Thursday, November 06, 2003
I found this link on Hegeman's blog about the Artistery - a "monastic" community for artists. Guys sign up to live in this house for a year and have to complete monthly projects and present an annual show. Here's an article about it. It reminded me of a clipping I saved out of the AJC from a couple of years ago about Ignatius House. It is a local retreat center that I hope to visit one weekend. It would be pretty neat to own some land with a house or cabins on it to host retreats. Sir Charles could cook breakfast for everyone.
Derek, I think we are all on the same page. There are no doubt big changes we can make in the next 5-10 years. On the new home, I'm not certain what you mean by "hidden costs" but there are additional costs for the larger home. You've got 2 HVAC units now rather than 1, for example.
I have missed getting together with everyone also. I am hopeful that the Monjure's moving closer to us will help. I think having two of us close together spurs us to get everyone together. It seems like just since you guys have been in Lawrenceville it has been harder to get everyone on the same page.
I may be wrong on this, but I feel changing the physical attributes of community may be a life-long venture, a legacy for the future. Not that we can't make or enjoy changes now, but our current situations are ingrained over 2-3 generations. In wanting to change that, we need to make sure we get things going the right way rather than hastily making changes that again may take 50 years to undo. Folks can't change trades, purchase rural tracts, sell houses (brand new!), start churches, etc. in a matter of months or even a couple of years. That said, we have been slack lately in our quest to determine what real community is.
I may be wrong on this, but I feel changing the physical attributes of community may be a life-long venture, a legacy for the future. Not that we can't make or enjoy changes now, but our current situations are ingrained over 2-3 generations. In wanting to change that, we need to make sure we get things going the right way rather than hastily making changes that again may take 50 years to undo. Folks can't change trades, purchase rural tracts, sell houses (brand new!), start churches, etc. in a matter of months or even a couple of years. That said, we have been slack lately in our quest to determine what real community is.
Derek has a pretty good memory. I think I sent that link out a couple of years ago. Kemper is someone that I know through my Houston connections. I have not met him in person but used to talk with him by phone and email a good bit. He used to do some work for Grassroots Music (he may still) and is tied in with Second Baptist in Houston (where I attended) and is close with Caedmons Call. The interview is fairly lengthy. He discusses the subjects Derek mentions below starting on page 3.
