Have you ever lived in a commune?

[w8liftinglady]

I see that as an alternative to the thousands who are losing their homes....Just curious

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Not yet, but I really want to

My youngest (16) is on board, along with my Mom, my bro (with his 5! kids), and an ex-boyfriend. I'm looking for 5-10 acres, at least a semi-habitable house (we all have construction experience), private well, and not more than 10 miles from a town.

Next step is winning the lottery so I can afford to make this happen. :(

[SeattleGirl]

2. No. Don't think I could deal with it.

I know it's a great idea for a lot of people, but I'm not one of them.

[graywarrior]

3. We are organizing one right now.

[Droopy]

6. Tell us more.

[graywarrior]

10. We posted a proposal on Craigslist indicating why we wanted to do a cooperative living arrangement

which includes healthy food, creativity involving art and music and conducting various workshops, political activism,etc. We got a ton of response and we are seriously considering one option in NH.

We have done this before and it worked out well, even tho there was one bathroom shared with 7 people. We all had a common interest which made it work. We figure this is the only way to afford living where we want to, and also enable us to get involved with people who are like-minded and more adventurous.

[Droopy]

12. How are you going to work the income arrangements?

Will all income be shared or will people have their own income and then contribute a portion to the community? Or will you have your own community business with all members participating and all income put back into the community?

[graywarrior]

13. That is what we are working out right now

The person we are interested in living with is a political activist who owns a huge house but needs help supporting it. We are discussing doing workshops at the house (acting, cooking, motivational speaking, etc) to cooperatively support the arrangement. The ideas are endless. It actually would help us afford two place--one in New England and one either in Florida for the winter (fuck that, sez me)or an island somewhere.

[w8liftinglady]

4. I would LOVE to live in a commune-I would be a great Medical resource

I am looking for a gardening,holistic resource...eventually

[Droopy]

5. I've seriously considered it

But I could not find the type of community that I had envisioned. I was think something along the lines that everybody had their own income and all essential living expenses and chores would be shared by the community.

What I found was communities that were either too far away from civilization for me to be able to work in my chosen profession, or communities that wanted you to sign over all of your personal assets to them upon entrance into the community and not work outside of it.

[w8liftinglady]

7. That has been my experience./...

My Ex lives near me-There are NO communes in the DFW area.I really can't move.

[Capn Sunshine]

8. I was a communist...for about two weeks

Morningstar in New Mexico. I was way too into myself to make a contribution. I think I could do a compound, if I was the messiah

[NMDemDist2]

9. yeah a couple of them actually

as long as everyone did a fair share and the sexual jealousies weren't out of line they are very cool

can't really see me doing it again though.

[NMDemDist2]

11. interesting DU link about that very subject

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x112756

[tigereye]

14. I lived in a "group house" for a few years during and after college

we were all vegetarians and had similar political and cultural interests. There were great food, fascinating people coming and going all the time, group meetings about how to run things, and wonderful parties. Not quite the same as a commune.

Not sure I could have lived in a "commune" per se, but the idea of communities with common interests is very interesting.

[conscious evolution]

15. I am about to buy into one

It is set up so that you buy a share sorta like in a co-op building.
Everyone has there own room and shares common facilities.
Meals can be communal or done indivually.
Everyone pitches in money and/or sweat equity on maintanance and bills(insurance,taxes,utilities etc.)
No one has turn over all their assets or anything like that.Whats yours is yours.

With housing going down the shitter the way it is I think communal living makes pretty good sense.with the middleclass being destroyed communes give people an affordable alternative to housing.