CrankyBuddhist   the learning never ends …

Folks who take their role as an artist seriously don’t just scribble in sketchbooks all day. Nope. We’re thinkers, tinkerers, and creative problem solvers. Everything we do, no matter how mundane, has something to do with how our brains work in the creative process. We don’t stop with creating pretty pictures, or sculptures, or other works of art. We tend to daydream about other things too.

As I was walking the dog today I thought about my perfect community. Now, don’t let images of butterflys flittering around the hydrangeas come into your head … I began to create a list of things that I would need to consider a community a perfect place to live. Here are some of them:

- Gardeners that do not use electric or gas powered tools.
- Strangers that say Hi back when I say Hi to them.
- Neighbors that don’t necessarily know everything about me, but can at least remember my name after being told it off and on for two years.
- Everyone walks their dogs on leash
- A nice mix of young, older, and old people.
- Some artists to get creative with.
- A Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and a Berkeley Bowl all within walking distance (got this one!).
- A sense of community where people are actually interested in knowing about each other.

I do have a great shopping experience within walking distance of my current residence. But all the rest of the stuff must exist in a community somewhere else … ? This is the first place I’ve ever lived where I didn’t know everyone on the block, let alone anyone. It’s so strange to me.

Anyway, making a list is good. If I ever create my own community, these are the building blocks I would start with.

What would you want in your community?