Ten Great Reasons for Living in a Harmony Village Community
Living in a closed community offers security. You can rely on your neighbors for
help even when you don't ask. Where your family is in a safe and supportive
place. When taken ill expect your neighbors to know all about it, send cards and
sympathy and support to you and your family. In most neighborhoods, neighbors
don't even know your sick because they don’t even know you. Most of them don't
even know your name. How many of your current neighbors could you ask for help
if you needed it?
I would say the $ value of all those things to me would be in the million dollar
range. My house cost me less than market value to build and is worth way more
than I paid for it should I ever move to another community. Notice I said move
to another community. It is inconceivable for me to ever move back to a 'normal'
neighborhood, where everyone is a stranger and I have to be afraid every time my
kid goes out the door.
Great place to collaborate with people who share similar interests. Small groups
form revolving around shared common interests, beer making, sewing, gardening,
music, etc. I don't have to "go" anywhere to enjoy a beer-making club. My
neighbors and I can do that. The Common House is great for that.
Supportive place for kids to grow up. Safe, lots of friends - both other kids
and adults. Kids can play and I know any adult in the neighborhood will be there
for them in case of need. Fun places to be adult - lots of play opportunity with
kids, and other adults.
Community offers social opportunities. You can have wonderful and meaningful
interactions with people you like, who are your neighbors, just by sitting out
on the porch.
A great place to share ownership of things that I couldn't really afford myself,
such as a workshop, play structure, tools, library, etc.
Great place to learn new things. I always wanted to try making beer. Having a
couple of neighbors share that interest got me home brewing. We learn and try
new stuff all the time.
A great restaurant in the middle of my neighborhood, called the Common House,
where I can go and have dinner and great conversation with friends.
A sense of togetherness and belonging. I am part of something that is really
wonderful. It is a model for a better way to live, and we all together are doing
it. I can't explain this in words very well, but there is a strong feeling of
happiness in me that comes from working towards a common good that I used to get
as a teacher and environmentalist, and now get as I work with my neighbors on a
variety of projects.
Huge personal resources available. Want to know about bee keeping? I go ask Mel,
and get all kinds of info. Having problems with my car? Mary knows lots about
such things. Want to build a shed? Bob can give me advice, help me scrounge
materials, he did half the work on Saturday. A neighborhood like mine is a
collection of 26 lifetimes worth of experience in all manner of things. What a
treasure trove!
Privacy. I get ALL the benefits of cooperative living, and also get huge amounts
of privacy whenever I want just by going home and closing the door or going into
the 25 acres of woods that surround my house that everyone shares ownership of.
Common house -
Restaurant
People of common
interests
Supportive and Safe for
kids
Social opportunities
Huge resources
