For some time I've been observing the world fall apart around me. Daily, the news is filled with reports of unspeakable atrocities. I only need to take a short ride here on Long Island to observe vast gaps in wealth distribution. Some people have nothing while a few miles away, others don't know what to do with all their stuff. Shootings and robberies are almost daily occurrences within walking distance from here.

I might have been able to ignore all that if it wasn't because some of those things began to affect me personally. Gradually, things began to be more difficult. It felt like everywhere you turned, you were met with suspicion. And when not, you constantly had to watch out for people who were out to get you in some way.

For a long time, I was busy raising a family and didn't pay too much attention. Perhaps it would get better all by itself. Then suddenly, I had the opportunity to do something different when my job became part-time. I still had family obligations and a lot of energy went into meeting them.

Another part of me kept pulling at my sleeve. I had to do something about this broken world. Could this be my chance? Could I do both? How about becoming a career politician? Politicians seemed to be doing something. Then some smear literature about a local politician landed in my mailbox the day before the election. The election of a Fire Commissioner became nasty with accusations flying back and forth. Nope, that world was too dirty for me.

Even though I didn't consider myself a Christian, I still attended church with my family on a regular basis. I saw pastors come and go. Most were very warm and genuinely friendly people. Others were friendly on the outside and manipulative on the inside. Bickering and accusations kept leaking out from behind the scenes. That world didn't seem too attractive either.

Could it be the wrong religion? I checked out an Ethical Humanist Society. People were involved in all kinds of noble causes, but seemed to be uninterested in anything but their own. The self-centeredness and the conflicts were even worse, if possible.

Now what to do? I was beginning to feel isolated. There seemed to be very few people with whom I would want to be friends. I didn't feel comfortable talking to the rest about what I was struggling with. It felt like dumping my problems on others and I didn't want to do that.

So, here I am. I'm looking for people who are like me and who want to join me in fixing the world. That would mean telling people how they should live their lives, wouldn't it? Yes, it would, so we're not going to do that. We will start by carving out a small corner of the world where we can live in peace with ourselves, among ourselves and with the world around us.