Envisioning purpose-based wellness communities, with Chip Conley
Photo of Chip Conley by Lisa Keating
In Episode 7 of Season 2 of the Citizen Farmers Podcast, Chip and Farmer D explore inspirational ways to reimagine the role of regenerative communities in fostering new approaches to life transitions, retirement, and aging.
The decision to create wisdom communities, like the Modern Elder Academy, snuck up on Chip Conley in what he can only describe as a “Baja-Aha” moment of clarity. As a hospitality maverick and Modern Elder, Chip Conley is full of contagious energy and passion when describing the transformations he envisions for our society and the driving forces behind the creation of the Modern Elder Academy:
“Why is it that we don't have midlife wisdom schools in the world? A place where people in midlife try to actually explore how to cultivate and harvest the wisdom that they've learned based upon their experience in the world and repurpose it in new ways.”
Chip calls this the “same seed, different soil” transformation, and envisioned communities that foster this kind of growth, reflection, and rebirth. The Modern Elder Academy is a retreat center that focuses on fostering just that, bringing people towards their purpose through community and wellness in the dynamic landscape of Baja California. It has been met with overwhelming support and in just three years over 1,000 alumni from 24 countries have gone through the program.
It became clear that alternative ways of approaching midlife, which many sociologists now say lasts from age 35-75, was something that people were not only yearning for but enthusiastic about. He reflects that “more and more people want to curate their life differently than their parents did.” People are moving away from what Chip calls the tyranny of the three stages of life – learn, earn, and burn – towards more iterative and regenerative lifestyles that focus on actualizing self-purpose at all stages of life:
“Purpose is not just an issue for people in retirement. Feeling a sense of purpose gives you direction, makes you feel like you're living your calling as opposed to just having a job; gives you a sense that there's a reason why you're here on earth. It's the yearning. It is very much a function of our programming here.”
Chip describes the process of disconnection that can happen as people move through transitions in their lives, whether that’s shifting careers, getting used to an empty nest, or retiring. These major changes can often alienate us: from our communities, like leaving a work community; from our purpose, like no longer having direct parenting responsibilities; and from our general wellness, which can deteriorate with the lack of a disciplined routine. Chip finds that, because of this, people are desperate for long-term wellness communities that are centered around the regeneration of purpose. Baja Sage, the affiliated new wellness community in Pescadero created by MEA co-founder Jeff Hamaoui and MEA alum Peter Arbuckle, sold all the houses they planned to build before a shovel even hit the soil.
In response, Chip has built off the success of the MEA retreats and Baja Sage community by taking a “same seed, different soil” approach towards the latest expansion of regenerative purpose-based communities outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. But what does a truly regenerative community look like? Chip describes the four pillars of regenerative community-making:
“The focus being regeneration of the soil, as evidenced in regenerative farming and ranching. Regenerating the soul...regenerating community and that is the sense of close-knit-ness...and then regenerating the locale: how do we give back to the place?”
Soil, soul, community, locale. Our modern existence often undermines and devalues the health of these four basic human needs. It is a revolutionary act to intentionally create a community that is built around the sanctity of these four pillars. Regenerative farming and tending to the soil is good for our health, good for our water sources, good for native ecosystems, and good for wildlife. Regenerating our souls helps us strengthen our resiliency for times of transition and change, and wake up meaning in our lives and relationships. Regenerating community brings diverse and impassioned folks of different walks and ages together under a shared experience. Regenerating the locale ensures that we give back more than we take.
By being purposeful with the pillars of community-making, Chip and the Modern Elder Academy continue to help people discover and replant their purpose in new soil.
To hear more from Chip and Farmer D on how to cultivate and grow regenerative communities, listen to Episode 7 of Season 2 of the Citizen Farmers Podcast.