"Does living in an eco-community makes you happier?"

According to the United Nations, depression ranks first worldwide as “a cause of years lost due to disability” and by 2030 it is projected to be also the leading global burden amongst all diseases. The increasing prevalence of phenomena such as mental health conditions in nations with high GDP reinforces a wave of dissent expressed since the 1970s that criticises economic growth for not being a reliable prosperity indicator. At the same time, the imminent threat of climate change and environmental degradation had led to a growing realisation of the necessity to develop post-consumeristic values and lifestyles that will enable us to combine a high quality of life with measurably reduced resource use. Eco-communities are characterised by this kind of lifestyle and yet little is known about the experiences of happiness and life satisfaction in these spaces. The specific socioeconomic conditions of Greece, not least being the first country in the world to fall from a developed to an emerging market status, make for a fascinating and fertile ground for such an exploration. Through a combination of interviews, focus groups, observations and autoethnography, I have gained an insight into how happiness is understood, experienced and sought by eco-community residents. Elements that set this lifestyle apart are also identified and their effect critically evaluated. Although they have always been niches, on the fringes, ecovillages can now be seen as experimental sites relevant to core global goals. Their well-being potential has numerous things to teach us with several implications for both policy and the wider society.