I just heard (on Tim Ferriss' podcast) about a place in France called Feytopia. It’s a utopian community during the off-season and a chateau for hire in the high season. I immediately thought of you and your research project!
I'm an idealist who finds joy in world building ideas, the best of human creative capacity to collaboratively build spaces and communities of flourishing, Shalom, beauty, goodness, justice. And yet I wonder, is utopia - for humans under the vaulted heavens amidst suffering and trial - a place where the most vulnerable among us are loved and known with justice, equity, compassion, dignity? Perhaps utopia might not be NEOM but those hidden communities where the uneducated, poor, disabled, orphaned, sick, rehabilitating, and spiritually hungry are seen and celebrated, included, and empowered with a seat at the table. I wonder.
To be clear - the aspiration is a good impulse! It's our God-given hunger, longing, desire for that better world, that place of harmony, union, beauty, goodness, togetherness, ecstasy, and creativity. I believe that world is possible and is indeed coming. We write and work and serve and pray toward that "utopia." I look forward to learning about what you discover tucked in the corners of this planet.
Congratulations! This is my first time in your newsletter. I aspire to make a living writing about culture, history, archaeology and travels in Mexico in the near futire and leave arcaheology al least for a while. I'm tired of the systen! I wish you the best in the world and I wish you more success. I will you to learn more about thus lifestyle. Greetings!
You're doing it! This is exiting! If you are interested, we can point you to some natural farms in Japan that we made a film about some years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEC_qqn6epg
Some really beautiful people and communities out there in Nara, Shikoku, even Kobe and Osaka!
And if you guys decide to come to Korea, do say hello. My wife and I are building a herbal tea and art studio in Daejeon. Welcome to come for a cup of tea and chat ;-)
Since you're visiting Asia, might be worthwhile to drop by Taiwan ~ in many ways is utopian like the people, safety, healthcare, culture, pace of life, metropolitan vs nature, political engagement, and more, but definitely lots of room for improvement in other ways like fixing the education system, work-life balance, wages, foreigner rights, policy-making, bureaucracy, etc.
I have a utopian destination for you. Having studied ecological design and art, Andrea has built a house, café, ceramic studio, farm and two apartments for visitors in rural Visby, Sweden, where the idea is to create more community. Most everything is sustainable and made of natural materials. They utilize specially insulated walls + solar power. Food is grown in the garden. There are chickens and (soon) sheep, both rare breeds native to Sweden (i.e. they’re happy and well adapted). It was an INCREDIBLE stay for me - you can book one of the apartments on Airbnb:
Glad to see you’re enjoying your tour of Portugal, it’s very heartening. On the topic of autonomous communities, I have heard of one called Cherán 185 miles west of Mexico City that Vice and The Guardian have covered; they approved of its nonpartisan, direct democratic institutions and communitarian approach to criminal justice. There are also communities in the highlands around Acapulco that have set up their own community police, but they’re a bit more controversial. Could be worth looking into
This is awesome! Travel to experience alternative communities, expanding writing and photography—you are living the dream! (Well, one of mine, anyway!). I hope it’s beyond epic for you!
I just heard (on Tim Ferriss' podcast) about a place in France called Feytopia. It’s a utopian community during the off-season and a chateau for hire in the high season. I immediately thought of you and your research project!
I'm an idealist who finds joy in world building ideas, the best of human creative capacity to collaboratively build spaces and communities of flourishing, Shalom, beauty, goodness, justice. And yet I wonder, is utopia - for humans under the vaulted heavens amidst suffering and trial - a place where the most vulnerable among us are loved and known with justice, equity, compassion, dignity? Perhaps utopia might not be NEOM but those hidden communities where the uneducated, poor, disabled, orphaned, sick, rehabilitating, and spiritually hungry are seen and celebrated, included, and empowered with a seat at the table. I wonder.
You are so right, of course. Utopia isn’t one place. It is aspiring toward a better one, and that can take many forms!
To be clear - the aspiration is a good impulse! It's our God-given hunger, longing, desire for that better world, that place of harmony, union, beauty, goodness, togetherness, ecstasy, and creativity. I believe that world is possible and is indeed coming. We write and work and serve and pray toward that "utopia." I look forward to learning about what you discover tucked in the corners of this planet.
You are living the dream. Keep going. You inspire and educate a lot of people.
Congratulations! This is my first time in your newsletter. I aspire to make a living writing about culture, history, archaeology and travels in Mexico in the near futire and leave arcaheology al least for a while. I'm tired of the systen! I wish you the best in the world and I wish you more success. I will you to learn more about thus lifestyle. Greetings!
Hi Elle,
You're doing it! This is exiting! If you are interested, we can point you to some natural farms in Japan that we made a film about some years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEC_qqn6epg
Some really beautiful people and communities out there in Nara, Shikoku, even Kobe and Osaka!
And if you guys decide to come to Korea, do say hello. My wife and I are building a herbal tea and art studio in Daejeon. Welcome to come for a cup of tea and chat ;-)
Wishes for beautiful, inspiring travels!
Oh amazing, thank you so much for the invitation! And the link!
You’re doing it Elle! Keep living your dream. It’s inspirational to follow!!
Since you're visiting Asia, might be worthwhile to drop by Taiwan ~ in many ways is utopian like the people, safety, healthcare, culture, pace of life, metropolitan vs nature, political engagement, and more, but definitely lots of room for improvement in other ways like fixing the education system, work-life balance, wages, foreigner rights, policy-making, bureaucracy, etc.
Definitely on my list! Thank you!
Such exciting times ahead, I am the least bit envious (I am lying). I will follow closely on your exploration via your notes!
What an incredible experience it will be, brave souls. I wish you joy and enlightenment with every new adventure!
Thank you!
I’m glad you’re thinking deeply about these things. SO excited to follow along!!
Thank you!
This sounds incredible - congrats!
I have a utopian destination for you. Having studied ecological design and art, Andrea has built a house, café, ceramic studio, farm and two apartments for visitors in rural Visby, Sweden, where the idea is to create more community. Most everything is sustainable and made of natural materials. They utilize specially insulated walls + solar power. Food is grown in the garden. There are chickens and (soon) sheep, both rare breeds native to Sweden (i.e. they’re happy and well adapted). It was an INCREDIBLE stay for me - you can book one of the apartments on Airbnb:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/875160106451167031?source_impression_id=p3_1719179382_P3qZpZIQ9lyKkyT0
Oh amazing, thank you so much for sharing this all with me!
👏🏻 Looking forward to your reports!
Inspiring!
Glad to see you’re enjoying your tour of Portugal, it’s very heartening. On the topic of autonomous communities, I have heard of one called Cherán 185 miles west of Mexico City that Vice and The Guardian have covered; they approved of its nonpartisan, direct democratic institutions and communitarian approach to criminal justice. There are also communities in the highlands around Acapulco that have set up their own community police, but they’re a bit more controversial. Could be worth looking into
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing all of these with me!
And also this: https://ecovillage.org/funded-projects/ Should be an additional resource to help plan your trips
Also, feel free to drop by the west coast of Luzon in the Philippines--I’m in the vicinity
So cool! The solarpunk garden--Ooo I wanna see that too!
This is awesome! Travel to experience alternative communities, expanding writing and photography—you are living the dream! (Well, one of mine, anyway!). I hope it’s beyond epic for you!
Thank you Quinn!