I would have never called my life “dynamic” two or three years ago. Life then seemed pretty slow, predictable, and dare I say, a little bit dull. One of the things I have come to appreciate and anticipate is the dynamism of living in an intentional community. This can be a very positive experience, but in some respects, it can be equally disorienting.
Things are constantly changing. Not only the obvious things like the surroundings, including wildlife and even buildings and homes (new ones seem to be going up monthly these days), but social life, too. People come and go constantly, which can be exciting, but it’s also a little dizzying, and sometimes dispiriting.
Occasionally, the folks that come through fit in like they’ve never lived anywhere else, and it’s easy to get used to their company. Oftentimes, these short term visitors are gone within a month or even a couple weeks. Faces come and go. Of course, there is always the same core membership group (well, until someone moves away, of course), but visitors and short term guests can have a significant impact on the social scene. New faces bring new energy to the group.
I suppose that’s just something to get used to when you’re living in community. It’s no wonder then that some “veteran” communitarians are cautious about getting too invested in the new crowd. Perhaps it is a matter of necessity to be wary of forming solid but temporary bonds.
Me? I like change. I like the dynamic landscape and the modes of life that shift and morph over the seasons. And I like to meet new people, too. I usually have a least a basic interest in where people come from and what brought them here. Once in a while, it’s hard to say farewell when you get to know someone, though.
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