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Permia Community

Younger boomer (60-70)

Female

Benque Viejo del Carmen, TN Belize, U.S.

Speed of commitment:

Fast: Open to a situation that takes everyone being all-in from the start (with contracts & clarity), Slow: Open to a situation where trust can build over time

IC types I would live in or am forming:

Artist collective & live work space, Ecovillage or agrihood, Farm or ranch, Housing or shelter for a vulnerable group, Life partner also into community, Off-grid, Resource-sharing or income-sharing commune, Retreat or event hosting as community, Single-parent shared housing, Spiritual or religious focus, Student house share, Tiny homes community

Food production:

Working toward a mix of producing our own food and buying groceries, Working toward producing all or nearly all of our own food

IC seeker or founder/resident:

IC resident: I am already in an established IC and looking for members to join. This may or may not include housing, a business partnership, or work trade.

Residential proximity:

Separate units (separate apartments but some shared common areas with shared resources), Shared land (separate houses possibly with some shared buildings)

Ownership types:

Co-operative (collectively owned separate houses or apartments), Joint land purchase to subdivide, hold shares, or hold "tenancy in common", Multi-house collective (shared resources, but houses have separate ownership or are separate rentals), Whatever the group can agree on

Reasons for shared housing:

Ecological sustainability to reduce carbon footprint, Friendship and sharing activities, Having a “chosen family” to share good times and support each other thru hard times, Having social interaction while limiting the amount of influence or interaction with society, Helping each other with childcare, Helping with eldercare, Lower cost of living, Shared land, shared community hub such as gardens or meeting space, but not shared housing), Sharing meals and chores, Sharing resources (spaces, equipment, tools, vehicles, gardens)

Décor of shared areas:

A consistent aesthetic theme is important, Decisions based on practical utility and durability, Prefer furniture & decor that's kid-or-pet friendly (used or easily replaceable)

Clutter level of shared living areas or work space:

Average level of "lived in" look, Creativity in progress (translate: not tidy in designated work space), Tidy in shared spaces, with a designated place for things

Cleanliness level (germs & crumbs):

All food counters & tables wiped down after each use, All food counters & tables wiped down daily to not attract pests, Dishes washed (or loaded into dishwasher) daily to not attract pests, Disinfectants must be ecologically safe products (chemical sensitivity), Medical need for a dust-free environment

Yard or landscaping:

Covered space for storage, Gardens and edible landscaping, Mowed, trimmed, manicured outdoor space, Place to park my RV or tiny home, Space for kids and/or dogs to run, Tidy and clutter-free outdoors with storage out of sight

Neighborhood or scenery:

Clean well maintained urban or suburban surroundings are a priority worth paying extra for, Nature scenery is a priority worth paying extra for

Current city, town, or county:

Benque Viejo del Carmen

Nation(s) of current residence:

Belize, U.S.

Preferred regions:

Central America, U.S. Alaska, U.S. California, U.S. Colorado, U.S. Florida, U.S. Missouri, U.S. Oregon, U.S. Texas, U.S. Washington state, U.S. midwest region, U.S. northeast region, U.S. rocky mountain region, U.S. southeast region, U.S. southwest region

Population density:

Remote, Rural, Small town, Urban

State, province, or region:

Tennessee (TN)

Common practical skills:

Cleaning, Cooking for groups, Gardening or crop cultivation, Group facilitation, Organizing & labeling, Permaculture

Experience or schooling:

Activism & organizing, Architecture, Carpentry & construction, Electrician, English language proficiency, Experience teaching adults, Horticulture or permaculture, Marketing, Mediation or dispute resolution, Natural building, Sociocracy or holocracy, Waterworks, plumbing, sanitation, Website design

Languages:

English, Farsi and Armenian

Occupation(s) and expertise:

24 years in Solar "offgrid", licensed electrician, Community Developer, web developer, 3d modeler

Years lived in an IC:

1-5 years in IC

Experience in community:

Gardening, Natural Building, Electrical and plumbing, framing and concrete work

Professional certifications or degrees:

natural building certificaation, Home energy efficiency,

Generation:

Younger boomer (60-70)

Generations intended in IC:

Gen X (born 1965 – 1980), Gen Z (born 1997 – 2012), Millennial (born 1981 – 1996), Older boomer (born 1946 – 1954), Younger boomer (born 1955 – 1964)

Alcohol (tolerable rules):

Should be regulated by group decision only if it becomes problematic

Tobacco smoking (tolerable rules):

Should be allowed in designated indoor areas, Should only be allowed outdoors

Cannabis (tolerable rules):

Should be allowed after work hours, Should be allowed in designated areas only, Should be allowed with medical prescription, Should be regulated by group decision only if it becomes problematic

