A working blueprint to get there.

Please add to, critique and create! Share your Brilliance!

Author: Karl BanksOwner of Dream: YOU

Essence of Dream:Building Community doesn’t have to wait!

• While building equity in the first home, it will be best to stay close to job and opportunity and existing community.

• Do not wait to build community! It takes time and to wait until you can afford the Dream property in the country may be too late!

• David Loomis deserves credit for the key concept: Essence of Dream– Create as much of the Dream wherever you are, now.– Not only will life be better in the present, but the

actualization of the Dream in the future becomes more likely.

Intentional Community Mission Statement

We who freely choose to join together in community want a living environment which embodies the following:

• A place to Prosper, Grow Personally and Nurture Children• A Community of Warriors, Living in Integrity• To be Fiscally Self-Sufficient as a Whole, and Individually.• Deed to Land with Water• To become Connected to the Local Community• Private Space: come Build Your Dream!• Shared Space and Responsibility are Determined by

Consensus, and may include gardens, workshop, common house, meals, large Gourmet kitchen, guest accommodations, entertainment center, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, parking, and network, to name just a few.

• Off the Grid: providing for our own power, water, wastewater and solid waste needs means that we are Independent.

A Community of Warriors• The term ‘warrior’ here applies to the people

we would like to attract. What you call yourself is flexible, but you are committed to:

– Taking responsibility for your actions, emotions and words

– Committed to doing the personal work required for highly-evolved interpersonal community

– Communicate very well, open to learning more

– Living and interacting with Integrity and Honesty

‘Warrior’ refers to the daily battle we do against the Lies inside and outside of ourselves. The battle is within our own minds, to overcome stories which would take our power.

Fred Burks said it well…

• “I want to live with people who are deeply committed to taking full responsibility for their lives and who are willing to look into the shadow places inside themselves and out in the world as we individually and collectively strive to create a new paradigm based on love and empowerment.”

From Renter to OwnerRenting is by definition putting your money into your landlord’s

dream, therefore it is important to make the leap to start building your dream.

•Build your credit rating•Save your down payment•Get pre-approved for a loan•Contact a realtor whom you can trust•Look for a home, the right home

•The present market is down, so deals may be found•However, a down market means it may be longer before any equity is accumulated•Therefore, the home should be very satisfying, of quality, in a good location•Don’t be rash! Take the time to find the right place

•Buy the best place for you!•Make that house your home and the seed to community

Tenancy In Common• Discover if any friends are ready NOW to begin building

community, ready to commit• Putting collective capital together, with a strong legal

contract to protect everyone, could allow for an urban crucible for the Dream

• Obtaining a multi-unit property would allow for some to try on community as renters or even to join the TIC and build equity

• Will give the opportunity to build a core group, build equity and work out some of the kinks of living collectively.

• Work out core values, mission statement and learn together what the best Vision will be to move forward.

• Allow the Core Group of Dreamers to coalesce

Years (+/-) in Future

• After ~x years of home ownership in the Bay Area, having recouped fees and expenses, the Core Group may be ready to move out to the country.– the Urban Homestead may be bought by the

community members who are not ready to move away

– Or it may be kept for the collective to live on and borrowed against to buy and build in the country

– Or it may be sold outright

• With capital, the Core Group will seek the land upon which to build the Dream

The Ideal Property

• Location will be important, as the members of the Core Group will need to be able to meet many needs in this location:

– Source of income within a short commute

– Nearby to cultural interests, entertainment, stimulation, nature, etc.

• Adequate space, favorable zoning, room to grow and create gardens and generate power

• WATER! The only crucial resource

The Dream is a Co Creation

• While the concepts on the following pages will probably be adapted and used in some way, obviously without the Core Group defined, gathered and committed, the final vision for the Dream cannot be expressed precisely.

• However, what follows is the result of the conversation amongst many people over the last 15 years, and so should not be too far off.

Envisioning the Dream• Large property to accommodate from 15-50 people when fully built-out.• Water and sunlight and arable land• Consider Land held in trust in order to guarantee stability of community• Common House to include shared luxuries• Individual homes which may be more or less modest depending upon

individual interest and means– Community will accommodate a large range of incomes, from rich to poor

• Sustainable shared infrastructure such as renewable energy generated onsite, drinking and wastewater systems which provide pure water and reuse wastewater for irrigation

• Food grown onsite• Safe, fun environment for children• Welcoming community, integrated with larger local community• Fertile ground for creation of art• Economic opportunities for all residents• Sustainable community which lives on beyond the life spans of Core Group

providing a legacy for future generations

Shared Spaces• Shared spaces are what make community!• Ideally there will be spaces for movement, gatherings

and classes• Shared artist spaces will allow for the creation of art

and a venue for generating income from the outside community

• Spaces for recreation and amenities such as pools, spa, jacuzzi, exercise room, yoga room, guest rooms and common kitchen will allow for maximum enjoyment and the potential to generate income to help pay for the community expenses.

• Gardens for growing food, for beautifying the property and for the enjoyment of all will be cultivated and the effort and the produce will be shared.

Visualizations

• What follows is a series of photos intended to inspire

• These photos are random, no one of them is intended to specify details

• These are just images for the fertilization of the Dream inside of you