This document outlines a vision for building an intentional community that values prosperity, personal growth, responsibility, self-sufficiency, and living with integrity. It discusses starting a community wherever you are now rather than waiting, forming a core group to cooperatively build equity, and eventually moving the community to a rural property with land, water and shared facilities to fully realize the long-term dream. The goal is to co-create a sustainable legacy for future generations.

1. A working blueprint to get there.
Please add to, critique and create!
Share your Brilliance!
Author: Karl Banks
Owner of Dream: YOU

2. Essence of Dream:
Building Community doesn’t have to wait!
• While building equity in the first home, it will be
best to stay close to job and opportunity and
existing community.
• Do not wait to build community! It takes time
and to wait until you can afford the Dream
property in the country may be too late!
• David Loomis deserves credit for the key concept:
Essence of Dream
– Create as much of the Dream wherever you are, now.
– Not only will life be better in the present, but the
actualization of the Dream in the future becomes
more likely.

3. Intentional Community Mission
Statement
We who freely choose to join together in community want a living
environment which embodies the following:
• A place to Prosper, Grow Personally and Nurture Children
• A Community of Warriors, Living in Integrity
• To be Fiscally Self-Sufficient as a Whole, and Individually.
• Deed to Land with Water
• To become Connected to the Local Community
• Private Space: come Build Your Dream!
• Shared Space and Responsibility are Determined by
Consensus, and may include gardens, workshop, common
house, meals, large Gourmet kitchen, guest
accommodations, entertainment
center, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, parking, and network, to name just a
few.
• Off the Grid: providing for our own power, water, wastewater and
solid waste needs means that we are Independent.

4. A Community of Warriors
• The term ‘warrior’ here applies to the people
we would like to attract. What you call
yourself is flexible, but you are committed to:
– Taking responsibility for your actions, emotions
and words
– Committed to doing the personal work required
for highly-evolved interpersonal community
– Communicate very well, open to learning more
– Living and interacting with Integrity and Honesty
‘Warrior’ refers to the daily battle we do against the Lies inside and outside of ourselves.
The battle is within our own minds, to overcome stories which would take our power.

5. Fred Burks said it well…
• “I want to live with people who are deeply
committed to taking full responsibility for
their lives and who are willing to look into the
shadow places inside themselves and out in
the world as we individually and collectively
strive to create a new paradigm based on love
and empowerment.”

6. From Renter to Owner
Renting is by definition putting your money into your landlord’s
dream, therefore it is important to make the leap to start building your
dream.
•Build your credit rating
•Save your down payment
•Get pre-approved for a loan
•Contact a realtor whom you can trust
•Look for a home, the right home
•The present market is down, so deals may be found
•However, a down market means it may be longer before any
equity is accumulated
•Therefore, the home should be very satisfying, of quality, in a
good location
•Don’t be rash! Take the time to find the right place
•Buy the best place for you!
•Make that house your home and the seed to community

7. Tenancy In Common
• Discover if any friends are ready NOW to begin building
community, ready to commit
• Putting collective capital together, with a strong legal
contract to protect everyone, could allow for an urban
crucible for the Dream
• Obtaining a multi-unit property would allow for some
to try on community as renters or even to join the TIC
and build equity
• Will give the opportunity to build a core group, build
equity and work out some of the kinks of living
collectively.
• Work out core values, mission statement and learn
together what the best Vision will be to move forward.
• Allow the Core Group of Dreamers to coalesce

8. Years (+/-) in Future
• After ~x years of home ownership in the Bay
Area, having recouped fees and expenses, the
Core Group may be ready to move out to the
country.
– the Urban Homestead may be bought by the
community members who are not ready to move
away
– Or it may be kept for the collective to live on and
borrowed against to buy and build in the country
– Or it may be sold outright
• With capital, the Core Group will seek the land
upon which to build the Dream

9. The Ideal Property
• Location will be important, as the members of
the Core Group will need to be able to meet
many needs in this location:
– Source of income within a short commute
– Nearby to cultural
interests, entertainment, stimulation, nature, etc.
• Adequate space, favorable zoning, room to
grow and create gardens and generate power
• WATER! The only crucial resource

10. The Dream is a Co Creation
• While the concepts on the following pages will
probably be adapted and used in some
way, obviously without the Core Group
defined, gathered and committed, the final
vision for the Dream cannot be expressed
precisely.
• However, what follows is the result of the
conversation amongst many people over the
last 15 years, and so should not be too far off.

11. Envisioning the Dream
• Large property to accommodate from 15-50 people when fully built-out.
• Water and sunlight and arable land
• Consider Land held in trust in order to guarantee stability of community
• Common House to include shared luxuries
• Individual homes which may be more or less modest depending upon
individual interest and means
– Community will accommodate a large range of incomes, from rich to poor
• Sustainable shared infrastructure such as renewable energy generated
onsite, drinking and wastewater systems which provide pure water and
reuse wastewater for irrigation
• Food grown onsite
• Safe, fun environment for children
• Welcoming community, integrated with larger local community
• Fertile ground for creation of art
• Economic opportunities for all residents
• Sustainable community which lives on beyond the life spans of Core Group
providing a legacy for future generations

12. Shared Spaces
• Shared spaces are what make community!
• Ideally there will be spaces for movement, gatherings
and classes
• Shared artist spaces will allow for the creation of art
and a venue for generating income from the outside
community
• Spaces for recreation and amenities such as
pools, spa, jacuzzi, exercise room, yoga room, guest
rooms and common kitchen will allow for maximum
enjoyment and the potential to generate income to
help pay for the community expenses.
• Gardens for growing food, for beautifying the property
and for the enjoyment of all will be cultivated and the
effort and the produce will be shared.

13. Visualizations
• What follows is a series of photos intended to
inspire
• These photos are random, no one of them is
intended to specify details
• These are just images for the fertilization of
the Dream inside of you