My wife and I have been researching intentional communities and we found Creating a Life Together as the best source regarding the practical problems of ICs. The bad news is that, according to Diana, something like 90% of ICs fail. Based on our experience with ICs and our research, we've decided to take a different path to building community.

The whole IC dynamic will change if energy gets very expensive or is rationed/unavailable. One of the main points of the November Washington Post Earthaven profile is how cheap energy allows us to avoid dealing with each other. Most people take advantage of this freedom as much as possible. Some of us dabble with ICs while it is fun and novel but we have the option of going back to mainstream living if we wish. It is not too difficult to envision a future where it is easier to work out your differences with your community than it is to pick up and move on.

I agree that expensive energy will reduce mobility, but I don't believe any significant portion of Americans will live in ICs. Apart from long standing cultural conditioning, I believe there's a self-selected genetic component to America's peculiar focus on individuality, read Peter Whybrow, M.D.'s American Mania: When More Is Not Enough.

Life: I can't resist these quizzes. I got a 2- he says I am too laid back.