Psychedelics (tolerable rules):

Should be allowed by those authorized to use them for ceremonial purposes, Should be allowed only in a legal supervised therapeutic setting

Illegal recreational drugs (tolerable rules):

Should be dealt with by group decision in a manner to support non-use, Should be grounds for expulsion from the community, Should not be allowed on the premises

Overnite guests (tolerable rules):

Should be allowed in designated guest areas, Should be permitted in limited circumstances as decided by the governance process, Should be subject to group decision only if it becomes problematic, Should not be a concern of the community, as long as everyone's privacy is respected

Daytime visitor access (tolerable rules):

Should be discussed and limited by the IC agreements, Should not be restricted, Should not be restricted after certain individuals or visitor types are approved, Should require that community is informed of planned visits

Nudity (tolerable rules):

Should be limited to private rooms or private residences (as is the norm outside the IC), Should be permitted within designated areas of the IC (e.g., a gated hot tub), Should be welcome and discussed through the governance process, to consider each individual’s preferences

Religious or spiritual practice-based IC:

No mandate of adherence to shared religious beliefs and practices

My religious beliefs or practices:

12 steps (from AA, NA, etc.), Agnostic, Astrology, Atheist, Bahai, Buddhist, Christian (Catholic), Christian (evangelical), Christian (fundamentalist), Christian (universalist), Hindu, Jainist, Jewish, Kabbalah, Mediumship, Muslim/Islam, Native American / First Nations, Near-death experience or out-of-body, New Age (mix), New Thought (law of attraction), Omnist, Other, Pagan, Pantheist, Rastafarian, Shamanic or indigenous animist, Sikh, Spiritual but not religious, Spiritualist, Taoist, Tarot, Thelema, Theosophical Society, Wiccan, Zoroastrian

Practices welcome in IC:

12 steps (from AA, NA, etc.), Agnostic, Astrology, Atheist, Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jainist, Jewish, Kabbalah, Mediumship, Muslim/Islam, Native American / First Nations, Near-death experience or out-of-body, New Age (mix), New Thought (law of attraction), Pagan, Pantheist, Rastafarian, Shamanic or indigenous animist, Sikh, Spiritual but not religious, Spiritualist, Taoist, Tarot, Thelema, Theosophical Society, Wiccan, Zoroastrian

Ecological preservation ethics:

Commitment to reduce, re-use, recycle, Composting toilet, Eating vegan, vegetarian, or certified humane animal products, Gray water recycling where permitted, Local food commitment for low carbon footprint, Minimize use of plastic, Use of alternative power such as solar or wind

Size of community:

21 to 50

Sense of togetherness:

An IC should foster close interpersonal relationships, An IC should have regular mandated “group work” to resolve conflicts as they arise, An IC should have regular opportunities to encourage all to share their feelings, I do not want to be required or pressured to share feelings in a group setting, Relationships should develop naturally, not thru team building exercises or mandated group circles

Gender + number:

Female

Genders welcome in IC:

Female, Male, Non-binary, Trans AFAB, Trans AMAB

My current couple situation:

I'm available

Couple situations welcome in IC:

Available somewhat (e.g., in open relationship), Committed closed partnership(s) (e.g., married monogamous couples), Single (not in a committed closed partnership)

My sexual orientation:

Straight

Sexual identities welcome in IC:

Cisgender (gender aligns with natal sex), Heterosexual (straight), LGBTQ+ (non-normative gender identity and/or same-sex attraction), Monogamous (committed to a single sexual partner), Non-monogamous, Polyamorous (in more than one physically intimate relationship with consent of all involved), Polygamous (married to more than one spouse)

Sex & intimacy norms in IC:

A topic discussed with curiosity and respect, allowing for experimentation around what works for the community, Primarily left to the individual to determine, with the understanding that personal choices can impact community culture

Physical affection:

I enjoy hugs and lean toward the easily affectionate side, I selectively enjoy hugs; I lean more toward the physically reserved side, It depends

My availability for physical intimacy:

Consensual recreational sex is okay with me, depending, Want to take it really slow to be sure a commitment can last, Want to take it slow, be friends before more involvement

Race & Ethnicity:

American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian (India), Asian (other), Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Middle Eastern or North African, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, White

Children in IC:

Children are welcome but not a necessity (not a dealbreaker issue), Children are welcome if 8 or older and well-behaved (e.g., remote work group without childcare)

Children present in household:

Full time during summer, Full time, except for holiday, Full time, except for weekends, Only visits such as holidays, Part time, approximately half, Part time, less than half, Part time, only weekends

Other people’s children:

