How do you create a community that works for introverts?

A lot of people assume that intentional communities are mostly for extroverts. And it’s true — many events, trips, and communities are often designed by extroverts, for extroverts.

But a great community should work for different personality types.

At Traveling Village, our goal is to create communities that support a broad spectrum of people. Different family setups, different energy levels, different ways of engaging. That’s why we call it a village — because a village has space for all kinds of people and allows everyone to live in a way that feels right for them.

We’ve found that the way we’ve structured Traveling Village actually works really well for introverts. So in this article, we want to share some of the things that seem to work — and a few things we’re still learning and improving.

Common challenges for introverts in community life

The biggest challenge for introverts in community settings is when there’s a strong expectation to constantly participate and be social. When traveling and living in short-term rentals, it can also be hard to find time and space to recharge — or even have a quiet place to be alone.

Even when there’s no explicit pressure to join everything, there’s often an invisible kind: FOMO. And honestly, FOMO might be one of the biggest challenges in Traveling Village. There’s so much happening, so many interesting people, and limited time. It’s easy to feel like you don’t want to miss anything, and that can be exhausting.

This is one of the most common concerns we discuss with families during our first call. I suspect many more come across Traveling Village and don’t apply because they think you have to be a hardcore extrovert to join.

What’s working in Traveling Village

One of the key things is that we have very low requirements for participation. Everyone is free to contribute and engage in their own way. Each family can shape the trip to fit their rhythm — for example, by choosing their own accommodation setup.

We usually create a “community zone” in each destination, so families can book their own lodging nearby. Some families who need more space intentionally stay a bit further out. Others who enjoy being around people more often choose coliving setups.

The scale of the village also really helps. With around 20 families, there are always smaller groups doing something. It’s quite rare that everyone is in the same place at the same time. That naturally creates room for choice — you can join the things that matter to you and skip the rest.

A big benefit of this model is that if a person or family needs to withdraw for a while, the village keeps going. In a smaller group, that kind of absence could create pressure. But in a village-sized group, it’s totally okay. The community can absorb that ebb and flow.

Workgroups make space for different styles

Another thing that helps is how we organize the village through workgroups. These are small groups of 3–6 people who handle specific areas like events, communal meals, or budgeting. That means different skills and personalities are represented.

A workgroup planning communal dinners might include both extroverts and introverts, which leads to more balanced setups. And if you want to influence something, you can simply join a workgroup and help shape it.

A structure that supports balance

The typical Traveling Village format includes three locations, each lasting five weeks, with a 10-day break in between. We've found that this model works really well for several reasons.

One of the biggest advantages is that it gives families a chance to experiment and stretch their comfort zones. Many of the families we speak to are curious about coliving but feel a bit hesitant. With this setup, they can try coliving in one location, then choose a more private accommodation in the next. It helps families find the balance that works best for them.

The breaks between locations are also key. They create space for family time, rest, and reflection — a chance to slow down, recharge, and get excited for the next chapter of the journey.

What we’re still improving

The first thing we tell all families who apply is that Traveling Village is not perfect — and that it’s still an experiment. It’s amazing, it will challenge you, and it’s worth it. But it’s also intense. Some of the things we do are being done for the first time.

We’re improving as we go. A good example: In TV1, communal meals were planned as two per week. In TV3, each location will have its own food workgroup with a budget. They’ll decide how many meals to have and what kind. The goal is to shift the focus from how many meals to what kind of shared experiences actually work for that specific group.

Another area we want to improve is the pace of the village. It’s easy to fall into a fast rhythm, with lots of activities and constant momentum. And while we definitely don’t want to discourage people from planning things, we also want to create more room for slow, relaxed, low-effort gatherings — the kind where logistics are simple and there’s space to just be.