A community's social structure ultimately boils down to its economy, which is the most powerful factor in its growth and development. Even if you live in the best of communities, if you cannot maintain yourself and your family, if you cannot get enough to eat, find a proper place to live, maintain your health, or meet your basic standard of living, you simply cannot remain there. Therefore, the first and foremost responsibility of every person desiring to live in any community is to secure a means of support.
If you are financially independent, you might consider buying land together with some others and building a house to use as a vacation home or a hobby garden. However, such developments do not foster a real community in the sense of a living, growing group of people whose economic and social survival are interconnected. Retirement communities are a prime example of this because the residents pay to reside there and be taken care of. Their participation within the community is optional and has little bearing on its survival or growth. Considering this, although the idea of co-dependency is often frowned upon by spiritualists, in the context of a community, this mutual reliance is exactly what allows it to grow and thrive. When there is no longer a way to earn a living within a specific locale, people inevitably move away. Many intentional communities have been built around the ideal of creating a nice place to live, but they failed to consider the fundamental requirement of economic sustainability. A "hobby community" is an opulence available only to the rich.
Modern society has centralized most aspects of community living. Farming is large-scale, utility companies provide water and power, communications come from central sources, and supermarkets and malls have replaced village centers. This system works well enough in times of prosperity for those who do not wish to worry about the basics of life beyond simply earning a paycheck. Yet, this centralization brings up an important consideration for community builders: why would someone choose to live in a community if mainstream society already provides what they need?
To succeed, each individual must determine how they will earn a living within that community structure. If the community is far from a city, there may be an opportunity to earn money by providing goods and services directly to fellow residents. However, if the local population is small, this won't be enough, and residents will need to find customers outside the immediate area. Another way to create economic relevance (a strategy often used by alternative groups) is to manufacture something compatible with the location and the ideals of the community. For example, followers of Rudolf Steiner's movement created Weleda, a highly successful brand of natural products. Other possibilities include starting an organic garden and running a subscription service, delivering weekly vegetable boxes to people in nearby areas. Along the same lines, one could prepare meals for those who lack the time or health to cook. Alternatively, creating a center for seminars, healing, or retreats offers an escape for others needing a break from the pressures of work or the city. These are excellent interim ways to support a community while society at large remains intact. If and when there is a broader social breakdown, the community can then adjust to become fully self-sufficient.
If a person lives in a community but must commute long distances to work, the burden of the trip will eventually overshadow the benefits of the communal living situation, prompting them to move closer to their job. Conversely, if someone is economically prosperous within a community, they tend to be much more tolerant of local politics and difficult social dynamics. A person struggling economically might stay if the communal experience is deeply pleasant and inspiring, but they will leave rapidly if it is not. Therefore, nothing is more important than establishing a solid economic foundation for the community as a whole, as well as for every individual and family living within it.