Vestiges of American pioneerism have translated in recent years into a singular vision of modern lifestyle organization. In other words, you can't discover Utah. We've already done that. Just ask the Tabernacle. But the spirit of wanting to spread out, build the largest home on the greatest acreage with the most impressive and vast landscape architecture to individually dominate and exercise control over the space in which one lives, prevails.
And on one level, I get it. While I can't say I've ever cozied up in anything over 1200 square feet and have never ever had anything similar to a lawn, backyard or garden unless you count a pool dug in the center of a Melrose Place-style apartment complex I cavorted in the first year I lived here. I like to decorate as much as the next Domino Magazine aficionado, have been known to leave more than a few dishes in the sink for longer than I would like to admit and sadly have killed each and every plant that I've ever potted. I also lived for several years in a apartment complex with lots of lovely ladies, generally citing cheap rent for a big space (with wooden floors) as my main motivation.
But, when I think back to that experience, the real appeal was living amongst a group of inspiring individuals with diverse skills and talents. Not only did I enjoy their company but I learned valuable lessons from learning how to be a good listener to making jewelry to sewing trashy lingerie based on 1970s patterns to ripe avocados can be kept for literally weeks in the fridge.
I have another birthday right around the bend and with that I'm feeling the winds of change. We hear a lot about community in our culture, building community, the benefits of community, using your singular skill set to benefit a group i.e. truly belonging in just the right place, but then we all get into our cars alone and go home, maybe to a partner and kids, maybe to a pet rabbit, maybe to just your empty environs.
I have a birthday a comin' and I'm feeling a sea change. I'm kind of tired of not exactly practicing what I preach. I long for community, albeit, a one that both encourages and honors both the body politic and a person's need for private time and space. And you know what, such a place does exist. In fact there are many of them.
Of course, I'm talking about co-housing, collectives, eco-villages and sustainable intentional communites, all four of which do differ due to financial arrangements, legal specifications, and structural values. But no matter what co-community is right for you, as you're as invested socially and emotionally as you are financially, it's nice to know that there are several options for monthly rent/contributions/moratge & monetary obligations ranging from over $5,000 to $460 a month.
That said, it seems that that they also generally share certain ideals such as member designed dwelling or groups of structures and buildings aesthetically and architecturally agreed-upon that form a retrofit neighborhood. Generally, depending on the organization of the community, all decisions that affect the co-house are made by "one no-vote" or consensus practices, members often cook and eat meals together, have work shifts in which they upkeep and improve upon the homestead from building and tending gardens to installing gray water systems to cleaning the bathroom and make it personal and shred values to support and nurture one another through life twists, upheavals and magic moments.
Besides, who isn't kind of stoked about contributing their unique skills, creativity and resources to a community where the results of their efforts benefit everyone?
Other benefits include the use of common areas and skill shares from my research may include:
Art and dance studios, commercial kitchen, mixed use room, monthly dinner for
extended community, regular social gatherings, meetings, shop space,
guest rooms, shared office, healing & spiritual practice space,
movement space, library, apothecary, pantry, hot tub, sauna, outdoor
shower, garden shed, natural building, bike parking, bike maintenance,
cob oven, cob bench, fire pit, outdoor gathering, garden, wheelchair
accessible bathroom, laundry services, children play space, fort, music
room, green house, nursery, hens, chickens, and livestock, fish ponds w/solar waterfall, excellent gardens, honey bee
colonies, fruit trees, lavender lined walkways,
hot tub, and many other benefits. such as eco-friendly home elements like solar hot water, gray water
irrigation, wind and solar-voltaic energy harvesting.
And yes, depending on their ages, children also participate in work shifts, probably not rewiring the kitchen. But maybe feeding the chickens or picking the strawberries for that night's dessert or babysitting the younger kids in the group. And of course, parents are also encouraged to give one another a hand by carpooling school drop-off and pickup schedules, tutoring and mentoring, and supporting one another through parenthood, even if it is just figuring out how to deal when your teen keeps sneaking out of the co-house to catch Leftover Crack at 924 Gilman.
Of course, one should expect to find the pre-requisite ruddy-cheeked university students on board, but I'm much more excited about a multi-generational space. As my beloved and I have agreed, if we haven't hooked up into co-housing situation in the next few years, our senior years will most certainly be spent in community. If not, just push my wheelchair over to the window, give me a kiss on the cheek and let me get to it. I'm with Sophia. No Shady Pines for me.
Sadly, I believe that the few LA co-housing and community spaces have closed but there is still one eco-village, the LA Eco-Village, located at 117 Bimini Place, LA, CA 90008. Check them out toute suite. They really do have an amazing array of skill shares, lectures, eco festivals and celebrations, education, training and consuting for more environmentally sustaining neighborhoods, a green jobs listing, permaculture activities and resources, eco networks and resources, a list of important affiliations and how to join a time bank near you.
However, my real dream is to trek up north and set up shop in the East Bay. Here's an amazing intentional living website that focuses on LA's neighbor to the north and another site that addresses co-housing and cooperative cultures in all 50 states. Both just might tickle your fancy and hey, we might wind up being co-housees.
So, um, you wanna check out that Leftover Crack show at 924 Gilman?
www.ebcoho.org/ - East Bay Co-Housing. An extremely comprehensive website about intentional living in the Greater Bay area from Nevada City to Oakland, as well as a plethora of information about starting a co-housing lviing space, Co-housing Coaching and "EBCOHO events for members," plus "links to other events featuring a global network of friends and allies: pioneers in cooperative culture and sustainable communities: urban farmers, affordable housing developers, green builders, and creative visionaries in the movements for more open, user-friendly and collaborative technologies, economies, and governments."
Are you interested in intentional living? Here's two really helpful websites:
http://fic.ic.org/ - The Fellowship for Intentional Communities. According to their website, the FIC "promotes community living and cooperative lifestyles across North America.
The Fellowship for Intentional Community nurtures connections and cooperation among communitarians and their friends. We provide publications, referrals, support services, and sharing opportunities for a wide range of intentional communities, co-housing groups, eco villages, community networks, support organizations, and people seeking a home in community.
Intentional Communities have for many centuries been places where idealists have come together to create a better world. Although there are thousands of intentional communities in existence today, and many others in the formative stages, most people are unaware of them or the roots from which they spring. The Fellowship is increasing public awareness of existing and newly forming communities. We offer information and referral fr those who are actively seeking or simply curious about, alternative lifestyles for the themselves and their families.
Communities come in all shapes and sizes, and share many similar challenges -- such as defining membership, succeeding financially, distributing resources, making decisions, raising children, dividing work equitably, and choosing a standard of living. Many wrestle with questions about right livelihood, spiritual expression, land use, and the role of service in our lives. At the same time, there is limited awareness of what others are doing to meet these challenges -- and much to gain through sharing information and experiences with others exploring similar paths. The Fellowship documents the visions and experiences of life in community and actively promotes dialogue and cooperation among communites.
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