Page 2 - C.A.L.L. #34 - Winter 2011/2012

Dear Readers,
CONTENTS
2011 has been a truly eventful year for
me: Our urban kibbutz finally made 3
the big move to live together in the Damanhur, Italy
same place (we've spent the best part
of a decade split between two
adjacent towns); one of the 4
implications being that I moved into Book Review: Life In
my group house (as opposed to having Intentional Christian
been living in my partner's group Community
house last year!). And to top it all off, I
also became a father for the first time. 5
Patch Adams &
All of these changes have confirmed for me the belief that the Gesundheit Community,
extended family which is community is vital to counter the USA
pervasive alienation integral to modern capitalist society. At best,
many people in the (Western) world occupy a space enclosed by 6
four-walls with one significant other, usually with the addition of a International Communes
biological child or three. However, single-parent families are more
and more prevalent – apparently more than one in four American Desk Study Group
children live in a home with only one parent.
10
The nuclear family, it seems, is in crisis. Community Visitors

But those of us living in community have known that for years. I 11
can't imagine not living with my best friends, where our children Owch Senior Co-
can grow up together as best friends too. Kurt Vonnegut, the Housing, UK
American author wrote:
“What should young people do with their lives today? Many 12
things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable Kaleidoscope by Joel
communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be Dorkam
cured.”

You'll find a plethora of insights into community living over the 17
following pages. We feature a prodigious array of models of Twin Oaks, USA
community from all around the world (described, predominantly,
by those actually living communally themselves), and yet I feel 19
confident in making the following audacious supposition - each The Wieserhoisl,
and every one of them is looking for the antidote to loneliness. Austria

Enjoy this latest issue – I hope that reading about others' search 20
for a more meaningful way of living enlightens, engages and most Book Review: Not a
of all, inspires you to (continue to) explore the challenges of City, Not a Village
intentional community living for yourselves.
22
All that's left to say is Happy 2012. May the new year bring deeper Acorn Community, USA
connections with our loved ones, rich community experiences and
mutual solidarity with the wider society at large.
24
You can send us your suggestions, corrections, contributions and Kibbutz Mishol, Israel
retributions regarding C.A.L.L., to the usual email address,
26
Anton Co-housing
anton@kyovel.org
www.communa.org.il