How To Live The Utopian Life

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.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a number of communes existed all over the United States. Many on the east and west coasts housed individuals who shared chores, cooking, cleaning, gardening and worked to provide others in need. Today the focus on these intentional communities seems to be more on shared baby and pet-sitting than shared chores and food. Regardless, the other aspects of sex, drugs and rock and roll have also been removed from earlier times.

One of the most promising groups looking to build a Utopian society is that of the improvisational dance community. A community can be built around a specific interest, or the interests of a number of different residents. When built around one specific interest, it is often easier to plan and attend events as the need for specific equipment often stays the same.

When it comes to the economy, most utopian communities are based on socioeconomic factors. Whereas, when it comes to ecology, it is important when building a commune or intentional community to do so in ways that are green and safe to the environment. After all, one goal of this type of society is to clean up, not destroy or tear down valuable resources.

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.

In some ways, college dorms might fit the profile of utopian society. In other ways, not even close. The often obnoxious, loud and boisterous ways of college has a way to eliminate the utopian concept. Whereas, to live a life that is utopian is to live a life that is peaceful simplicity in harmony with life and nature.

A good fictional example is Andromeda (1957) a film in which a united human race communicates with a Great Circle to develop a perfect technological culture within a social network. The basic premise is that the right individuals can build an intentional community of peaceful, kind and loving people which can last a lifetime. One of the most important aspect of a successful living situation is the ability of all residents to co-exist in a peaceful manner regardless of differences of opinion.




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