Communes

Twinoaks

100 People Sharing Our Lives •

"Twin Oaks is an intentional community in rural central Virginia, made up of around 85 adult members and 15 children. Since the community's beginning in 1967, our way of life has reflected our values of cooperation, sharing, nonviolence, equality, and ecology.
We do not have a group religion; our beliefs are diverse. We do not have a central leader; we govern ourselves by a form of democracy with responsibility shared among various managers, planners, and committees. We are self-supporting economically, and partly self-sufficient. We are income-sharing. Each member works 42 hours a week in the community's business and domestic areas. Each member receives housing, food, healthcare, and personal spending money from the community." (using "www.twinoaks.org")

Why do they prefer to choose such closed life style? Such different lifestyle has reflected what questions are in our life. There are two features in current society- busy and isolated, even though our life is more convenient and that communication is more improvable. For this reason, some people want to search or establish a new society which is ordinary and relative, Twin Oaks Intention Community just as well. However, if you want to get such a quality life that you need to lost something. For example, you won’t own more individual money and private housing if you want to live here. So the system doesn’t fit for anybody. Most my classmates have no intention to live in communes even though this life will improve their spiritual life. Especially, Privacy seems to be the strongest why they refuse. Thus it can be seen, privacy is the most important requirement to housing so a good commune should put in time and effort to privacy. When you are pleasure with giving up your privacy and sharing lots of something, and you can try to live in Twin Oaks Intentional Community. Maybe it will be your Utopia.
In my interview for living in communes, the one said, “The biggest disadvantage is separation of the world.” “The biggest advantage is closed with people.” another said, “The biggest disadvantage is too much strict.” “The biggest advantage is nothing because it is evil.” There is a common opinion between them- People who live in this community are controlled, no real freedom. Really, many regulations put on these residents so that they could own cooperation, sharing, nonviolence, equality, and ecology. It’s very interesting that the community is giving us a picture filled with peace, love, health but you also lost freedom. Can we command the best life losing freedom? At least, I’m seeing “100 people” who think so. In my opinion, it seems to practice Marxism, and these people can fit and enjoy this life. Eventually, I think that there is no system can make the best life for everyone but different systems fit different people. As some people like to live at Carbondale, others don’t. So It’s the most important to seek this lifestyle fitting you.