To Ecovillage or Not To Ecovillage...

There's a new ecovillage going in just outside of Ithaca, NY. My friend is moving there (her house just started going up not too long ago!). I am feeling like I really would like to do that too. It's funny, when she first told me about it, I got all excited, but then decided it wouldn't be for me. I didn't want the extra imposition of rules and working on projects that may or may not have anything to do with me, and the possible tedium of meetings.

Well, for some reason, my mind has completely changed in the last week. I'm feeling very drawn toward the community inherent in the ecovillage. Honestly, there's no way to get that without immense work, especially this day and age. Participating in an occasional meeting or helping out with the area doesn't seem so bad, anymore. Yes, there may be extra rules and time impositions, but I get a hand in making them. It's cooperative agreements, not imposed sentences. We all will get to reap the benefits.

Not only that, but since we were strongly considering moving to Ithaca (and possibly building an eco-friendly house), anyway, this way we'll have a built-in support community when we get there. There are other kids for my kids to play with, some will be home-schoolers which may be helpful for my children who are likely to be home-schooled. If my husband has to travel on business or while he's at work, I won't be alone, there will be other people around. Our neighbors may well share many of our values (obviously at *least* an interest in community and sustainable living), which isn't necessarily easy to find in this day and age.

The question now becomes is this as good as we think it is? And if it is, can we really afford to do it?