Transportation

The nature of the Project TriStar self-sustainable, off-the-grid, and remote community makes transportation both less important and of greater concern at the same time. First, members have little or no need for a vehicle once they begin participating in the community operations and second, any vehicle that is used within the community must be rugged and properly maintained for the trip to and from the remote community site. In other words, most vehicles are neither equipped or safe enough for the all-terrain and endurance needs of community transportation.

Members choose the Project TriStar community and lifestyle fully aware that it means a radical change from the lifestyle most have left behind. To a great extent, this means a purging of material possessions that have no need or purpose in the community and the community lifestyle. A lifestyle that incorporates simplicity in needs in exchange for a safe, peaceful, and nurturing environment that harmonizes with natural and universal laws. As such, and due to the remote community location, this also includes letting go of the need to be completely autonomous and the need for a vehicle for personal transportation.

By joining the Project TriStar community, each member makes a commitment to living a simpler and more rewarding lifestyle. Each member knows this is not a short-term commitment, but rather a long-term and hopefully lifetime commitment by the members to a lifestyle that has only slight reflections to the one they left behind. In the long-term, this means little long-term for contact with global society as it exists today.

Project TriStar is also not a day spa or vacation resort where people can drive up, expect to stay, and then leave without making such a commitment. Most of all, Project TriStar is a community that lives, breathes, and acts like a community rather than individualists trying to live and work together. It's this very sense of community that creates the opportunities for growth and expansion that are represented in the community.

As such, every member knows the importance of the community operations and maintaining some practical conveniences while discarding others. For all of these reasons and more, the need for individually owned vehicles is neither necessary or practical in the Project TriStar community. To accommodate the transportation needs of the community, Project TriStar has created a Transportation Committee that is responsible for all inter-site coordination, needs analysis, vehicle evaluation and purchasing.

Given the large number of community members, transportation needs for the community are managed by this committee to reduce the unnecessary accumulation of individual member vehicles during either the member orientation period, committee planning, site development, and member relocation. The purpose of the committee is to reduce the need for member owned vehicles as a member gets closer to actually relocating to the remote community site.

Part of this process is to help members reduce their dependency on personal vehicles as part of the transition to off-the-grid living. People may believe they understand what off-the-grid living means, but the reality may be quite different for those who have become addicted to unnecessary travel for the sake of convenience. The remoteness of the Project TriStar community site naturally limits a member transportation options, however, the goal is to help members transition away from the need for a personal vehicle prior to moving into the community.

As with many topics related to the Project TriStar community project, there is a transition period while the community is under development. This period of time provides some members with an opportunity to utilize their vehicle while reducing their dependency. During the community planning and member orientation phase, use of a member owned vehicle might be appropriate depending on the circumstances. In any event, the use of a member vehicle for community transportation is considered a short-term solution towards a long-term goal.

Community vehicle uses include: transportation of members to/from destination airports or cities, orientation, meetings with suppliers and vendors, and delivery of personnel, equipment, and supplies to the remote community location. By the time a member relocates to the remote community site, there will be no need for a personal vehicle. The Membership Committee and the Membership Handbook recommends that all members either sell their vehicle or leave it with friends before final relocation to the remote community site.

It is recommended that community members literally arrive with their possessions in hand at a designated location or nearest city to the Project TriStar facilities. From that point on, the Transportation Committee can arrange for all transportation needs to and from the Project TriStar facilities for the duration and until the member completes their relocation to the remote community site.

If a member still has their vehicle when they arrive and feels that it may be appropriate, equipped, and capable of use for the community activities, they should bring this to the attention of the Membership Committee prior to arrival at member orientation or the committee planning facility. The Transportation Committee will review the community needs analysis and evaluates any member vehicle before it is authorized for use by the community. Any personal vehicle driven by a member to the planning facility or the orientation facility may be put to use for the greater good of the community at the discretion of the Transportation Committee.

Project TriStar and the Transportation Committee have taken great care in order to ensure the safety and comfort of member travel needs to and from the remote community site. This preparation includes choosing only those vehicles that are equipped for long tours through rugged terrain. This means that vehicles are of commercial standards, capable of off-road repair, and capable of carrying enough supplies along with the members and their personal items. This includes the ability to transport enough food, water, and camping equipment in case of breakdown.

As such, the Transportation Committee has selected a variety of suitable vehicles for transportation of members to the orientation facility, site support during construction, relocation to the community site, and for any long-term uses and considerations.

Project TriStar understands that every community member gives up a lot of the conventional comforts and conveniences in exchange for the opportunity to be part of such a unique community and lifetime experience. This means letting go of many perceived emotional and believed physical attachments in order to live in such a self-sustainable, off-the-grid, and remote community.

One of the most comforting possessions to many people is that which allows for their greatest mobility; generally in the form of an automobile. Why? Often because we have become accustomed to the conveniences of modern society or because we feel trapped when our mobility options are limited. With the possible and potential events in our near future, these thoughts and patterns can become even more exaggerated. Maybe it's due to the unknowns, uncertainties, and insecurities of these times or from entering a new and remote community experience, but the truth is that some members may experience a sense of anxiety from letting go of their option to flee.

Healing fear is one of the ultimate goals of conscious evolution which means overcoming our insecurities, addictions, and patterns. Project TriStar is dedicated to helping members achieve these goals and is doing everything possible to make the member transition as easy as possible. Project TriStar understands that this process involves both personal evolution on the part of the member and the building of trust between each member and the community management. The key to achieving all of this is communication.