Giving in to Wanderlust September 18, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Books & Movies, Simplify Your Life, Sustainable Living.Tags: Alan Alda, Jennifer Aniston, New York City, Paul Rudd, Wanderlust
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Have you ever considered turning your back on materialism to join an intentional community?
To live more communally and less commercially?
To share resources and responsibilities with other like-minded folks?
Well . . . before you jump ship, make sure those like-minded folks are really to your liking.
Especially if there are no bathroom doors! 
Last night, we watched a quirky comedy, Wanderlust, starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd as a young married couple exploring alternative lifestyles after the hectic pace of New York City . . . outpaces them.
Chance and happenstance lead them to Elysium ~ an intentional community in Georgia populated by more than a few colorful characters, including Alan Alda.
Sometimes LESS is more . . . and sometimes LESS is just bizarre.
In time, after more than a few missteps, they realize WHO they are and HOW they want to live.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Sounds like fun. I am going to be housebound after some minor surgery and it sounds like something that will make me laugh!
Laughter is the BEST medicine . . . here’s to your speedy (and humorous) recovery, Kate!
We loved that show!! Hilarious and extreme but there are elements of that life that I’d keep (including the door)! Especially the clothing Jennifer wore.. my kind of look!
You have to really “let it all hang out” when there’s no bathroom door between you and the rest of the clan.
I loved that movie…! It made me think of the extremes “common sense” people go to in the search to find, create and express their own ideal reality. My reality definitely includes bathroom doors ~ even if I had to use an outhouse
Same here! Call me “up tight” if you will, but I prefer “personal space” and privacy . . . especially for morning ablutions.
I wondered about this movie, Nancy. Thank you.
It appealed to my quirky sense of humor, Andra. BFF didn’t find it nearly as amusing as I did. Without spoiling the plot . . . when a horse (and, later, a goat) wandered into their bedroom through the missing door, I laughed out loud.
Expect the unexpected.
Sounds like a good chuckle, I’m investing in a portable DVD player. Will look out for this film
Some aspects of Elysium appealed . . . others repelled. But the movie as a whole (i.e., watching others dealing with the bizarre oddities) tickled my funny bone chakra.
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I had something of that experience. It was good and pretty bad. Came out of it the wiser though. Not for the faint-hearted.
We often learn faster from our mistakes and missteps than we do from smooth sailing that doesn’t test our metal.
I am definitely a “less is more” kind of gal . . . but when I’m “using the facilities” I want MORE privacy than afforded at Elysium. MORE door, rather than less.
Sounds like a fun movie. I suspect after watching Wanderlust any desire to live an intentional community may not be seen as good idea.
One must select an intentional community with mindful attention and intention . . . or there are apt to be unpleasant surprises.
You didn’t say what you thought about the movie. Is it worth watching?
I enjoyed it quite a bit . . . but I was in a bit of a goofy mood. BFF didn’t stick around for the credits.
Nancy, you must have read my mind! Quite fancied a Scottish island community….
Ooh . . . that bears looking into. Perhaps a summer retreat on the Orkneys?
Wanderlust. . .Hmmm. . .For some reason or other, it reminded me of something! (Surprise, surprise!)
My father once suggested that the family take a camping trip. My mother balked. She said, “Max, I grew up without running water in the house. Now, not only do I have running water from the tap, but hot water as well! Why on earth would I want to go back – on purpose – to life without it?”
Now, I have been camping, and participated in some “communal gatherings” (not for long periods of time, though!). I kind of side with my Mom. I really like bathroom doors!
I enjoyed camping ~ in our converted van (which had hot and cold running water AND a door on the bathroom).
Tent camping . . . not so much!
Nancy thanks for the heads up on the movie. We are going to re-activate our Netflix and get The Magic of Belle Isle. We STILL haven’t done that one! Nancy I am OCD about my own bathroom! I need my own bathroom. I don’t know how I survived college. I have nightmares about having to share the toidie. Remember Venice? Inn at the Beach? One bedroom, 2 bath…
I don’t mind communal bathrooms . . . but I MUST have a door between me and the rest of the world when using one!
This is a fun and funny movie. The characters are quirky, but you’ll recognize them from real life. Especially if you’ve ever hung around a bunch of hippies.
