Would YOU?

[Abraham Cog]

I'm tempted to but without plumbing I'm afraid the city would quickly become unbearable.

But the *Victorians* had plumbing... why can't we?

Not only did the Victorians have plumbing, they also added art and style to it.

[Augustus Longeye]

As long as there were the internet I would. I think of all modern technology the internet is one of our most important advances.
Apart from that I think in some ways it would be a lot better than my current residence... Chavs, robberies, drunken  louts throwing bricks through each others windows... and as it is England has very little worth... we don't make or grow things... we don't really do all that much. A steampunk city would have to have value, and people would have to work... There would be problems but they could be worked out civilly with  pots of tea all round.
~Longeye~

[Clym Angus]

As long as there were the internet I would. I think of all modern technology the internet is one of our most important advances.
Apart from that I think in some ways it would be a lot better than my current residence... Chavs, robberies, drunken  louts throwing bricks through each others windows... and as it is England has very little worth... we don't make or grow things... we don't really do all that much. A steampunk city would have to have value, and people would have to work... There would be problems but they could be worked out civilly with  pots of tea all round.
~Longeye~

Yes there are days that despite the indignities that you are thankful for surviving. That said as long as you have a nice, loose, non-judgemental community of people then you'll be fine. As soon as it gets a bit power play, striving for a utopian impossibility or vaguely cult like then there would be issues. I am, a little concerned in this regard as history has shown there isn't one single social ideal that humanity (by the nature of being human) can't completely **** up.

The nature of any group is defined by how it punishes and alienates, (not by it's ideals) because that is the system by which it exerts control. No one wants to create a Disney land village but I'm having difficulty seeing how it would work. Social engineering on any scale is at best a difficult one, still to walk out of a morning in a toppy and receive nothing but compliments would be something of a restorative for the soul.

[McFoxxx]

As long as they made an anachronistic exception for internet connections.. I'd heavily consider it. :-P  I'd miss my pocket-brain though.  I'm lost without a smartphone or pda to keep track of everything for me.

Agreed. Along with hopefully there is washer and dryer, and showers with hot water daily! And deodorant...

[Zastrozzi]

No email - but pneumatic tubes?

Either way, count me in.  I'd open a coffee and absinthe franchise and make millions...

[akumabito]

No email - but pneumatic tubes?

Either way, count me in.  I'd open a coffee and absinthe franchise and make millions...

Gearbucks!

[Professor Oilcan]

yep as long as I could have my steamengines with me I'm happy

[Clym Angus]

It seems to me that if this is to be anything other than pie in the sky, a list of pre-requisites is in order.
From that broad definition one could start to knuckle down areas of possible interest.
Any takers on the definition of pre-requisites?

Near a railway, good schools, public transport, broadband hub etc etc etc. As they say location, location, location.

[Frolicking Johnson]

Here's a town for sale for $100,000. Somebody should buy it; Buford Wyoming.

[Frolicking Johnson]

Here's a town for sale for $100,000. Somebody should buy it.[url]http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/entire-town-buford-wyoming-sale-sole-resident-183155529.html]http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/entire-town-buford-wyoming-sale-sole-resident-183155529.html][url]http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/entire-town-buford-wyoming-sale-sole-resident-183155529.htmlrl]

Looks like the link isn't working, but the town is called Buford, Wyoming. I read about it online this morning. Google Buford Wyoming for sale.

[Augustus Longeye]

I've fixed the link for you.
~Longeye~

[bicyclebuilder]

It's a house, the Buford Trading Post and the former school house. 0.02sq mi. Looking at google earth it's got potential. Right next to a highway and what seems to be a train track. On the other side of the track some sort of agriculture or mining. 25 miles to Cheyenne. I took a look at the surrounding roads with "streetview" and it seems to be rural, hill country. Similar to rural UK. A bit more dry I suppose. Hmm, let's see $100,000? Let's check my accout.... Yes, I've got $100,000!!! Oh, wait. I owe $100,000. 

[Professor J. Cogsworthy]

I'd visit often..... But I like my modern toys too...

[Darkhound]

The location of Buford would be ideal for the Living Theme Park idea, Steamwestern Variant, and the "actual town with a post office" thing would be great. Needed a. $100,000 b. a good manager to keep the trading post going c. ungodly amount of start up capital and d. enthusiastic Steampunks to run it all. I know we have d.

Historically, the General Buford Hotel containing/adjoining the Second Dragoons Saloon suggests itself. Mod cons including electricity, phones, and internet all available. I'd join like a shot, if any source of a,b,and c listed above comes forward.

[Maxwell B. Cooper]

Yes, in a heartbeat. As to lack of plumbing/cars/internet etc, it's steampunk - build it. What's stopping us from designing and building steam powered cars or installing plumbing from available materials? Part of steampunk's charm is that it's anachronistic, personally I'd have a blast! Now I want a steam powered car. 

As to the internet, maybe this is what we would end up with:

Steampunk Internet

[Uncle Arthur]

I would love it!

[Danbury Shakes]

or installing plumbing from available materials?

Ah, a plumbing system made up of old rifle parts - that would be novel.

Great vid Mr Cooper, loved it

[Indigo Spire]

No email - but pneumatic tubes?

Either way, count me in.  I'd open a coffee and absinthe franchise and make millions...

Gearbucks!

And you would get looted........   

(I know this because I would do it.)

[Mercury Wells]

A list of skills we will need...

Seamstresses/Tailors/Hatters/Milliners.
Mechanics/Engineers/Architects/Stone masons/Brickies/Miners.
Chippies (woodworkers)/Bodgers?)/Painters/decorators.
Vets/Medical staff/Emergency people.
Jewelers/Clock & Watch makers.
Printers (reporters et cetera)/Signwriters.
Teachers.
Food Merchants & Cooks/Chefs.
Metal Smiths (inclusive).
Farmers & Hunters/Trappers/Furriers/Tanners/Leather workers/Cobblers (I know that isn't going to be popular with everyone).
Navvies (canal/railway builders).
Artists/Photographers.
Admin. et cetera.
Engine or Tram Drivers/Chauffeurs.
Astronomer/s?. (Well, we have to have warning, just incase those "Johnny Foreigner Martians" decide to invade, (yet again!   )
Music Hall Entertainers.
Archivist/s.
Thatchers/Slaters (using Welsh slate of course, Bachgen ).
Glass Blowers/Etchers.
Fishermen (inclusive).
Windmillers/bakers(?).
Potters.

Please do add to this list. (if possible)

So the inhabitants have children. Do the children follow their parents profession/s or are they apprenticed out to a Master/Misstress* in another trade for a minimum of seven years? Or do we take in children from childrens' homes? To teach them an education plus a trade of their choice (after trying out, what's on offer + the ethics of what SP means in a modern society?).

Should we use the Amish method? young people are allowed to mix in the modern world i.e. "The English" for a year?

*Do we invite old people (as Masters & Mistresses of their profession/s) at the beginning or while we're up and running to pass on their skills? The earlier the better, I think. (I wonder how many old people are upset/angry/annoyed/bitter, that they cannot pass on their skills?)

Would there be grants from UK/Canadian/US funds for "employing old people" to teach/pass on old skills? (or is it the case of...you're old, nobody cares, so lie down & be buried attitude?) My way of thinking is...the older the person is, the more there is to gain (not in a selfish kind of view/way).
All old people with skills should be acknowledged as "living treasures" (Like the Japanese sword makers).

And now the really hard question:- Religious observances? Ecumenical or follow your own religion?

Over to you!

[Uncle Arthur]

Well, I'm a woodworker/blacksmith. That covers a bit of what's needed.

[Maxwell B. Cooper]

I studied Mechatronics at college (Mechanics and Electronics), might need a refresher course though...it's been awhile. Maybe I'll start reading the Boy Mechanic and Boy Electrician books, that should work. 

[bicyclebuilder]

I can tick a few boxes:
Mechanics/Engineers/Architects
Chippies (woodworkers)/Painters/decorators.
Printers (reporters et cetera)/Signwriters.
Cooks/Chefs.
Artists/Photographers.
Potters.

All in various degrees of skill.
Are we going full self supporting, trade with "the English" or raise funds by entertaining and educating "the English"?
I think we should go with something like they did in "the Village"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Village_(2004_film)
Or is that going to be too scary?
No, I think we should keep contact with the outside world, letting Steampunk/Victorian life be a choise.
Making Buford our town looks appealing. Making trips to the nearby towns with our steampowered vehicles sounds wonderfull.

As for religion, each their own.

Depending on what country you want to build our town, we should look into grants. Elderly people to pass on old skills sounds good. I don't know if a museum gets any funds from the governement. Downside of turning the town into a museum is that you get Victorian attire mixed with modern clothes. To prevent that we could make the layout of the town in such a way that it devides the Victorian with the modern world. Like a bakery that can be viewed from the visitor side, but when you take the back door, you enter the Victorian side.
I've been to an open air museum somewhere in New Brunswick, Canada where the guides/actors told how life was as an early settler. They used prestent tence, not passed tence. The guides also had little get toghethers and trips to the blacksmith or bakery. It was like they actually lived there. They experienced it as real. I can't recall the name of the museum. Something with "king" or "lion"

[Darkhound]

Bicyclebuilder, I believe you're thinking of King's Landing, New Brunswick. There are several other "Living History" type towns, including Plymouth Plantation (late 17th century Puritan colonists) quite near me. It'strue that Steampunk isn't exactly historical, but I could see a Steamwestern town of Buford becoming a successful attraction. Crafters, shops, rides and performances, food and lodging, and perhaps other things could be profit makers, but we wouldn't get any Historical Society support. Also, dealing with tourists full time does take a great deal of tact and tolerance.

Altogether, a major undertaking, but dafter ideas than this have succeeded!

[clockwork_watcher]

id love to
i would defo move there

[akumabito]

Practical Tools to Grow an Intentional Community

Interesting video on community governance.