Intentional communities. Your opinion.

[Sand Dancer]

Those are still pretty rare. About the only examples I can think of are people setting up tiny homes on very small plots of land with some shared utilities sort of like in a mobile home park, but with some land ownership. The idea being that people who are not wealthy can live safely and well in a like-minded community by living 'small'. Those tend to be in the south because of the climate, and because of less government interference. I have also known groups of artists to pool their money and buy old abandoned factory buildings in the city to convert to live-work art studios, but that was before the developers realized there was a pile of money to be made converting those buildings into hipster "lofts" for the yuppies.

Again, one often finds themselves up against a pile of laws and ordinances put in place by for-profit developers and their cohorts in political office to stop the idea of any "self-made" intentional communities from happening. Money is control and control is money. It's how the mainstream operates.

If you already have lots of money, why bother with this idea? Just buy into a 'gated community' and you're set. Seems to me these are alternatives for people that aren't wealthy. Because no one wants to serve their needs these days. Every builder wants to build "McMansions" because that's where the big profits are. No one wants to build small, efficient, affordable homes for people that aren't rich.

Because some want to live below their means, tread lightly on the land and focus on important things. Some want community as they get older. I am happy that people are doing more than just consuming.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Sounds attractive, I'd be open to the idea. Like an entire community co-op, essentially. Though I'd want to know the fine print before signing and would want to talk to plenty of people who actually live in the community to get a sense of what it's like first.

It tends to be a process, as they want to make sure it's a good fit. Try before you buy. Google "Intentional communitues" and get more info.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I like the idea of community but not communitarianism. I like having private property, and always having the option to be alone if I need alone time. I'm assuming these "intentional communities" are similar to how the Amish or Hutterites live. Personally I don't like the idea of completely individualized living that most communities have, but I don't like the idea of these communities either. We need to have a happy medium which people can choose at any point to be with others or be alone.

Most of them have private home ownership with group use of the public areas. There are different types. Some are off grid, others are on. Something for most folks.