Children are the responsibility of their parents, so any shared care needs to be agreed on between individuals, I am open to a community of free-range children who are allowed to roam the majority of community spaces unsupervised, I am open to sharing child-care responsibilities such as carpooling or swapping child-care, I prefer a community in which there are on-site designated childcare facilities to allow other adults to work, I want to be in a setting in which all feel a responsibility for well-being of children in the community

Behavior correction:

Parents shouldn't allow their child(ren) to be loud and disruptive in group settings, Parents shouldn't be offended if other adults respectfully question their child(ren)'s behavior, Parents shouldn't have to micro-manage their child(ren) for the benefit of adults around them

Children sheltered from:

Adult nudity, Drug use, Guns, Sexual behavior or images, Violent images or lyrics, Vulgar language

Screen time (acceptable rules):

No screen time or content limits, Parents should agree on online content allowed (e.g. video games, social media) because children will share with each other, Screen time and content limits are up to individual families, Screen-free locations agreed on as a group, Screen-free times agreed on as a group to encourage outdoor play with peers

Schooling:

Homeschool

Dogs:

Indoor dog(s) okay, Indoor dog(s) okay if small, Indoor dog(s) okay if some rooms are off limits, Outdoor dog(s) okay, Outdoor dog(s) okay if not frequent barkers

Cats:

Indoor cat(s) okay, Outdoor cat(s) okay

Farm animals or pets:

Chickens, Cows, Ducks, Fish pond, Geese, Horses, Pigs, Rabbits, Sheep, Turkeys

Special food needs:

Avoid over-processed foods with unpronounceable ingredients, Celiac's or gluten sensitivity, Severe food allergies, Strongly prefer a high quality of food preparation, Strongly prefer home-processed foods, Strongly prefer raw foods

Plant-based or not:

Cage-free eggs okay, Conventional eggs okay, Fish okay, Mostly vegan, Mostly vegetarian, Small local dairy products okay, Strictly vegan (no animal products), Strictly vegetarian (no meat or fish)

Organic:

All food choices are accepted, Commitment to all organic, Commitment to local-grown as much as possible, Commitment to non-GMO, Organic non-certified is okay

Shared meals (acceptable norms):

Prefer shared meals daily, Prefer shared meals weekly or monthly, Shared meals are necessary community glue, Shared meals are necessary for efficiency and low cost

Medical risk bubbles:

I can commit to taking extra precautions for others in a high-risk category, I can't live with or work physically close to people who need strict precautions from people in their IC

Pandemic norms:

Keep good health practices for good immune function, Maintain strict social distancing and masks outside the IC, Masks only when in public and mandated, Sanitize hands frequently in public, Sanitize hands frequently in the IC, Vaccinated, Whatever results from group decision-making process

Accommodations needed:

Alcohol addiction, Cognitive disability or condition, Drug addiction, Mental health disability or condition, Other addiction, Physical disability or condition, Severe EMF sensitivity, Severe allergy to cats, Severe allergy to common chemicals, Severe allergy to dogs, Severe allergy to insect bites, Severe food allergies, Severe mold sensitivity, Wheelchair access needed

Noise level:

A lively social environment should be the norm, A quiet serene living space should be the norm, As long as the vibe is positive, loud gatherings can be frequent, Different noise tolerance can be managed by having designated times for noise and quiet, Just keep it down enuf that neighbors don't complain, One quiet space should be reserved for those who need to focus on work

Sleep:

I keep an early bedtime, I often stay up past midnight, I’m an early riser, My sleep is easily disturbed so I need quiet at night

Comfort & convenience:

I can participate in a rugged life and hard physical work, I cannot tolerate extreme temperatures, I enjoy a rugged life and hard physical work

Tech savvy:

I’m pretty good troubleshooting tech

Internet connection & phone signal:

I can work without consistent internet connection, I must have wifi on 24/7, I need to be consistently connected to wifi during work hours, We have nearby library or cafe with wifi, We have reliable wifi

Off-grid:

Is a workable favored option, Is not the plan if it doesn't work for others I want to be in community with

Films, books, music, podcasts, shows:

music, podcast, shows,

Political orientation:

Democratic mainstays

Extroversion (under 50% means more introverted than average):

Emotional even keel (under 50% means more ups & downs than average):

Agreeableness (under 50% means less compliant or more contrary than average):

Conscientiousness (under 50% means more easygoing than average):

Open to new experiences / imagination (under 50% means more traditional than average, sticks with "tried and true"):

Dealbreakers:

use alcohol or drugs

Dealmakers:

many trads for building community and sustainability

On scale of 0 (imperturbable) to 27 (highly sensitive), 15 or more = HSP:

4.5