East Wind, Missouri

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We've chosen to base our society on cooperation ... as an alternative to the material wastefulness, competitiveness, and isolation of the "outside" world. Thus, we hold our land, labor, and businesses in common. All income generated by our activities belongs to the community, and we decide as a group what projects we'll undertake, what goods we'll purchase, and how we'll divide them. Since we share the use of our vehicles and laundry and kitchen facilities, we need fewer of them to provide "enough." And we guarantee that our members have adequate food, clothing, and shelter without having to compete with one another for these things.

East Wind tries to fulfill its members' social needs through discussion groups, assertiveness training workshops, a newly formed "Emotional Health Team," and various recreational activities, among other things. We try to provide the greatest good for the greatest number without losing sight of the minority's interests. We aim for feelings of support, trust, and interdependence ... feelings, in short, of community.

Our group is also committed to equality in as many ways as we can find. We give all our members the same access to jobs, training opportunities, and positions of responsibility. (Yes, Virginia, you too could be a compost manager or learn to run one of our half-million-dollar businesses!) Our weekly discretionary funds and vacation money—albeit somewhat limited—are allotted equally, and all labor is valued the same, whether in industry, child care, agriculture, or housekeeping. Everyone shares equally in the work and in its benefits.

Physical violence is one of the few offenses for which one's membership can be terminated. We don't choose to relate to one another in that manner. Instead, we support facilitated conflict resolution, use of intermediaries, or even writing angry papers back and forth. (Yes, we do still have our little flare-ups now and then.) This nonviolence among ourselves and the fact that we're miles from paved roads and outsiders create a tremendous sense of physical security. It does my paranoid citybred heart good to be completely unconcerned about footsteps coming up behind me at 3:00 AM. I know they come from someone who will do me no harm and may even want to share a cup of tea before bed.

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