Building Thriving Neighborhoods w/ Jon Hillis
Turn your neighbors into friends, and friends into neighbors
What if the future of cities isn't about building bigger metropolises, but creating tight-knit neighborhoods where people actually know each other? 🤔
In this episode, we explore how Cabin is building a "network city", aiming to combat loneliness and the rising costs of living in big cities, to create more fulfilling ways of living in our increasingly disconnected world.
"There are two problems that seem to be driving unhappiness right now. One of them is standard of living and the other one is loneliness or sense of isolation."
The conversation covers the evolution of Cabin from a rural creator residency program focused on nomads, to a network of urban and suburban neighborhoods focused on families and local community building.
"Turn your neighbors into your friends and your friends into your neighbors."
The conversation also explores the potential of crypto at the local level, and Jon‘s perspective on community currencies and reciprocity economies, but stresses the importance of starting small, with things like dinner parties.
"Until you've coordinated a dinner party and, you know, cleaned up the dishes afterwards, you probably shouldn't try to tackle bigger governance questions."
Finally, Jon invites listeners to Cabin's "Neighborhood Accelerator" program that helps people create thriving local communities through regular events, group chats, and collective action.
Full episode
Things discussed
00:00 - Cabin: From remote residencies to local communities
06:29 - Difference between Network City and Network State
09:50 - The role of special economic zones
17:30 - Neighborhood Accelerator Program
19:08 - Building thriving neighborhoods
22:17 - Starting small & growing organically
27:29 - Potential uses of crypto in neighborhoods & towns
33:40 - Community currencies and reciprocity economies
40:10 - Historical inspirations for building societies