Updated: Aug. 19, 2023
Originally Published: Feb. 16, 2015
When you hear the term “commune,” a myriad of ideas likely floods your mind: perhaps visions of free spirits, collective living, endless pots of stew simmering in a communal kitchen, and children running around barefoot and giggling, while adults do the same, all with flower crowns adorning their heads. Not to mention the quirky mix of love, peace, and maybe even a few stockpiled rifles. It’s a mixed bag of images, isn’t it?
Now, let’s take a moment to really ponder this concept. A commune. Imagine you’re ready to escape the monotony of everyday life—goodbye to science projects and the never-ending menu of baked chicken and ribs. Picture gathering a handful of your closest friends and their families to throw caution to the wind and create your own little paradise. You pool your resources, maybe find a charming old farm or, more realistically, an abandoned shopping mall from the ’80s. What would it take to make this dream a reality?
Could your family of five comfortably settle into the former clothing store? Could you transform the old food court into a thriving hub of organic living? Absolutely! However, the challenge will be ensuring everyone has enough personal space. Even in a commune, no one wants to feel crammed together (unless, of course, that’s your thing, in which case, enjoy!).
You’ll need designated areas for each family, plenty of room for the kids to play, adult hangout spaces, and separate areas for hired help (to give parents a much-needed breather). Plus, a makeshift school for the little geniuses, because while traditional education may not suit them, your commune will celebrate their individuality—just so long as it happens during working hours, from 8 AM to 5 PM, because, let’s face it: jobs!
Speaking of jobs, you’ll need a few to keep the wheels turning. Someone’s got to pay the electric bill for your Sbarro-inspired gluten-free kitchen, right? Maybe you sell the kids’ artwork, or turn their imaginative after-school stories into a comic series to sell to the hipsters downtown. Or perhaps, one of you will need to venture into the corporate world. The details can be sorted out later.
Then, there are the big decisions: Is free love on the table? How do we feel about cultivating cannabis? A community garden will undoubtedly be a requirement—it’s practically written in the Commune Bylaws of 1964. But don’t fret, you can grow a variety of crops (as long as the pot is off the list, though let’s be honest).
You can’t exactly grow Trader Joe’s salted chocolate almonds or artisanal vodka in your garden, so some alternative arrangements will be necessary. Perhaps a fun DIY project to replicate these treats? The decision to embark on that adventure is one for the group to tackle.
Before diving into these specifics, however, the core details need to be established. Where will you all live? What’s your budget? And have you considered how to turn your commune into a tax-exempt church? Those questions alone will likely require a small miracle of scheduling to get all seven families together for a meeting. It’s akin to aligning planets in the solar system—everyone’s busy, and Earth seems to always have plans on Tuesdays!
Once you finally align those schedules, the planning can commence. Imagine how delightful it would be to coexist under one roof! No more HOA fees, no PTA meetings—just friends, children, and the lingering scents of Wok and Rolls. Of course, that first meeting is crucial, but if it proves too complicated, why not just rent duplexes on the same street? Call it Commune 2.0 and draft an online manifesto about the freedom to leave trash cans out as needed, because real friends can overlook minor inconveniences. You can still embrace that barefoot, carefree lifestyle, enjoy a shared garden, and indulge in hearty stews—or at least have a catering tab with the nearest burrito joint.
It sounds achievable, doesn’t it?
This article was originally published on Feb. 16, 2015.
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Summary
Starting a commune might sound like a whimsical idea, but with some thoughtful planning, it could become a reality. Gather your closest friends, pool resources, and establish a space that nurtures families while balancing individual needs. From community gardens to shared responsibilities, the joys of communal living can be enticing. If the intricacies feel overwhelming, remember that renting nearby duplexes can be an equally appealing alternative.