How are all types of intentional community similar?
Residential intentional community goes deeper than sharing housing or living in the same housing cluster. Intentional community includes some degree of sharing values, resources, and time. Camaraderie and a shared purpose are part of the appeal. Sociologists have identified three conditions to making close friends: proximity, repeated unplanned interactions, and an environment that encourages people to let their guard down and confide in each other.
Many have commented on the difficulty of maintaining friendships in our busy lives. During teen and young adult years, sociability is typically a frequent part of life. In later adulthood, it can be harder to make new friends and find time for the friends we have.
While community life does require that members consider others’ needs and preferences more often, which can be inconvenient, intentional community is an opportunity to recapture a sense of strong social connection. Many alternative housing solutions also offer significant practical benefits such as shared resources that increase your quality of life without increased expense.