If it's Friday, I must be restless. Again.

[grammarwoman]

Now that the outflux of people from C-U is gradually turning into an influx (Yay, the_sween and hecateuse!), it’s got me thinking about my old dream of building a commune. Aside from having a large group of some of my favorite people living close by, there were other ideas that appealed to me to make up my SimCommune (or would that be CommUtopia?).


Basic layout: I’m picturing a large suburban square block, at least 5 or 6 houses on a side, with a big old green space in the middle. This confined park would include a large garden area, both ornamental and food-bearing, plus big trees for climbing and tree houses, and a vast expanse of grass (or other groundcover that would stand up to pounding foot traffic) with playground equipment for all ages and species. For my own personal space, I’d still want a fenced-in portion attached to my house (with a gate out to the interior park, of course); it’s so easy to let the dog in and out instead of having to leash her all the time.

Community center: A large group of people needs a large space to meet, so a big gathering hall with room for seating and a stage would be a must, hooked up with all the latest technology for movie viewing, dance parties, plays, and so on. There’d also be a two-story library for printed literature and all other types of media, looking eerily similar to the library at Trinity College, with awesome rolling ladders, big tables, and plenty of cozy chairs and a fireplace. Plus, there would be individual classrooms and kidcare spaces, and a computing center (wifi all over the place). For rainy days, a gymnasium with a running track might be good, and an exercise center with fun equipment. Ooo, and an enclosed swimming pool that could be opened up on beautiful days, and a hot-tub, sauna, kiddy wading pool, and other water toys. A big-ass commercial kitchen with top-of-the-line equipment would be a must, for group meal prep and culinary classes.

Events: group spirituality meetings, perhaps UUish in approach, with education for all ages on different religions and philosophies. Community childcare and schooling. Actual wage-producing onsite jobs like produce supply, software programming, baked goods production, maybe a restaurant.

Impractical to the extreme, I know, but little daydreams like this keep me entertained.

Anyone want to join me? Any suggestions/additions/deletions for what would be on your ideal list?

Comments

[the-sween.livejournal.com]

I want a theatre! Both for projection and performing arts.

[grammarwoman]

Thus, "a big gathering hall with room for seating and a stage would be a must, hooked up with all the latest technology for movie viewing, dance parties, plays, and so on."

But I suppose we could have an actual movie projection room, too.

[samwize.livejournal.com]

We'd need a plumber, a doctor, and an electrician. And provisions would need to be made for future exogamy ("Ok, Jimbo. You need to go foster with the Rainbow Clave in vermont this summer. Then you're set to exchange out to the Nutsy Boltz compound for tractorin' for a few months. Try and bring back a blond."

[grammarwoman]

I loved Spider Robinson's idea of paying promising peoples' ways through higher education in return for getting their services free for life.

Additionally, a lawyer would be useful for covering our asses when the crazies came out of the woodwork.

Plus, I'd be angling for a redhead. *grin*

[die-sterne.livejournal.com]

lawyer!

[sapphireone.livejournal.com]

Yay, community living!
I'd like a community place to be built with the latest green technologies - in my dreamiest dreams, any house I live in after this one would be energy net neutral. I think veggie gardens would be good - maybe with a big group it would be easier to keep up with weeding and harvesting.

We have friends who live here: http://www.touchstonecohousing.org/ Not too far from us, really, but out of our price range and further from work for both of us. :( It seemed really, really nice when we hung out there, though. And pretty close to your ideal, but heavier on the neighborhood aspect and not so much with the library and jobs and religion part.

[grammarwoman]

Dude, I'd settle for neighborly relations with people I liked, as opposed to feeling like the odd ducks out, as I do on our block.

That link looks really intriguing.

[sapphireone.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I've been hearing about co-housing for a while, and it seems so cool. And seeming to draw in more similar types of people, too - our friend has a gaming group going just in the neighborhood. I know there's co-housing around the country, not just 20 minutes west of us. So far nothing practical for us, though.
Look, an on-line directory of cohousing places:
http://directory.cohousing.org/us_list/all_us.php

[aabassplayer.livejournal.com]

Wow...I wanna come join in the fun!

I verily much approve of the separate houses surrounding an enclosed block...that's a wonderful idea...

It also supports the separation, as well as togetherness that is so necessary in communal living....you need your space!!!! 7 years of living with other people in an intentional space while all working on one's own personal development/spirituality/whatever, and living with other people's neurosis in dealing with the same, teaches you that sometimes you need a time out. :-)

I LOVE the communal theatre, commons, library, net-lair concept.

I've also wanted to go more of a green-ish route with some stuff, too. There's someone from IMSA that is living in the Dancing Rabbit commune north of St. Louis, I think. I think that's too far off the grid for me, though.

[grammarwoman]

I've had way too many good friends who were indifferent-to-bad roommates to want to live in the same space with anyone other than direct family. I'm spoiled like that.

Green construction would be very important, no doubt.

[(Anonymous)]

In StL, there are some areas that experimenting with this type of living situation using older apartment buildings and common green space. They insist on a commitment to the community before considering an application, but your commitment to the community can be in different forms (cooking for the elderly members of the community, driving children to school, gardening tasks, etc.). I agree that we all need seperate living spaces. I don't want people to know how many hours a day I watch the weather channel.
~kazudi

[grammarwoman]

It could be worse -- it could be the Soap Opera channel...

[kayoteelsewhere.livejournal.com]

This has always seemed neat to me. Maybe not quite so extensive, but having the entire block and the middle area as a big yard--providing everyone can agree on yard care, which might be as hard as roommates agreeing on music!

Course, as everyone moves into town we buy houses all over the place! Would have to build all the houses, probably--since everyone seems to value different things and neighborhoods tend to be similar.

We also feel a bit out of place in our neighborhood. We like a more natural looking lawn, and don't feel like paying someone to poison it and spew exhaust in the air while they do. But neighborhoods that keep their yards more like we'd like to tended to have houses half or less the size we wanted. *sigh*

[die-sterne.livejournal.com]

I'm in.

[revjack.livejournal.com]

I'm totally in. All I need is one of them "small houses" plopped onto a corner of the community property, and I'm good.

We should do it a few miles outside of town, though. Give us some greenspace to be looking out over. With just a few airs of ostensible religious zealotry, we could even get the pinks to stay away completely. Just put a big sign out front that says "New Zion Sanctuary Endtimes Community" or somesuch.

[grammarwoman]

Al wanted to live outside of town, too. My problem with that is:

1) There are very few trees in the converted farmland plots for sale around here. We'd have to find some really fast-growing trees to shade the area.

2) I want food delivery options for lazy nights.