Today is my last day living at Neighborhood Zero for the foreseeable future. Though Iām certain Iāll eventually return, Iām heading back to my home in Toronto, Canada to begin a new job.
Iāve spent 8 months of my life living on this specific slice of Earth. Thatās 2.79% of my existence. In the process, Iāve encountered some of the most interesting people Iāve ever met, many of which I had the pleasure to live with and I now consider life-long friends. Iāve also learned a few things about what makes this place so special, which Iāll now try and put into words.
1. Neighborhood Zero Ebbs and Flows
Thereās a good balance of solitude and socialization here. You may spend a week or two being one of the only people on these 29 acres, then switch to sharing it with 8 others that arrive for back to back build weeks. Iāve liked this, as when combined with the daily rhythm of independent work and communal dinners, it allowed for a healthy mix of personal and social time on small and large time scales.
2. Craft Your Ideal Day With The Smorgasbord of Facilities
Deep work pods, a sauna, an outdoor gym, a cold plunge, countless trails, meditation decks, a library, fire pits and a communal kitchenāthatās me naming the bulk of the facilities here (and if you feel one is missingā¦ you can build it).
The variety of amenities at your fingertips allows for near infinite custom daily routines. If youāre anything like me, this really gets you going. Over the course of my months here, I settled into a daily practice that had me making consistent progress on my long term goals. In the next point, Iāll outline the main driver behind what I landed on.
3. Neighborhood Zero is Perfect for the Knowledge-Builder
A full day spent on the laptop can leave you feeling mentally zapped, while a full day spent working with your hands can be physically exhausting. Yet, both modes have their benefits and contribute to a feeling of satisfaction at the end of your day. Iāve found that Neighborhood Zero lends itself well to a morning/afternoon split of knowledge and manual work.
The distraction free environment, pleasant sunrise over the hill, and morning clarity of mind all acted as catalysts for my morning deep work. I would spend this time working on long-term digital projects that demanded my full attention. By noon, Iād have exhausted my ability to focus intensely and would switch to builder-mode, slowly regenerating that ability through spending time outdoors on less cognitively demanding tasks.
By the end of the day, Iād have made progress on my knowledge work as well as my physical environment. The tangible work Iād have done with my hands that day made up for the amorphous feeling of progress in my knowledge work, while that same progress would have helped me advance my career in a way that building another wall doesnāt.
4. Going Out Is An Event
Thereās a saloon on each end of the road that connects to Neighborhood Zero. Iāve only been to one (apparently the other is for a much older crowd) and they always have great local artists performing live music. Thatās a 5 minute drive from here, as itās the closest place you can go to on a night out. Thereās also Dreamland, which is a 15 minute drive and home to the best mini golf course Iāve ever seen. Itās huge. They also have pickleball courts galore ā this place is a real gem. Oh, and Austin is about 50 minutes away.
The point Iām trying to make is that out here, āgoing outā doesnāt happen as frequently as in the city. Thereās a lot more activation energy that needs to be overcome in order to drive to some place different for the night. Iām actually not complaining here. I found that it made the nights that we did go out much more special, saved me a bunch of money, and also had us really take advantage of everything this place has to offer, first.
5. Cabin Pulls In High Agency Individuals
At our current stage in development, you donāt come across this project unless you are on the edges of the internet. Of those that do, even fewer will decide to actually move into the woods and live with strangers from the web. 100% of the time, those that show up at this place are true independent thinkers: each saying āyesā to rural coliving for their own unique reasons.
I define these kinds of people as high agency, and theyāre the best people to be around. The amount Iāve learned about life, business, and communication from the people that have passed through here is comparable to the amount I learned in my 5 year university degree. Everyone come with a unique perspective and a willingness to discuss complex topics. Thankfully the sauna has a way of teasing out our best takes.
Iām extremely grateful for @jon and Laurenās kindness, hospitality, and friendship during my time here. They are incredible people and model hosts. As a citizen, youāre able to come to Neighborhood Zero 7 days out of the year. I highly recommned the pilgrimage.
Weāre building something really special yāall (Texas has clearly rubbed off on me). Iām looking forward to seeing where we take it from here, the start has been extraordinary.