My identity and political views are largely founded on ideas that are at odds with the prevailing culture I find myself embedded in. (Said everyone in the United States, by design) This results in carrying around a tremendous amount of cognitive dissonance in my daily life. Like many of the original hippies, I envision life in a community that grows their own food, raises children in a more collective way that's oriented toward integration into an ecological unity (rather than as heirs to some individualistic, paternalistic kingdom), which values social programs, bodily and intellectual autonomy, and creativity as essential to humanity (rather than as optional garnishes on a heap of profit-at-the-cost-of-life). Of course, I could probably find some "commune" or "eco-village" -- but I really don't like the idea of segregating myself from the rest of society. That feels like hiding in a bubble, which isn't really sustainable and ultimately leads to things like power imbalances, unsanitary conditions, or other major issues that don't get addressed because of a lack of accountability. I would rather influence, and be accountable to, the larger system in which I'm embedded.