I’m just curious. I’ve lived in co-op housing, but that’s it. I’m curious about what people liked and disliked about livin’ in/with/on/at a commune. If you haven’t but want to, what makes you want to live in one, and what turns you off from one?
2006-09-10 18:29:49 · 5 answers · asked by Am 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
When we were having some "rather interesting" financial straits years ago, did a little research into Twin Oaks commune in VA (and I spent a couple weeks there on a working vacation, evaluating it).
A few advantages, then and now: Cost efficiency through shared resources, feeling of "community"/family/expanded social support network, work flexibility in terms of tasks and hours, chances to experiment with new roles/learn new skills from multiple experienced people, lower-impact living (more environmentally appropriate).
Disadvantages, then and now: Major change in lifestyle, especially in terms of property (even with a transitional period, it would have been a heck of a jolt). Not necessarily able to work within one's professional field/occupation--not everyone WANTS to go back to the land, 24/7. Depending on structure, may be economically risky (MUCH more so with a commune that's fairly new--TO had a lengthy track record), if you're committing substantial goods/resources---ever deal with a committee and then have to bow out?
We felt we'd have to sacrifice too much in terms of our individual ways and hard-earned personal possessions to join up, and that we might regret it because our situation might improve. We stayed mainstream, our lifestyle DID improve and last I heard TO was operating just fine without us. But if we'd been more flexible or wanting to make really dramatic changes, there were a number of very strong positives in a well-organized commune.
Have you compared/examined kibbutz living in Israel?
2006-09-10 19:00:52 · answer #1 · answered by samiracat 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love your question. My friends and I always joke that when we leave our husbands or they die or whatever we will all live together on a commune and raise our kids. I doubt this will ever happen, of course, but it is worth looking forward to. I guess I like the idea because it frees us of traditional roles and expectations and kind of puts us back together as we were in high school, without many obligations. I like the idea of everyone contributing to her ability and enjoying the fruits of the efforts as a whole. Maybe I would homeschool the kiddos (I'm a teacher) while other women worked outside the commune and brought home the bacon, so to speak (although I'm a vegetarian). Maybe everyone would let their hair down and not bathe or shave and get really hippie stinky (don't mean to offend-dated many in college) in which case I wouldn't like it.
I wouldn't consider myself a communist, but in general I do like the idea.
2006-09-11 01:43:49 · answer #2 · answered by Margarita 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have been curious about it, because I believe very much in creating a family of choice in my life.
2006-09-11 01:41:59 · answer #3 · answered by Cub6265 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not being a communist disqualifies one from commune life. Commune. Communism. Get the connection?
2006-09-11 01:45:56 · answer #4 · answered by Beejee 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i wouldn't mind living in a nude female lingerie-model commune.
i just think it would be a great learning experience, you know being part of a "team"
being "used" as a "girltoy" would be a turnoff.
2006-09-11 01:36:30 · answer #5 · answered by R J 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