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Living The Utopian Life Of Dreams

By Sharron Cantu


Life in America is a dream to some, a reality to others. Whether or not an individual can claim to live the utopian life depends on a number of factors beyond shared housing. Utopia requires a peaceful, kind and loving group of individuals, all of whom desire to live a perfect existence and have passion for a well defined purpose.

The word, first coined by Sir Thomas More for his book describes a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. More recently, the term has been used to describe intentional living communities. While it does not require a village, it certainly helps when individuals can share in a peaceful, loving and kind community.

Communes of the mid-60s and early 70s are a good example of utopian lifestyles. Individuals shared housing, chores, gardening and other activities. Unlike those communes of the early days, sex, drugs and rock and roll are often missing from the menu in the intentional living communities and communes still operating today.

The word is of Greek origin and means "no place." An interesting meaning one considers that the meaning of the word and the old adage, "no place is perfect." Plato's Republic's paradise is most likely the earliest reference to this lifestyle in print. Some of these earliest forms placed like minded individuals within a single community so as to blend similar interest and retain a sense of peace in society.

When looking to create commune or intentional community, it is good to have as minimal a carbon footprint in the process as possible. Once the individuals are on-site, it is important to discuss the responsibilities and shared talents of the household. It is also important to pick a location that is ecologically sound and in good environmental health. Otherwise, the village may only be completed to have to be torn down and rebuilt elsewhere.

In the 19th century, several ideas arose related to the lifestyle. Social disruption believed to be created by the development of commercialism and capitalism were on the forefront. As a result, communes, garden homes, intentional communities and other shared living arrangements rose up all over the world.

Not often realized, dormitory living in colleges and universities has often been thought of as utopian. While this may be the case, it is doubtful that any dorm is the perfect living situation; While fraternities and sororities have some of the same living conditions, in no way are either of these utopian in nature. Rather, both are often boisterous, loud and obnoxious, everything that goes against the definition of peace.

Andromeda (1957, ) is a film that shows the human race communicating with a Great Circle to create the perfect technological society. The basic idea being that peaceful, loving, kind individuals can build the perfect life. With the economy and other factors, it is no doubt that this lifestyle may be more popular in the future than the past.




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