Yes, I get you. I don’t mind sharing, or communal restrooms or even rest stop bathrooms. I just need my privacy for as you say, “morning ablutions”. I need my privacy for gettin’ ready for the day. It may be more that I am not a morning person and I just need that time to wake up before I speak and begin to feel normal. A door is a must. CH put M of BI, Wunderlust and Warhorse in the queue last night. I WAS a hippie…
sort of. Marginally.
I was/am a hippie~at~heart . . . peace, love, and the dawning of the age of Aquarius. Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hendrix, Grace Slick, Bob Dylan. The music of that era speaks to me. Woodstock rocked! Peasant blouses and flowing skirts. Braided hair. Barefeet. Love ins. Sit ins. Pot parties. Unity, harmony, and understanding. No worries, mon.
I saw this and thought it was pretty funny, the “drug” scenes especially–and the horse and goat. The door-less bathroom made me uncomfortable just seeing it. I would not like living in a commune type place–I like my alone time and get cranky when I am around folks for extended periods.
I definitely need “my space” . . . and a place where I can retire at night (or retreat to during the day) without horses, goats, or strange naked men wandering in. But as a movie experience, it made me LAUGH.
Oh, I already know communal living is not for me
The movie, however, might be something less risky to try!
I laughed in horrified fascination at their “au naturel” lifestyle. Some of the scenes are so cringe-worthy that you shrink back from the screen to minimize their potential embarassment at being “caught in the act.”
I like doors. And clothes.
Sounds like something to look forward to.
It’s a romantic comedy and “coming of age” story . . . with bumps and ruts in the road for the characters to navigate around.
Sounds like fun as a movie, if not as a lifestyle!
It was!
Some intentional communities are more “mainstream” than others ~ they retain bathroom doors and other opportunities to enjoy “personal space” while sharing common areas that enhance the sense of “community” sought by residents.
And then there are communities like Elysium . . . where you begin to feel as “off kilter” as you would if caught in a time warp in an alternate universe.
For some reason, maybe being a child of the 60s–intentional communities have always fascinated me, and I’ve thought they sometimes offer something of value. I’d never make it in one, though, I know! I would be “voted off the island” very quickly. I’ll watch the movie and enjoy a good laugh. I remember thinking it looked like a good laugh, but I forgot about it. Glad you reminded me! D
Intentional communities appeal to me too . . . for example, those with individual “green” homes of small stature built around lots of pooled communal resources and recreation activites OR places where neighbors act neighborly giving the community a real sense of community.
Elysium is NOT the right intentional community for me . . . its residents were a bit too “far out, man!” But that made the movie fun to watch . . . because I didn’t have to take it seriously.
I picked this movie up not knowing thing about it. It was one of the more interesting movies that we have watched lately. Oddly enough I thought while watching “I bet Nancy would like this one”…
Dean said he gets to pick the next movie….Jeanne
How cool that you thought that! I’m glad I posted this . . . and that you saw it. Sounds like Dean didn’t enjoy it any better than BFF.
One series that we BOTH enjoyed ~ Downton Abbey. Fabulous historical fiction with characters, setting, costumes, and dialogue that are “spot on.” Maggie Smith and all the other cast members are PERFECT. We’ve watched Seasons 1 and 2 and eagerly await the release of Season 3.
I’ll have to look that one up…You’re are correct in Dean’s assessment of the movie although he did find some parts entertaining.
I thought I had posted on Downton Abbey . . . but when I went to find the link I found NOTHING.
Kate Shrewsday has posted on it . . . both the series and the estate on which it’s filmed.
I couldn’t do it
Me neither . . . unless I was being compensated for my time.
My wife and I watched this a while ago, too…
even though I started feeling a bit uncomfortable as soon as I loaded the thing into the DVD player.
For me, the scenes in the bathroom were the most AWKWARD. And the woman who gave birth. Ewww . . .
To live more communally and less commercially?
I did have such thoughts. There was a time all I really wanted to do was to live in a hollowed out tree trunk and bake cookies. But at 5′ 11′” I was 2′ 5”s too tall. Another dumb dream dashed to fall on the heap of other unfulfilled dreams, still, I am relatively happy.
If Will Ferrell can be an ELF . . . you can too!