and ended with me realizing just how lucky I am. Lucky to have chosen a moment to drop out, chosen a moment to live big, and now chosen a moment to live quietly cultivating the smart, progressive community I care about.
