Moving to a community
We often miss options when thinking about moving somewhere else. Moving to a community is one option we may not consider.
A community is a group of People who share commonalities. It can be that they share similar values, that their worldview or understanding of what’s going on is aligned, or that they seek identical outcomes such as well-being and happiness. These People understand each other. They are “aligned” if this word resonates with you.
In a context of growing control and intrusion in People’s lives, it is no surprise that communities appear worldwide. They have different characteristics, and we witness different levels of integration between People who are part of them.
Such communities can be in a village in Lombardi or the jungle in Mexico, but the underlying patterns in terms of mindset are very similar.
Moving to a community can significantly ease your move by facilitating your integration at the place you move to. Before proceeding, you will often contact the community you plan to move to, meaning your integration has already started. You know where (and who) you are moving to, which makes you feel safer.
Communities are spaces of safety for the mind and the body. Because you are surrounded by People you trust, your mind should naturally feel in a safe context. It means that you are likely to feel great physically. This is especially beneficial if you have a medical condition. In that case, you should opt for a positive context, which communities can offer.
In the context of a community, your energy is less likely to be consumed by negative aspects such as concerns about how to integrate yourself, how to find a job, and how to deal with administrative matters…
When the integration level between members is high, communities can pool resources. It means you will likely spend less resources (time, money, and effort) to get your needs. It is nonsense that each of us owns every item required for daily life, and many have realized this nonsense. Countless objects such as cars, houses, gardens, and tools could be shared.
Communities offer opportunities. They may not appear right from the start, but as soon as the community grows, you see opportunities for value creation between community members. It means that members can create value and potentially charge for it. They can also barter if they wish to. Exchanges of goods and services: “i fix your roof, and you provide me with vegetables and fruits for a week, for instance”. They can even develop their currency to store and exchange value.
Our tips before you engage with any community
We no longer recommend any community because we don’t have the resources to be 100% confident that they are trustworthy places. It would be best to be careful when picking a community because there are ongoing scams where you invest in things that are not what you think they are. The only way to determine if something is a scam is to spend time digging there, asking questions, talking to members, and reading the legal documents. All this takes time, and we cannot do this for free.
What we now do is that we tell you what you must watch out for before committing.
See it for yourself
Check the community before committing to any financial engagement (if money is involved). The best way is to engage with this community: go check it out, join gatherings, participate in webinars and calls if they run any, and participate in group chats or forums. Do not decide on one single interaction. You need numerous interactions over several weeks or months to tell if this place is the right place for you.
Is there a financial commitment?
Some communities will ask you for a financial commitment (land, house, car, membership purchase). These financial commitments can go from a few 10,000 USD to a few 100,000 USD. Never forget that the current context is a perfect opportunity for scammers. They won’t hesitate to make cash out of you. Here is what to watch out for:
Is the community playing on People’s fear? “You’ve got to join us because you are at risk.”
Is the community playing on FOMO (fear of missing out)? “You’ve got to invest right now because there is a high demand, and we will run out of lots.”
Is the community luring you with an excellent deal that you’ve got to take right now? “Alright, I can offer you 30% off, but you have to commit by the end of the week. After that, i cannot honor this cheaper rate.”
Financial commitment means agreement, contract, and terms. What are these terms? Do you understand them very well? If you will pay a significant amount, you would rather pay a trustworthy lawyer to review the documentation. Do not use the lawyer provided by the community. S/he is unlikely to be neutral.
Legal paperwork protecting the leader
If you are asked to sign legal paperwork, which seems to overprotect the leader, it is a big red flag. There is a reason why such clauses are in place. Often, the reason is a scam.
The religious or political dimension
Some communities involve a religious or political dimension. It would be best if you were extra careful about this. I would perceive this as a potential constraint, especially if there are rules related to religion or politics. You can openly ask the community you contact if there is any religious or political dimension. You should also observe the community and find out if there is.
Governance model
Because of the mindset engrained in most People, you may have People emerging as decision-makers or being more vocal than others. You want to understand how the community/group operates. Is decision-making centralized in the hands of a few People, or is there active participation of men and women inside the community? Observe how the People who started the community behave. Do they respect People? Do they listen to them? Do they address their concerns? If they don’t, it is a signal that you will likely experience a similar behavior when you live in this community.
Your intuition
What is your intuition telling you? Does it mean that there is something off? Does it tell you that you must go for it?
Listen to your intuition, especially if it’s on the negative side. Don’t rush any decision. Your intuition can be about anything:
The folks managing the community
The folks already living in this community
The place itself
The environment of the place
Sometimes you will feel that something is off, but you cannot put your finger on it. In this case, do not disregard your intuition. It is likely to be correct. You have two options: continue digging to find out what is off or pass on this option.
Ask questions
You may cross half of the world to live there (some did). You have the right to ask questions, especially tough ones, and you must do so. It would be best if you asked any question that you have on your mind. If you don’t do so you may pay a high price later. There are no stupid questions. The environment of a community may be new to you; the location may be very different from what you are used to. List all your questions and ask them.
Ask questions both to the folks managing the community and to the folks who are already part of it.
My take
Communities can be very appealing. They are like a dream for some of us. I have heard of small communities working very well and usually not advertising their location or what they do. That makes sense. If your community is working, you do not want to attract many People because integrating more folks is not easy.
The more a community advertises and jollifies what it does, the more likely it is a scam.
Because it is a tough job to find a community, I would suggest these two options:
Move to a place where you can secure enough space. This place is likely to be a rural area or on the side of an urban area. As you secure enough space or the adjacent space to your own space is free, other People can join you and live there as well. Imagine you move south of Brazil on the side of Ponta Grossa and purchase 5000 square meters of land with a home. Your land is large enough to build 2 additional homes. What you can do is to mention to your network that there is available space where you live. Of course, you want to filter the type of folks you bring in.
Move to a place where you know that the local population has a great sense of community. For instance, you can understand how locals behave by reading travelers’ reviews on Airbnb or other websites. Once you have moved to this place, start integrating with local folks. Opt for a place where you can speak the local language; otherwise, it will likely be difficult unless you are good at learning a new language and/or motivated to learn.
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As we continuously create value for you you will also find a very useful tip on the Help us page.
Thanks
Creative ideas for community leaders
We’ve got a few ideas based on what we have seen