I know I've said this half jokingly before, but in all seriousness if we could find a multi-family property where 10 of us like-minded individuals/families that work from home could each put up our share of a mortgage -- a place with some retail ground floor space where we could have a little board game shop or maker space or teaching space or something, a place that could be improved and developed over the course of a few years.. maybe a shared car or two, i'm ready to put in my share and labor. Seriously. Anyone?
Someplace near upstate ny would work best for me but i'm open to literally anywhere.
-mouser
Wow! Talk about reviving memories! I was involved in a music/art living arrangement like that many years ago (back in the late commune days - although this was more an art-focused voluntary community rather than a commune) and it worked out amazingly well for everyone involved. As people got older, and started families or found employment elsewhere, it gradually faded away - but with a group of about 10 people who already knew where they wanted to put some roots down - and the admittedly more realistic and diverse mindset of today - you could probably make a go of it.
Suggestion: make sure the finances are all worked out well in advance. The thing that made it work for us was that money never became an issue because it was all mapped out - and with as many possible contingencies as possible planned for.
The best advice anybody ever gave us when we were setting up was to make sure the
money questions were addressed and settled before anyone said "I do." This guy had organized several voluntary communities and said they were just like marriages - because more marriages break up over
money problems than anything else. And from what I've seen, he was right.
Damn! If I wasn't locked in where I am right now (with major caretaker responsibilities for some elderly parents) I'd definitely be interested. Unfortunately, I'm not going anywhere for at least a few years. And where I am is
not the type place (i.e. cost of living way too expensive) where you'd want to attempt a living arrangement like that.
