Many on the political right are dismissive of the residential intentional community movement, thinking it seems too much like a socialist project. Yet the same people tend to be nostalgic for the days when a rural farming community would participate in a barn raising. Conversely, many on the counterculture left are overly enamored with the idea of a family-like commune. These idealists sometimes overlook that people can behave badly in groups and take advantage of others, sometimes even unintentionally. Both perspectives can be true at the same time. 

Committing to an intentional community usually means committing to several long-term partnerships and friendships. Starting with as much compatibility as possible is an important step. With a high divorce rate and increasing number of couples who never marry, it's clear most of us weren't raised with the skills to navigate life with even one other person, let alone coordinate decisions within a group. But we can learn to.