If you lived on a commune where work was required, what would you do?

[RambleTamble]

There's another thread about universal basic income (UBI) where we talked a bit about communes. Kibbutzim (the plural of Kibbutz) have been highly successful in Israel since the early 1900s. It could be a way to end poverty.

Here is a basic description:

• Communal living: Members traditionally lived in private quarters, but communal facilities like dining halls, laundry rooms, and schools were central to the community.
• Shared resources: All wealth was held in common, and profits were reinvested in the settlement.
• Child-rearing: Children were often housed and cared for in communal "children's houses" staffed by educators and caretakers.
• Work: Members' jobs could be assigned by rotation, choice, or skill, and there were regular meetings to discuss and make decisions for the community.

If you lived on a commune (such as a kibbutz), what would you contribute?

 

[RambleTamble]

Personally, I'd like to do something related to music, like run a hootenanny or something. Or maybe run a community radio station.

 

[Pepper]

Move

 

[Medusa]

Probably write the newsletter.


Edit: Fixing, "newsletter." It was driving me crazy.

 

[Muskrat]

The livestock.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I’d volunteer to be a gardener and chef/ cook

 

[gruntlabor]

Security, food service, office work, cleaning, gardening, childcare, whatever needs doing that I'm competent to do.
Not now, though. Now, I'd be more a liability than an asset.

 

[hollydolly]

I could do most practical things... Cook. knit, crochet...

 

[MarciKS]

Cooking and cleaning

 

[Mr. Ed]

Trip Sitter

 

[Nathan]

All crafts(electrical, plumbing, welding etc.)

 

[TeePee]

Cooking and cleaning

 

[Paco Dennis]

I have lived in a commune for about 40 years. You do what the community decides.

 

[seadoug]

I would be the one who counsels people.

 

[MarciKS]

I have lived in a commune for about 40 years. You do what the community decides.

What if you aren't able to do what they decide?

 

[JBR]

I have lived in a commune for about 40 years. You do what the community decides.

Yes? But you lived communally, so what did you actually do?

 

[TeePee]

I have lived in a commune for about 40 years. You do what the community decides.

Missouri has a commune. I'd never heard of one there.
I wouldn't like being told what to do, I'd rather live somewhere where I had a say in what I do.

 

[Oldeagle66]

Leave

 

[officerripley]

Run the library.

 

[Paco Dennis]

Missouri has a commune. I'd never heard of one there.
I wouldn't like being told what to do, I'd rather live somewhere where I had a say in what I do.

Yep. 1986 I joined. It is a real church too. It is basically Buddhist. There were up to 15 people here. When I joined there were 2, and I made 3. We held meetings at the public library, refurbished computers to give to the poor, and we were as self reliant as possible.

 

[RambleTamble]

Yep. 1986 I joined. It is a real church too. It is basically Buddhist. There were up to 15 people here. When I joined there were 2, and I made 3. We held meetings at the public library, refurbished computers to give to the poor, and we were as self reliant as possible.

How does it support itself?

 

[Naturally]

hunter gatherer

 

[dusty]

Basically,, I have lived in a commune since I married the agent. Even though married we had seperate interests and some the same, raised our son and our grandson, and always helping our neighbors when they had problems. Ours was a 4-? amount of people and pets from time to time, we never turned anyone away. It was very interesting and like I've said before I have had the best life!

I guess I would be a helper.

 

[RambleTamble]

On second thought, rather than organize hootenannies, I'd organize rock concerts. That's the music I really like.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I'll tell you what it wouldn't be....the dishes. Perhaps I'd teach music. The mosque my husband attended most often (he and the Imam were very close friends) ran a bus to the Bruderhof community in upstate New York. We fellowshipped with some of the residents and were even invited into their living quarters, each of us with a person or couple as our hosts for the afternoon.

My husband and I were paired with their minister and his wife. Their quarters were as you described...semi private personal spaces (semi because there were curtains at their apartment, not a door) and common areas, like kitchens and bathrooms. We toured the grounds and work spaces such as the communal laundry facility and woodworking shop (they did a lot with wood in that community). Each of us got a wooden cutting board as souvenirs.

As soon as we arrived and before we joined the residents for lunch in their huge dining hall, we toured their beautiful church and school. We saw the storage cubicles that were made by the students out of wood as well as some of the science projects in their classrooms.

They grew their own food. No money is necessary since all their needs, even healthcare are provided, In return each adult works the land or in a facility that services the residents. It was a very peaceful place and we would have liked to visit again, maybe even stay for a few days, but I doubt I could live that lifestyle. Their most senior person, who I believe was in her 80s said she was offered "retirement", but loved what she did so decided to continue working. Bruderhof Communities - Learn about a 100-year-old Christian community

As we arrived. The building that houses their church and school.





I'm pretty sure that wood sculpture was carved on premises, perhaps by one of the students.



An internet photo of their dining hall. I was very impressed with how their young people served us. Both our Imam and their minister spoke while lunch was being served.