Who would Live in a Commune?

[ursacorwin]

just being loungy and crazy for a minute, but i want to ask- are there any of you out there who want to pack it in, 'give up' on consumerist american society, and try to find a new way of living?

let me be clear: i'm not trying to define what this community would be like. kibbutzes, hippie communes, religious communities are all good, but flawed models from my perspective. but a blend of proven ideas with a group people who shared the same values could work, i think.

just an informal poll, i welcome ideas as well as naysayers.

[molly]

1. Nope, I like my privacy and freedom too much

[TrogL]

2. I want to start a commune

although the business plan reads more like a sex cult.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. sure

who brings the chicks?

:)

[ursacorwin]

6. see, now i think that's kinda sad

that you would all think the word 'commune' has something to do with sex, or the loss of privacy. the idea here has more of an interest iin a self-sustaining community of people with shared goals, which themselves could be anything.

i guess i'm talking more to the mature and/or unemployed crowd. the ones who are just realizing that the system is slowly collapsing, and some of us are going to get crushed.

a community of people looking after one another, with sustainable practices and an insulating (in dire times) attitudes would be a better place to be during the Jeb Bush Riots of 09 than the suburbs.

the cubicles and strip malls will not be safe forever. read some history and tell me for just how long americans go without some major social upheaval...

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. that's exactly what I want

A place for like minded people to live together.

Just as long as all the like-minded people are hot chicks who wanna make out with me.

:evilgrin:

[JVS]

10. Is making out with you a sustainable lifestyle?

Or are there limits to how long you can last?
:-)

[THUNDER HANDS]

19. hell

If I had a commune full of beautiful women willing to make out with me I'd ride that pony as far as she'd go (figuratively speaking of course).

:)

[blackcat77]

13. Sounds like you're talking more about...

...a "tribe" rather than a commune. In a sense, we're already in tribes -- I guess you're just seeing them as being unhooked from the general grid.

[ForrestGump]

4. Will we be naked? Co-ed?

In that case, yes. :-)

[bicentennial_baby]

5. planning on it

When my fiancee's parents retire, we most likely will be getting their dozens-of-acres farm on top of a mountain here in New England. We hope to start a lil community up there with friends and family.

[JVS]

7. I can start in January

I suggest we make it a moonshining commune for two reasons:
A. I want to get all fucked up.
B. I want us to be able to have some money, so that we are not digging filth like the commune in Monty Python's Holy Grail.

[TNDemo]

8. Check out www.thefarm.org

One of the first and most lasting communes.

[ParanoidPat]

27. See post 25....

....and tell Stephen and Ina Mae Pat and Martha say hi! :hi:
I miss the old 'Beatnick Bell'! Telegraph, Telephone, Tell a hippy! :evilgrin:

[Nikia]

11. If something happened to my husband

I'd definitely consider it an option. I don't think my husband would want that sort of thing and I value our marriage so it isn't an option now and I hope that it will not be ever.

[blackcat77]

12. I *did* live in a commune back in 1970.

I was 18 at the time and used to a more regimented and social lifestyle. Since then, I've grown to appreciate both my privacy and my possessions and wouldn't choose that lifestyle any more.

[geniph]

14. I don't even like sharing a house with my husband!

I lived alone for 10 years and loved it. I hate living with other people. I need solitude and privacy. I'm the kind of introvert that finds interaction with people exhausting and enervating.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

31. I'm with you geniph!

I love being alone. My job requires me to interact with people all the time and I love sitting with a book or putzing around my house. I love the summer because my hubby is out golfing all the time and when we see one another, we appreciate the time we have together.

[JVS]

15. If this is going to be a cult: I call God!!!

Since I am the first to call it I get to be god. Nananananana!

[jonnyblitz]

16. I would in a heartbeat..

lets start one...

[bicentennial_baby]

22. You can come live on ours!

:hi:

[jonnyblitz]

28. keep me posted!!

:hi:

[proud patriot]

17. I did live in one

1970 SF in the Haight ...ask me anything ..I was only 3
at the time .

[chaska]

18. I seriously considered the idea.

I went for a three week visit to http://www.twinoaks.org/ about a year ago. I tell ya, there is a lot to like about the place. I met some great people, and while it seems to work for them, it's just not me.

These people are real dedicated to the lifestyle. They are particularly environmentally conscious. Me, I couldn't take the boredom of a life without television. I get real bored with too much conversation. And talking is about all they do (other than work - and they do work (in the commune's businesses)). I found myself feeling trapped (not literally - it's not a cult) by the restrictions on car use for instance. This particular commune has A LOT of rules - which of course are necessary, but somewhat onerous.

The place was surprisingly diverse: Black, white, asian, gay, straight, transgendered - you name it. It was a bit heavier than I would have preferred on the hippie vibe, but that's to be expected. Surprisingly little drug use though - communers are poor.

I would love to live in a community like that if there could be more freedom, more independence. I think the problem with an arrangement like they have is that there is too much interdependence. They want people to be able to come with nothing, but if everyone comes with nothing it means a lot of rules to prevent bankruptcy. And well, yeah, there are a lot of true believers. I'm an environmentalist, but I'm not fanatic about it the way most communers are.

All in all, it was a great experience. And a dirt cheap (working)vacation. I highly recommend it ... but not in the summer - life without air conditioning is hell.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. read "Beyond Civilization" by Daniel Quinn...also wrote "Ishmael"

kinda like tribalism ...great book...:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Ellen Forradalom]

21. Too much politics.

A dysfunctional communal living arrangement can turn reasonable people into backstabbing Machiavellians. And I'm not sure I have the stomach for the endless consensus-seeking meetings.

[mitchum]

23. "I don't know, I saw some pictures of one in a magazine...

it didn't seem too clean" Travis Bickle

[SOteric]

24. The best answer I can give is 'maybe.'

It would very much depend on the commune itself.

I wouldn't be one of the first to join. I'd be all about exposing myself to the social dynamic rather slowly and getting an opportunity to see if I felt it was in the mutual best interest of myself and the commune in question.

[ParanoidPat]

25. Been there, done that!

My 2 oldest children were born on one in Tennessee! :evilgrin:
BTW, the term 'commune' is passé, try 'Intentional Community' instead. :)

[greekspeak]

26. I woud not live in one

Too many negative connotations. But if you have a plan, go for it!

[buddhamama]

29. my neighbors are starting a commune

they've invited us to join. their model is peace loving, living with nature,etc,etc.
so far we've declined.
would i do it, yes.

[bikebloke]

30. I spent time on a kibbutz

For a while I was content, though with time I was beginning to thirst intellectually. And since I wasn't Jewish, I knew I'd always be an outsider, even as an insider. And staying long term, I kept having flames, who were European staying short term, depart back for home. That can grow into a bummer. Anyway, each kibbutz has it's own characteristics. Size is a factor. Too big and folk begin to feel isolated. Television had a great impact on the social life and general meetings. Decisions couldn't be made because folk were at home watching "Dallas". With the right mix of factors, it could be a good life. I noticed in the small village or tribal lifestyle, those who would be marginalized in a larger society (the elderly, the not-too-bright, etc) are included.

[AlienGirl]

32. Um, I sorta do!

My three roommates and I have this funky geek commune thing going. We don't own land or anything yet, though.

It's nice, even if we have been called "crazy" as recently as this afternoon. There are always people to help with the household chores (and the RepubRoomie, who is a neat-freak, actually *does* many of the chores) and people to talk to or hug if you need to.

Tucker