AprilStorms Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 There's been a lot of talk lately about this sort of thing and I'm curious to know where AVEN stands :) Articles: http://lightersideofrealestate.com/real-estate-life/cool-stuff/tiny-house-bestie-row http://m.rbth.com/society/2015/01/05/in_it_together_how_communal_apartments_shaped_the_outlook_of_generati_41877.html I'd be interested in seeing more articles if anyone has better! Link to post Share on other sites
Chikane-Chan Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I think id be able to do it IF i had my own space and people would intrude on that space unless invited. But yeah that would be pretty cool to be honest. Link to post Share on other sites
praetorius Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I've only had about one year so far out of fairly "communal" housing --- grad student dormitories or a rented bedroom in a private house. So, private bedroom, but kitchen/bathroom/living area shared with people I didn't particularly know (sometimes even after living with them for a few years). I was never enthusiastic about those arrangements, and often felt uncomfortable using the shared spaces (or annoyed by others use of them), but they did have the big advantage of being affordable. Now, out of graduate school with wages somewhat above rather than significantly below area median, I finally have a full apartment to myself, and am definitely relishing the additional solitude. I wouldn't mind efficiently compromising on more shared facilities than my current situation. For example, I wouldn't mind sharing a bathroom with other tidy people (it needs to be private when occupied, but someone else could use it when I'm not). I currently share a laundry room, which seems like a reasonable arrangement. I have a lot of floor space for a dining room that I rarely use; I could imagine sharing a larger "invite friends over for dinner" space with multiple people (signing up for slots as needed). A dedicated silent study/reading room, with comfy chairs and good lighting, is also something I could get along with sharing. But, any arrangement that makes significant use of the "communal" aspect of "communal living" (rather than "quiet introverts staying out of each others' way in an efficiently shared space") would be uncomfortable. Link to post Share on other sites
nutmeag Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I did a year of communal living when I was a volunteer. Parts of it are awesome (always someone to do things with, shared chores) and parts of it are not awesome (having only your room to hide in, shared chores [when they're not doing their part]). And we all had the shared purpose of being volunteers, so that might change the dynamic a bit. Also, we were all closer to college age than not (all under 30). I do miss it sometimes, but mostly I like being in a house I own with just my husband to share it with. Link to post Share on other sites
Confusion 0 Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I have a huge fear of independence, so living around others in a small community like that would be amazing. ^_^ Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy Alien Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I hate people. And anything less than very urban. No thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
dandelionfluff Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Is this considered to be a new thing? I would have guessed that it was around for a long while... Anyway I guess I live in communal housing? I just call it a share house. I live in a house with 4 other women and the landlord comes around on weekends. Everything is shared except the bedrooms. Pretty much everyone stays in their room and minds their own business. It's affordable, in a nice neighborhood and I have no problem with noise or privacy. And there are cats! (Not my cats though lol) In fact, I feel a bit safer than when I was living on my own. I basically found out about this place on Craigslist, checked it out in person then moved in the next day. I find it weird how those articles are acting like it's a new innovative thing when (poor) people have been doing this for ages. Link to post Share on other sites
Spotastic Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I had to deal with living in a barracks for 5 years, so communal living wouldn't exactly be a problem for me to do... I just wouldn't seek it out. Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Same as many others at uni it was a bedroom, with everything else shared I coped, but was lucky in that I had good housemates. Now it's I am too independent, and I hate having closed doors. If it came down to communal housing or on the street then yes, but if there was an alternative, then no. Link to post Share on other sites
deltaX Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Maybe, but only if I had my own space and I liked/trusted the people I was living with. I'm generally an extroverted person who loves hanging out with people, but if I didn't have my own space then I'd probably wouldn't last a week. Link to post Share on other sites
DreadfulBetty Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 I'd be happy to live communally with members of my chosen family. Link to post Share on other sites
Anthracite_Impreza Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 No, I need my own space and don't want to be around people ~70% of the time (not that I have much choice :/). Link to post Share on other sites
The Great WTF Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I've had one too many bad experiences with living with other people. Every housemate I've had since moving out at 19 has been a disaster, stolen property, smoking, pet abuse, dirty dishes everywhere, broken stuff, food theft, refusal to help around the house, it never ends. I'd rather live in a cardboard box than with roommates that aren't my partner or my brother at this point. Link to post Share on other sites
Sisky Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Never going to live with anyone. Link to post Share on other sites
shilo Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I live in communal housing. I live on a property with 8-10 other people, (mostly family) spread out over four houses and a RV. It works for me because when I live alone I interact with no one outside of work. In this situation I'm forced to be at least a little social. However since the house I live in only has one other person who works a lot I still have my alone time. ^_^ Link to post Share on other sites
allrightalready Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 i am building a commune but cohousing will be optional (people can share living quarters if they wish but it will not be required). i have found that i simply have to have my own space, full stop. were i to continue to live where i do and eventually need to be in assisted living or any other cohousing option i would choose to end my life Link to post Share on other sites
girltwink666 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 yusss me + my friends want to buy a really big house and all live there after college aaaaaah it would b so fun Link to post Share on other sites
Larkaloke Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I'm uncertain why people are claiming this is a new phenomenon, since for most of human history some variety of shared living space (albeit typically with family instead of friends as these articles speak of) has been the norm. Leaving that aside, it's definitely the ideal thing for me. I do still live with some of my family (brother and one parent) in a house which is easily big enough for us all to have our own space and not feel crowded. If that were not an option, the next best thing for me would be to have a similar arrangement with sufficiently good friends. I like having my own space and being able to be alone, but I don't require a large amount of space for that, and I much prefer to have other people who I know and trust in reasonably close proximity to me -- it makes me feel much less paranoid, plus that means that (chances are) the only people around who I really feel like interacting with in person on a regular basis are already there. I wouldn't want to live with people I don't know and trust very well (as in, most room-mate situations would not work out well for me), but I also wouldn't want to live completely alone. That wouldn't work out well for me, either. Link to post Share on other sites
ozzythefabulous Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 I can put up with it as long as i have a space to lock myself up in that no one else can enter without my consent but I'd much rather live alone Link to post Share on other sites
Znkyou Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 I like company far too much, and I've never been very 'traditional'. My ideal situation would be living in the club house in From Upon Poppy Hill. The only 'issue' would be giving up the ability to choose who I want to live with, but it far beats being completely alone. Link to post Share on other sites
Xavy Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Only if it see my only option. Link to post Share on other sites
Desmister Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 I'd much rather live alone, honestly. However, if for some reason I did end up doing it, then I want to make sure that there's a space for myself to get away from everyone else when I need to. I don't want other people coming into it without my consent. Living alone is my top option though. Link to post Share on other sites
inactive12345 Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 If it were an arrangement similar to the tiny house neighborhood in the first link, and I got along with the other residents, I would consider it. Mainly I need to have private access to all the basic stuff (kitchen, living room, etc) so I can be alone if I want to, though having the built-in community sounds nice. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 This poll is being locked and moved to the read-only Census Archive for 2015. As part of ongoing Census Forum organization, and in an attempt to keep the demographics of the polls current with the active user base at the time, each poll will last for one year. However, members are allowed and even encouraged to restart new polls similar to the archived ones if they like them. SerranSPF&A & Census Moderator Link to post Share on other sites
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