Cohousing communities

[isabel]

I heard an ad on CPR (Colorado) this morning for one and looked it up. I am now fascinated by this idea.

Anyone ever been a part of one? Would you consider it? I feel like I am going to spend a bunch of time today looking up various cohousing communities.

This is the one that the ad was for: alpenglowcohousing.org/
This one is nearby and much more established: www.heartwoodcohousing.com/

[pinkgorilla]

mandatory friendship! what could go wrong?!

[aliciaflorrick]

Sounds lovely until I have a bunch of people all in my business. No thanks.

[lilafowler]

I see a lot of white people.

[zoomzoom]

Jul 11, 2018 8:36:21 GMT -5 pinkgorilla said:

mandatory friendship! what could go wrong?!

Trucker hats.

[Leeham Rimes]

So people wanting to avoid any diversity at all? Ooookay.

[winecat]

I have a friend who lives in one in Broomfield, I think. From what she said, it doesn't sound like everyone is all up in everyone's business but provides a good sense of community. I know she's really liked raising her kids in a co-housing environment. I looked at one in the Montclair neighborhood after my divorce, but they were taking too long to get organized.

[mccallister84]

Not sure if it is considered the same thing, but I have a college friend who is doing something similar in DC - except that they all live in the same house. Her house is very diverse in terms of gender, race and sexual orientation. It seems to work for them - it’s not for me.

The house is all about living simply and drawing from the talents of the group. They are focused on community and communal living so it’s not just 8 strangers each living separate lives used one roof.

[isabel]

Jul 11, 2018 8:38:19 GMT -5 lilafowler said:

I see a lot of white people.

Yes, well, this is Colorado. I had the same thought looking at the pictures though.

[isabel]

It’s more that I had this expectation that this would be some sort of recovery facility or place that provides extra services. I didn’t expect what I found. And now I’m just fascinated by the people who live in these places and what it is like.

[walterismydog]

In theory? Yay!
In reality? Fuck. No.

But I’m introverted and being in community ALLTHETIME would cause me extreme anxiety.

I would possibly live in a big acreage type situation with a few other people spread out on the land. And lots and lots of animals.

[goldengirlz]

Jul 11, 2018 8:38:19 GMT -5 lilafowler said:

I see a lot of white people.

“There's no link between diet and diabetes. That's a white myth. Like Larry Bird, or Colorado.”

— the inimitable Tracy Morgan

[Deleted]

I don't like people. This sounds like my worst nightmare.

[Vespasia]

This just seems like a rebranding of communes.

[goldengirlz]

Jul 11, 2018 9:05:57 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

This just seems like a rebranding of communes.

I was going to say the same thing. My dad lived on a kibbutz for a summer in the 70s. It’s not really a new idea.

I don’t think it’s for me but with housing and childcare getting so expensive, I don’t think it’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard. I’ve heard of artists communities here.

[CheeringCharm]

I like the idea in theory but obviously it would *really* depend on the personalities of the people involved. Given how mobile a society we are today and how so many people live far from their families and friends from childhood, I can see why some people would be drawn to a community like this. It's hard to start over in a new place as an adult with no established connections to the area.

[glw]

I grew up in a hippie commune, so this sounds pretty nice to me. I think it would be better as a single person, though.

[Aloe Vera]

All the current members of Alpenglow are retired and did quite well for themselves. It doesn't seem like this community would be open to younger generations. Current members don't have to worry about finding a good paying job. Their career is behind them and they have the money to invest in this project.
This sounds like a nice way to live but you need to be retired with money to play along.

[MixedBerryJam]

I'm in the stage where I'm mulling the sale of my house and downsizing to someplace where it's easier to socialize, but I don't think this degree of human interaction is for me. I don't necessarily want to interact with people every day, I just want someone nearby enough to find my body before the cats gnaw my bones clean.

[egishere]

I feel like these look like retirement communities for people that say they don't want to live in a true retirement community? At least the Alpenglow looked like that-mostly older members. I do like the idea of community meals twice a week!

[krystee]

I'm not interested in the stereotypical hippie commune living thing, but I've read about places in high-density cities where you have essentially your own dorm room with bed and bath and a tiny seating area, and then you share a common living area/kitchen/game room...I would totally do that if I was young and single, even though I'm an introvert. That said, I would definitely rent vs buy in that situation, because if you get fellow residents you can't stand (like a big group of loud, super irritating bros), I wouldn't want to be stuck.

[ECB]

There are aspects to this that I like. One of the things I love about my neighborhood is the group of friends we've made and how we help each other out, etc. A smaller subset of us all belong to the same pool - and again, there are aspects of having a set social outlet in the summer, organizing potlucks for special events, etc - I enjoy it.

BUT. As there are neighbors that I REALLY don't like, I wouldn't want to 'have' to socialize with them or work on the same team as them in order to make the community successful. I can avoid them now for the most part. I feel like in this community, it would be harder to hide from them.

[nessness]

There was a place like that in my hometown, also focused on sustainability. They also have frequent community dinners that the residents take turns cooking. I know people who live(d) there and like it.

[circa1978]

I'm into communal living but I'd rather live on a piece of land with my various family members or have my ILs living with us or something.

[isabel]

Jul 11, 2018 9:13:28 GMT -5 Aloe Vera said:

All the current members of Alpenglow are retired and did quite well for themselves. It doesn't seem like this community would be open to younger generations. Current members don't have to worry about finding a good paying job. Their career is behind them and they have the money to invest in this project.
This sounds like a nice way to live but you need to be retired with money to play along.

Yeah, the Alpenglow one seems that way to me too, which is why I started looking at others. Heartwood seems like it has a younger generation in their community. They have rules for kids and what not.

[isabel]

Jul 11, 2018 10:56:16 GMT -5 circa1978 said:

I'm into communal living but I'd rather live on a piece of land with my various family members or have my ILs living with us or something.

This is H’s stance. I would love this too. We’ve discussed multiple times buying a big piece of land and building houses for us and our extended families.

[jenny1980]

Jul 11, 2018 8:38:19 GMT -5 lilafowler said:

I see a lot of white people.

Yeah, I was looking at the demographics page and they only show breakdown by age and gender. Literally 100% of the photos are of white people. I would not be surprised if there was not one person of color in the whole community. 

[litskispeciality]

Hmm I think it's too much togetherness. I was talking to someone recently that we should mock retirement communities for younger people, have freestanding, AFFORDABLE houses in a planned community with a pool, a day care, a hall where you could have parties, holiday gatherings, cook outs etc. and be friendly and good neighbors, but still have your own life. That I might be ok with.

[gummybear]

These seem like my worst nightmare but I hate people.

But in all seriousness it seems kind of like a game and not real life. Like if you are rich and have no responsibility you can give up the real world and go play hippie or something. It seems very unrealistic for a typical person. I don't believe the lip service (it seems very "bubble-y" to me). But I am a cynic.

[jezebel]

I would not enjoy this. I hated living in the dorms in college and I’m far more introverted now.