When she told her family about the decision to stay in the settlement for longer her relatives were shocked. Her granddad told her “How can you sacrifice all our love to you, and what is the point? What is it that you are not able to accomplish here and thus have to move?”
Her mother was not prepared to hear the news as well and could not hold back tears. She could not imagine that her daughter would leave her.
But the decision was made and the only thing Clara could do was to explain her reasons and to reassure her mum that it is the right decision.
Many people living in cities still do not agree to recognize settlements as an independent. They are indeed usually based on villages and small towns, mostly abandoned, but still standing on the land belonging to the state.
Clara packed her bags and moved into the house of her friend Florian in the settlement just about 10 kilometers outside Berlin. He lives in a house that he is building together with the neighbors Fred and George. They live here for 20 years and are members of the craftsmen guild, which helps the newcomers to settle down.
Clara starts to involve in the projects of Florian, she watches him working on the new furniture for the terrace and helps him to carve the table. She likes woodworking and gains experience very fast.
Once Florian was out of the settlement and Clara asked Fred to help her. He came out of his apartment to the last floor and asked her if they could talk. They went inside a small garden behind the house where Fred started to talk. He said “Dear Clara, I want to prevent any misunderstanding from your side concerning the place you are staying in now. I know how Florian feels about being here and therefore I am afraid that he did not tell you the whole truth so as not to ruin your dreams.
We – people who have consciously chosen to express, create, bring meanings into life – are deprived of a right to live in our family circle. You probably have noticed that we have no playgrounds, schools, and kindergartens. That is because we can’t have children and ground families. Nobody brings it up because they don’t want to be associated with those who stayed in cities but I wish to tell you how important it is. If you choose to stay here it would be the most important decision in your life and there is no turning back.
This was one of the conditions for the settlements to appear and be recognized officially. Since most people left small villages and moved to big cities, the value of land decreased rapidly. That was the reason why governments of most states agreed to lend these areas to first pilgrims who wanted to found settlements there, but with some conditions: they could not return to the cities and they can not have children. The problem of overpopulation has become the main issue of big cities: there is no space for more people. Therefore the government saw it as the only way to be sure that at least those not so fond of family life will be satisfied to live in the settlements, fulfill their dreams, and maybe attract more citizens to follow their lifestyle as well.
Clara is shocked to hear this news. She imagined the settlement to be an ideal place for her but not anymore.
