We met at the Raap's home on June 16th and successfully addressed an ambitious agenda. Jill took notes which I hope she will post within a few days. I ( Lynette) am posting the Guiding Principles below as presented to the group. These are the result of our small "core group" sessions and reflect considerations that we have heard to date. We hope that you will further digest and make ( post!) your comments here for the rest of the group to see and respond to if so desired.
Thank you all for making my birthday memorable and DELICIOUS. I'm happy to throw a meeting any day with such convivial cohorts! Just imagine the many kinds of celebrations we could have were we all in close proximity.



Guiding Principles

Mindful of the issues of our times- environmental, economic, and spiritual- we are choosing a way of life that helps create a positive, sustainable future. We are cultivating sustainability and developing resilience in a time of unprecedented change in such a way that we experience the benefits and joys of an environmentally responsive lifestyle.

We intend to live together in a way that honors the Earth, embraces simplicity, and encourages a vibrant and healthy lifestyle enjoying the blessings of shared commitment to these ideals and to each other. Recognizing that the effects of our deeds will impact future generations, we strive to work consciously and creatively with the impulses and challenges of our age.

The following principles established by the community’s founders guide its members and provide a framework for those to follow.

Economic

This community is being developed by individuals and families who wish to transition to a simple, sustainable way of life. We intend to pool our needs and share resources to generate as many opportunities as possible.

At a time of economic uncertainty, many of us are also entering the stage of our lives that is considered “retirement”. Rather than retiring we are aspiring to cultivate resilience and develop lifestyle options that support economic efficiencies that benefit our members.

Environmental

We commit to live in a manner that leaves as small and soft as possible the footprint on our neighborhood and ultimately our planet. This may include utilizing solar, wind or other evolving technologies. Our homes are beautifully designed and built with environmental efficiency in mind. The creatively landscaped neighborhood restores, enhances, and protects the natural environment while thoughtfully linking homes to each other and to open spaces. The onsite organic farm and individual garden plots provide a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and flowers. We welcome the presence and value the utility of lovingly cared for farm animals. The water is clean and healthy and storm water runoff is managed onsite through actively and effectively restored wetlands.

Life Style

The community maintains a common house where we enjoy recreation, celebrations, and shared meals and activities. The members share a pond and have access to walking and bike paths and open spaces.

In recognition of the transitions involved in the aging process, the community encourages the health and fitness of its members and supports its members during health challenges and in the process of death and dying.

Community

We welcome all members who wholeheartedly commit to these principles. We welcome those from diverse backgrounds, faiths and generations. Many of us come grounded in the understanding that we are spiritual beings, developing and unfolding continually in relationship to ourselves, each other and the Earth. We also are an inclusive spiritual community that enables people to define and develop their personal relationship with the Divine. We support and embrace each individual’s freedom of spirit.

All members strive to maintain relationships with each other grounded in tolerance, compassion, love and forgiveness. We commit to resolving conflict and clearing our relationships when and where needed; community members are available to assist in that process, if desired.

We value living together and recognize that each member is enhanced by all others who resonate with these principles. As expressed so well by Robert Sardello:

In a true community, everyone finds their individuality enhanced ñ not their egotistic individualism but the sense of their individual spirit being recognized and appreciated by others and its contribution interwoven into the communal enterprise….New forms of wisdom, love and action characterize community life.

The will aspect of the community has to do with what will forces help make the community be a true community rather than a group. The primary aspect of will here concerns the will to be completely human, working out of the center of the heart, not ruling over others by means of intellect or by feelings of false togetherness.