Blueprint for Utopia

It's been 4 years since my last post and I think I'm finally ready to send this to the world! I've spent the last few years following and working with groups such as Onecommunityglobal.org, The Venus Project and my personal favorite Mr. Money Mustache. All these groups have so much to add to our vision for a world where everyone everywhere can have an optimal chance at a fulfilling and happy life! This is my attempt to put it all together and start a community based on these principals. Take a look and let me know what you think!




Blueprint for Utopia

• Start with a small community of like minds, as few as 3-4 families or individuals.

• Buy/Build an inexpensive multi-unit complex somewhere and invite everyone to live together sharing resources and working together to build a plan for ultimate efficiency and sustainable happiness for all!

• Share food, transport, tools, and time as much as possible to ensure everyone has maximum comfort, joy, and happiness for the minimal cost.

• Make community decisions by consensus, and break up community jobs into manageable pieces to share.  

• Build plan to grow the community and invite new people from around the world to join or follow the model elsewhere.  Provide jobs and education for people as much as possible.

• Repeat process until the entire world is living sustainable, honorable, and exciting lives full of love and opportunity.

Basic Principles for a Utopian City:

• The Golden Rule is King!  Treat others as you would like to be treated in all things.  Respect and Empathy are the key traits to be developed for this to work well.

• Everyone should be able to choose work that they enjoy and are passionate about.

• Everyone should have access to modern health care, safety, and education.

• Everyone should have access to a healthy diet and wholesome recreational activities.

• Everyone should be educated about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and strongly encouraged to avoid harmful addictions of all kinds.  Support programs and counseling should be available as required.

How much will it cost to live in this community?

In order to fulfill all these basic principles there will obviously be a cost per person.  The goal of this community is to provide all of these things for maximum benefit at a minimal cost with minimal waste for as many people as possible.  

The target for minimal cost will start at about $800 CAD per person per month for all inclusive living.  This includes at minimum a private bedroom, access to clean washrooms, kitchen, rec room, washing machine, internet, and a complete healthy meal plan.  Everything above the minimal cost including vacations, tech gadgets, designer clothing, and expensive luxury food and other items can be purchased with personal funds.

People may choose to do their own shopping and cooking if desired or they could subscribe to the group meal plan and take turns cooking larger meals together.  A combination of the two options may also work in some instances. The key is flexibility and choice to optimise the situation as much as possible.

How will people pay their monthly expenses?

There are 3 options;

1. People can continue with whatever career or job they have now if they can find a job locally or have a job or business that allows them to work from home.

2. People can come in with savings or investments that would cover their costs indefinitely and then just retire and do whatever volunteer work they would like to do.  

3. People can come in with nothing and work just 14+ hours a week at any minimum wage job or personal business for $15/hour to pay for all their expenses and dedicate the rest of their time/money to savings, fun, or volunteer work.  The community would strive to set people up in the best, most interesting jobs possible for each individual based upon their personal preferences.

How can people become financially independent in this system?

Under this cost system an average person could save $200,000 in less than 10 years of working 40 hrs a week, and invest that money in any worthwhile company providing a safe ROI of at least 5% after inflation.  They could then live off the proceeds forever, freeing them up to follow whatever passions or volunteer endeavours they might want to follow for the rest of their lives.  A common saying from Mr Money Mustache is “Work is always better when you don’t need the money!”

How can this help the world?

The key is providing as many fun and exciting options as possible for people to learn, build and grow together.  We need to change our global perspective from a dog eat dog corporate mentality to one of shared resources and mutual respect that allows win/win situations to flourish.  The Venus Project and OneCommunityGlobal.org are two major initiatives that have many great ideas about how a global “Resource Based Economy” could work.  Our goal is to take these great ideas and start now, sharing whatever we can and proving that the concepts can work on a small community level to allow for further evolution and adoption in the future for the larger scale.

Who does all the cleaning and cooking in the community?

The basic jobs in the community such as cleaning, cooking and maintaining the property can either be divided among the members by consensus, or (as the community grows) people without external jobs or income could be hired at $15/hour to do them if no one else wanted to volunteer.

How is this Different from other Intentional Communities in the World right now?

The main difference between this community model and all the other thousands of intentional communities in the world today is the flexibility and freedom of the model to work for absolutely everyone in the world in any location.

• It works within the system as it is today and takes advantage of all the comforts and wholesome activities that we love to enjoy in both urban and rural environments.  

• It makes the dream of full financial freedom clear and accessible to everyone, rich or poor, young or old from any background imaginable.  

• It changes our life goals from a focus on accumulating possessions towards a focus on accumulating better relationships with friends and family, more rewarding experiences, and more time for passions and hobbies.

Where will the first city location be?

Ideal locations for a starting community would possibly include the following amenities (within walking distance preferably)

Grocery Stores/Shopping Centers

Education Centers (Elementary, Secondary, Post Secondary)

Cultural Gathering Center (possibly a church or school) for large community events or meals

Public Library

Indoor gym for Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, Pickle Ball

YMCA/Pool/Hot Tub/Sauna/Exercise Equipment

Outdoor Parks for Kids

Tennis Courts/Curling Club/Hockey Arena

(Disc) Golf Courses

Movie Theatres

It should also include the following within a 30 min drive:

Nature Areas for Hiking/Camping/Fishing

Beaches

Ski Resorts

Finally it should be in a mid-sized (50,000-100,000 people) relatively inexpensive Urban Center to provide the maximum access to resources and amenities for a minimal cost.

Sault Ste Marie, Ontario is the first possible option because it meets all the criteria and because we already live here in a home that could accommodate 2-3 families (up to 12 people) fairly easily.  We could expand as needed by either adding tiny trailer homes to backyards, or by purchasing and converting other homes in the neighborhood.

Who is the target audience for the first community?

Anyone with a desire for efficient living with a focus on changing the world for the better and getting out of the “Rat Race” of modern consumption based lives filled with overwork and waste.

Some examples would be:

Single students or self-employed individuals looking to connect with others in a way that can optimize happiness for minimal cost.

Families looking for more friendships and like-minded people to provide a safe exciting home for their children and provide an example to the world of a better way to live.

People looking to retire early or change careers and find a new passion living with others for minimal cost.

(Early focus jobs for the community: Stay at home businesses, Online Blogging or Streaming,  Organic Gardening, Yard Maintenance, Grocery Delivery,  Personal Support Workers,  Retirees)

Contact Us

Let us know if you would be interested in being part of a world-changing, freedom-producing initiative like this by sending inquiries/ideas to lukemacmichael@gmail.com   The model is entirely flexible and I’m open to any ideas that could make it even more inclusive and workable for everyone everywhere.

Thanks for your time!