So why, when the dark side of community seems to rear its ugly head with such regularity, do I continue to live in community. Why do we continue to hope. In spite of everything, most time spent in community is rather normal, but from time to time there is a moment of clarity that helps us see more clearly. We see how things can be and how they can become.
 In addition there is a glimmer of utopia and the opportunity to allow our highest and best selves to emerge and become strengthened. Today, the woman who is being evicted told me that she had only good things to say about our community in spite of the eviction and that she appreciated the growth she had while living here a short two months.
 Last weekend, I had baked a whole 10 pound bag of russet potatoes and put them out for everyone to enjoy. They went slowly. Then while working on a home improvement project and building a new exterior wall with a private entrance to one of our rooms, in marches Noel with a plate full of delicious potato pancakes for brunch. Noel got an inspiration to use the rest of the potatoes and made pancakes for everyone who was home. This was one of those glimmers of utopia that gives one hope. And it reminded me of how much more frequent these glimmers are. I am reminded of the 5 massage therapists living here who give freely of their skills from time to time, and the frequent giving that is often taken for granted.
 Fortunately the moments of clarity are not rare and we see from time to time that things are often as they should be. Living in community has its dark side, but it also has joy, giving, personal growth and many other things that living alone in isolation does not have. I suppose that taking utopia for granted can seem mundane until we experience what living without community is like. Yes, we have potato pancakes.