It all started way back in the commune heydays. A man we will call Adam lived in the San Francisco  Haight district and fed the hungry with an all vegan, free restaurant.  Now, he is aging but still wants a community and the ability to feed the hungry.  So, his friend, Abel, told me about this idea. And it’s by the beach. So, even though I swore off cohousing and intentional communities, I thought maybe this time!

I got involved because they needed someone in the younger generation to recruit, document, and even run an education center.  I succeeded in recruiting and the recruit, Cain, went over there right away ready to work and be part of this forming community.  

He appeared on the property and everyone was friendly. There was Adam, his son, and a guy on the couch.  Cain felt welcomed and they put him up in their exercise room.  Cain had ideas and the energy to do environmental work. He enjoyed talking to Adam.  After a few days things started to go south.

First, the son asked the guy on the couch to help with a project now that Cain wanted to help.  The guy freaked out. Far as I can tell, he had been living there without lifting a finger and didn’t like the change.  Then, the son never liked his ideas and made it clear he was tired of hippie friends of his father being in his life (Like the guy on the couch).

The last straw for Cain was when the son wanted him to get on the roof with the guy on the couch holding the ladder. Cain didn’t trust the guy on the couch with a ladder so he packed up and left.

I never even got to visit the place. I had a feeling things were iffy. When I had a zoom call, the son said he wanted to please his father but no one could tell me how much property they had, where they’d put people, or if it really was a go. Now Cain had shown it was a no.  Adam wants the hey days back but his son controls the property.  His son, I suspect, didn’t like the unstable nature of the commune lifestyle and wants nothing to do with it now as an adult. He’s a Republican which I suspect may be a form of rebellion from his parents.

Cain ran off to visit his sister and is looking for another community and farms to volunteer at.  I feel sad that another intentional community dream is ruined.  At least this time I didn’t put much time, money, or effort in and I was cautious from the start.  Plus, now I have two new friends – Cain and Abel.

In case you are counting, I”m 2-0.  I’m seriously considering giving up completely.