Over the years I’ve been in a few different living situations. Living with parents, living in a dorm, living in an apartment and owning a home. As my life has become busier due to the addition of little people and my business growing and demanding more of my time, I’ve struggled with keeping up on the household duties. My friends are in the same boat. We’ve discussed dreams of living on the same street with different duties passed around like chores for kids. Sharing resources and duties sounds like a great answer to many of the time-constraints put upon families and also allows for a closer community.
This isn’t a new concept. In both Brooklyn and Manhattan this idea is becoming more popular. Companies like WeLive and Common, are bringing back the idea of communal living. WeLive offers month-to-month fully furnished apartments with communal kitchens, wellness areas, concierge and a communal app where residents can communicate with the “neighborhood” not to mention you get all the free tea, coffee and beer you can drink.
The price tag for living in the city has grown over the years and I can see how this is a great way to be able to afford a city living space while not eating up your entire paycheck. But can the idea be brought into a rural setting? Housing prices on Long Island has also become quite bloated, especially for older people on fixed incomes. I could see this working quite nicely for a bunch of groups. Single parents, retired people, college grads or students… Maybe it’s a neighborhood of tiny houses with communal buildings offering kitchens, fitness centers, a communal pool, food delivery and laundry services, community garden, office space, wifi… sky is the limit.
I could also see how living like would cut down on the loneliness a person might feel once the kids have left the home or the living situation has changed.
What do you think? Is this a nutty idea? Let’s hear it.
