From NomadicScribe

for e-mail, blog or possibly EW-zine publication...

---

short URL for this page is: tinyurl.com/lvawl

notes

• tues - arrival, hay bucking - creek/RB(poker)
• wed - more hay bucking, nut shift (packing) - sunnyside(guitar,music,etc)
• thu - nut shift (labeling) - creek/music room
• fri - nut shift (tubs)
• sat - hangover? leave..

current draft

I've been at East Wind for four days now, and I'm amazed that it exists at all.

When I first got in, Quinn gave me the dime tour, pointing out the computer room, work areas, the men's visitor hut (where I'm sleeping) and the RB. He let me loose after about an hour. I bucked some hay with Dave, took a dip in the creek, and spent the rest of the evening hanging out next to the swimming hole. It seems like most of my time has been spent hanging out with people. Work gets done, but there are no schedules. There are quotas and sign-ups instead. Everyone seems to know how everything works. I didn't need an orientation.

I could see myself settling into life here very easily. Everyone's always got a clean bathroom, clean clothes, clean dishes and food in the fridge. Everyone puts in their fair share, but it's not a job anymore, it's part of life. East Wind seems like a place I'd like to retire. "Why not retire now?" I ask myself. Yoh loves talking about the "passive revolution" that East Wind is a part of. I'm just not ready to give into that yet. I'm not ready for that kind of bliss.

And this visit has been blissful. Two words: naked party. I have never before walked around bare-assed with a beer in my hand, and felt it was perfectly normal. It feels like an expression of humanity that gets repressed so often in mainstream society. The conversations have been great too. I feel like these are conversations among my friends. We talk about politics, religion, the nature of the universe - things important and inconsequential. It's almost everything I want in life in one place.

There seems to be an undercurrent of interpersonal conflict, like the "constant low-level warfare" that tribal societies are known for. Catty notes on boards, gossip and rumors keep everyone on their toes. I've heard (but not yet experienced) that it can be much worse in other communities, where people are more passive-aggressive about their conflicts. I'm sure the social climate here serves some hidden purpose. It seems to be working so far, so who am I to knock it? Some people will always create drama, and some people avoid it.

How long does it take to get sick of the smell of roasted peanuts? I've only done three shifts but I still love it. There's something about peeling dried Elmer's glue off my hands that reminds me of kindergarten. Doing shifts in the nuthouse would not be difficult for me. I get to work with cool people, listen to great music, and I'm working from home! I wonder sometimes about sustainability at East Wind. It doesn't seem to be a big priority now. But I get the feeling that when something needs to change, it will. There are a lot of creative people here - all problem solvers - and when the time comes, whatever needs to get done, will. East Wind seems to run itself.

I've had a great time at East Wind and would love to come back and visit again. And some day, when I feel like I'm ready to settle down, it might be a nice place to live.
--
Benjamin Bradley is touring several FEC and other communities in 2006. See his weblog at nomadicscribe.net

fragments, etc

East Wind is a creature of a different cloth. A worn old tie-dyed hemp cloth that smells like roasted peanuts.

I've been asked five times if I am a cop. But no one ever asked if I was from prison.

I was talking to some folks about the labor hour system - is it possible to trade hours with other people? They told me about PSCs.

East Wind seems to run itself. Work needs to get done, so people do it.

There doesn't seem to be as much community culture here as in the other communitites that I've seen. Granted, they were both much smaller (20-30 people). Both the communities I've visited so far shared more meals together - even at Dancing Rabbit they had pot-lucks twice a week where all the smaller food co-ops would get together.

I've attended one meeting so far and it was pretty low-key. The turnout was fairly small (11 people) and I noticed that two people had to leave for emotional reasons during the meeting.