Dear friend,
I hope this meets you in good health and happiness. My family and I are fine. We have been living in “Gauisus” for the past six months. Gauisis is a self sufficient, individualistic, city located on the banks of river Gauise.
I no longer work 16 hours in a factory that exploits me, away from my loved ones, with the constant fear of being cheated. I am happily employed in the profession I love, that of a writer. I spend my time writing for the community and teaching at our school. My wife Elda, has taken up her fondness for children, and opened a children’s nursery. In Gauisus, woman work and pursue their interests, and produce with the same value as men. Elda and I will have saved enough Gaus (the currency here,) to own our residence soon. We are truly happy! In fact, that is the meaning of Gauisus, Latin for “happy.”
In Gauisus we believe it’s the human constant, and right, to be happy. Happiness is not sought in Gauisus, happiness prevails. We are motivated by our own interest, not by the necessity to earn a meager living, or by profit. We live in a manner that calls for excellence in all we do. We can love, life and be employed by our own choice as long as we dedicated to our choices.
I live close to the school where I am employed. Our city is divided in the center by river Gauise. The Northern part, where I reside, is devoted to production and is also the heart of the city. Our lodgings surround our school, prayer and community buildings. This is to portray our society values higher learning, and respect to our neighbors. It also marks the importance of our religious module. The prayer hall consists of a small church, a temple, and a prayer room for all faiths. In Gauisus, we are all free to worship and believe, or not believe, in what inspires us the most. We have no right to criticize the choices of others; as we are all individuals who seek the best for themselves first.
Behind out houses are beautiful woods and orchards, representing the beauty of life. These lead the way into our production units. Our production units are divided into basic and specialized units, employees reside closest to their work places allowing convenient access to our public facilities and to our work places. The city council meets every Friday in the prayer building to seek methods to better our society. We have a theater in our public building. We all enjoy plays in the weekend with a glass of wine from our local brewery, and parlor.
Our southern side is primarily agricultural. Similar to our northern side, it is centralized about a school and public building. The farmlands are behind the house and segregated into staple farms and other farms.
Currently, most land and property is owned by the city itself. However, we are allowed to buy property from the city. The money collected by the city on property sales is used to improve the city’s structure.
In Gauisus, we enjoy our employment as there aren’t any factory owners to exploit you. Although, we have seniors in our production units, they serve to guide us and help us reach our potential. Those who are good at their work will serve as teachers to those who want to learn. We have the best farmers, the best producers, the best bankers, the best teachers; because they are motivated by their love for their work. Furthermore, we don’t need to leave our families to earn a living, we can live with the people we love while enjoying our truly, gainful employment. Whatever we produce is given a currency value that we can trade with. Every month the town council buys our products. With Gaus, we buy what we need from the markets. Our excessive products, especially sugar cane, are traded in another society for what we require. Therefore, we never lack in anything.
Our scientists have made a turbine, sourcing electricity for our production units and our houses. Our doctors are advanced and healthcare is accessible and free to all members of our community. We enjoy free public transportation and education. We have an efficient waste management system and irrigation system, perhaps, more sophisticated than those you may be familiar with. Our council supports these necessary services, enabling all our citizens to live well. Our council manages this from the profits that the city makes from selling our excess produce. I can assure you, my dear friend, we are not void of comfort or leisure.
There is no government in Gauisus which tries to limit our minds. We are governed by the highest morals of humanity. We respect competition and the creation of others. We believe in earning not stealing. Our community is for all those who value the human mind. We will not tolerate laziness, or lack of motivation. Those who cannot value themselves, their work, and their fellow neighbors, will be asked to leave by our council. In times of need we heed the advice of our council. Our council constitutes the founders of this community; with the likes of Professor Artson, Dr. Wilmart, Schlor Jones and other intellectuals. Our council revolves periodically.
Gauisus, is a closed community. You may be admitted by invitation only. Our land is marked by high walls to fend of intruders. I believe, my friend, with your keen ability to work wood and your dedication, you and your family will add value to Gauisus. I understand that your family is far away, and you will need to consult with them. I feel your wife, Emily, will find contentment here. Her hand is particularly fast with wool, and I am sure she can use this skill to enjoy a gainful employment. With this letter I invite you, and your family, to join us in Gauisus. Please send a message for us to arrange for your departure. You will need nothing to come here. At Gauisus we value your mind. Your money will be worthless here. You must come here on the supreme faith of human ability, and goodness. I will be expecting you my dear friend.
-Elliot.
March 16, 2008 at 9:22 am
Your community is very well thought out and is clearly focused on being a community of people with a common desire; Happiness. I like the creative approach you took by telling the story from the POV of a citizen in one of their letters home. From this POV you can see that men and women are treated equal and that everyone has the freedom to practice whatever religion, if any, they choose. This POV describes a very well planned out and structured community with littel Govt interaction or administration. Having the community closed off reminds me a bit of the closed gated country club communities in Loudoun County, but hey, who wouldn’t want to live in one of those exclusive country club communities!
March 17, 2008 at 11:20 am
Having your post written from the point of view of a citizen in your utopia was very creative. The idea that women pursue their own interests and are valued the same as men would have been truly unique for that time period. I wondered if having the city council meet in the prayer building indicates that religion has a place in the government—is that the case? As an electrical engineering major, the part where you mention electricity generation via a turbine jumped out at me. Is it a water turbine running off the river flow? Knowing that electricity was only commercially available in the late 19th century, your town would have been before its time; definitely something that would attract people like me.
March 17, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Your community seems to have a lot of religious influence on it. The “council” meets at the church on Fridays. I feel like your council is your government even though you say your community doesn’t have a central government. If thats the case, how are order and peace maintained? Who decides where the profits of the city go to? Would it be to maintain your turbine, or to improve the schools, or roads? It’s great that everyone strives for happiness. I guess it’s true in your city when people say do what you love. Although maybe having a wall cutting yourself off from the rest of the would is a bit arrogant.
March 17, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Great post, and very creative. I like the fact that you your community will allow you to do and work your desired job;however, how is it determined weather you already have enough people for one particular job/skill/trade? Are you turned away from the community then? I also like that fact that women are treated just as equal as the men, by being allowed to work in their desired field as well. This sounds like a very proactive community, and with everyone contributing their part it will make the community stronger. I think that it was a great idea for the community not to put any value on money, this is prevents greed and corruption amongst one another.