>>37
Joe Anarchist woke up one morning and kissed his life partner lightly. He walked out into the kitchen and kindled a little fire in the stove and put on some water to boil.
Little Stevie Anarchist was busy painting on the kid art wall in the living room. "Hi Stevie," said Joe,"what's up, buddy?" "I'm going to the lake today with my friends," Stevie replied.
"That's great son, but don't forget you said you would do a shift in the apple orchard," said Joe A.
"I know, Dad," Stevie said, "I'll bring some apples back before I go swimming."
Jenny Anarchist, Joe's life partner, came in from the yard with some peaches. "Good morning guys!" she said,"is there any cheese left?"
"I think there's a little," Joe A said," I'll have to see if the neighbors are going to make any more."
"Well, if you do, let them know I have their sweater ready," Jenny said. "I'm off for my shift at the birthing center: see you later, guys!"
Joe A didn't feel like doing any shifts at any of the co-ops today, so he set off to the lake after walking Stevie to the apple orchard.
He stopped on the way by the bakery for a cinnamon roll.
Since everyone in the community volunteered at various jobs, everything was free, so he didn't need to worry about paying for his roll, or his rent, or anything, really. If he needed shoes, Fred made him some. If he was sick, one of the doctors came by. And if anyone needed music, well, his guitar was the one they wanted to hear: to cheer them up, to provide entertainment for the kids...
"Gee," Joe thought to himself, "I'm so glad I don't live in the old days, when it was every man for himself. It's nice to have the support of friends and neighbors!"
Joe left the town, smiling at the skateboarding kids in the old factory, and headed to the lake, where he would soon meet Stevie, who only had a couple hours in his shift since he was only 8. Stevie would be proud of the work he had done and ready to play with his buddies and his dad.
Joe was glad that Stevie could do his own thing most of the time, freeing him from the position of being prison guard to his son and allowing him to enjoy fathering.
At the lake, Joe saw Dan, one of the folks in town who didn't so much appreciate guitar playing at 2 am. They had worked out a sort of compromise; playing all night was only Fridays or Saturdays; but Joe and Dan still didn't get along very well. They had had a fistfight this last week, and now they were both pretty wary around each other.
"Hey Dan," Joe said as he entered the water.
Dan grunted in reply.
Joe was used to working out problems with neighbors, though, since he had never looked to an authority to solve his problems for him. From the time he was a little kid, he had been encouraged to work things out and come to a compromise. He felt mostly embarrassed about the fight with Dan. Physical violence was definitely not accepted in their town, and many neighbors had spoken to both him and Dan about their self control.
Joe decided to give it another go with Dan.
"Hey Dan," he said," I hear our kids are coming down to swim soon. How about we make them a raft?"
"Sure," Dan said.
Well, they weren't best friends, but it was something. Joe felt relieved. He had heard about feuds between people that used to take place in the bad old days, when folks didn't hold co-operation as a value, and he had worried that one might be developing here. But reminding Dan that they were mostly on the same side anyway seemed to help restore balance.
And there we leave Joe Anarchist, making a raft for his kid in the lake with his not-so friendly, and yet co-operative neighbor.
tl;dr:
Joe the Anarchist has a lovely day, free of money and authority.