Often I go to sleep to the sound of laughter or music coming from the next room over and wake up to people talking, unfortunately for me sometimes quite loudly. I currently share a living space with over 20 other people, but I also share my meals with them, my work and my overall life. Unlike many other people in Western society and even the world, I live in an intentional community.
To some communal living may seem scary or completely repulsive, but is it how humans are meant to live? In the extremely individualistic culture of the United States communal living may seem unnatural but it is believed that early humans lived and hunted in herds. During the most recent Ice Age, about 20,000-10,000 years ago, the human herd may have looked very similar to the wolf packs of that time. Both hunted bison and other large animals and were most likely familial. Adult members of both species were protective of the young and good at interpreting the moods of others in the group, whether through facial expression or other forms of body language.
In modern society it is expected that once a person reaches adulthood they should strike out on their own and become independent, but humans are social creatures. We thrive in groups. Although in Western culture a child is expected to leave their family’s home once they have reached full maturity, many Eastern societies abhor this notion. Although not an intentional community, living with family is living communally. Especially if it is a large family.
“Some people thrive, but some people cannot live in community or with others and that’s why they leave,” said Catherine Morris, who has been living communally for the past 56 years.
Although some people thrive living in a communal setting, it is definitely not an easy task. So many different personalities from different cultures and backgrounds living under the same roof can definitely prove difficult and be a test in the virtue of patience. But the payoff is the lack of one of the most primal human fears, being alone. And furthermore dying alone.
When human beings can successfully work together much can be accomplished. Revolutions can be started, oppression can be defeated, much can be built and much needed change can be made. As technology is making it easier for people to connect, it is also pushing us farther and farther spatially apart. If people can successfully live together on one plot of land or under one roof, than maybe we could learn to live together successfully and peacefully on one planet. The burdensome workload of one becomes easier to carry when it becomes the cooperative workload of many.
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