Most of the Back to the Landers or New Communalists I knew in the Skyline Area of the Santa Cruz Mountains did not hold full time jobs. If they did they tended to be temporary jobs like carpentry, or gardening where one could earn enough to get by for a while. Hand to mouth was a way of life.

Freedom from wage slavery was important. Even those with long term goals of buying their own land were not compelled to work 40 hours a week. Life was for living and learning, socializing and enjoying.

Hot dry dusty summer days in the Santa Cruz Mts. often meant swimming, naked of course, in a nearby lake. The best and biggest lake was at Pacific School where they had a great rope swing.