Has anyone ever lived in a co-op or commune

[Juche]

I am looking into a short term trip to San Francisco, and one of the things I found was co-ops. Basically about 10-12 people live in a house and sleep 4 to a bedroom.

One of the co-ops in Berkeley was charging $350 a month, but for that you get a place to sleep (share bunk beds with 3 other people in a private room), all your utilities paid and the co-op buys organic food in bulk (beans, grain, meat, etc) and cooks a good deal of your meals for you.

This is why I love creative liberal people. Only they could figure out how to pay for food, shelter and utilities in a suburb of one of the most expensive cities on earth (San Francisco) for $350/month.

So with the economy in the shitter, job being scarce and me being a fairly progressive, creative liberal (I think I have high intrapersonal intelligence, which means I like to philosophize about motivations and situations) this sounds like a cool way to spend some time.

What are the drawbacks aside from personality conflicts (uber-artsy people can be interesting and cool, but they can also be some of the meanest, most insecure people out there in my experience) and a lack of privacy?

[vadawg]

1. not unless i was related to them or had known them for ever

though it would be like being back in the military, i value my own space to much now but it might suit you. Though you may end up killing your bunk mates..

[LynzM]

2. If I were single (no partner, no child) I would give it a try

I'm not willing to try integrating my family into a co-op or commune, but if it were just me, I'd try it.

That said, I don't have any salient advice to offer you. But for a short-term trip, why not give it a try?

[valerief]

3. Don't forget the Saturday night orgies, too! nt

[Juche]

4. A shared 2 person bedroom might be better

I am a fairly private person, and there are places in SF or the bay that are offering a shared bedroom with utilities for $400/month. I don't get free food with that setup, but hopefully I get a bit more privacy.

[graywarrior]

5. Yes

In Boston. A macrobiotic house and a vegetarian house in Ipswich years ago.

[Juche]

7. How was it

Dish, dish, dish.

[graywarrior]

8. The macro house was filled with whacko's, but we dined like royalty every night

The house in Ipswich was occupied by writers, artists, wilderness types who crashed there for a week or so before heading back out to the woods; misfits, weirdos, and madmen. There was lots of toilet paper arguments--who should buy it, who shouldn't use so much of it. House meetings were insane. Everyone had an issue, we never solved a thing. Lots of music, weed, alcohol. I loved every second of it.

[Inchworm]

6. Keep a stash of toilet paper

just sayin :)

:hi: