My husband and I have an addiction to Grand Designs. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a British architecture and design show that’s been on since 1999 (!) that follows ordinary people who are building their own house (or hiring folks to do it), most often from the ground up, or sometimes “renovating” old ruins of historic buildings. Every single episode is hosted by architect, Kevin McCloud, who is known for pontificating philosophically on architecture in his mini monologues throughout. Since the show left Netflix, we had kind of forgotten about it, but recently we discovered that Amazon (Frevee?) has a channel that streams the show live all day, every day. This means you could turn it on and be watching a grainy version of the show from its first season where the “beautiful” architecture is now most definitely dated or from one of its most recent seasons where the designs lean industrial chic.
It’s my dream to find an investor to buy a plot of land out here where I can build a number of small cottages (maybe even those cool/modern shipping container homes) that I can both use as temporary housing for women going through divorces and communal living. But yes, definitely need my own space. There’s no way I could do a true commune at this point in my life. 😅
I think I might have that dream now, too! I also LOVE the housing for women going thru divorces. It's so funny, the day I posted this, I was taking my son to a camp and it led me to the wrong address. Where we ended up was right in front of this cohousing community (which is less than 10 min from my house!): https://cullygrove.org/. And right next to it was a house for sale in this super cool community: https://electrifynow.net/going-street (I mean straight out of Denmark!). I've had the listing open just to ogle despite moving not being anything on our radar let alone for that price. But it was pretty cool to see how possible it is in a city. The neighborhoods are beautiful with so much tree cover. Perhaps when the kid is out of the house this is what we do!
I love that these communities exist. I’m going to check out both of them. Gosh, I just need to find the right people here. As in, someone with a lot of money. Lol. But yes, certainly something to aim for once the kids are out of the house. Especially since I’m planning on moving back west!
I love this, Elizabeth! I have Bern absolutely blessed to have fallen into this kind of commune without the commune situation with our neighbours on our street and to a degree with other nearby neighbour friends. Our house is in the middle of a row of 3 houses that all have kids of similar ages. Our Kids play in each other's backyard often. Us wives/mothers have visits and chats (sometimes with the kids, sometimes without). My husband has asked for and received electrical advice from the husband/dad next door who happens to be a professionalelectrician. We've swapped ingredients for impromptu baking. Another neighbour a few houses down gives us rides to the school with her kids in bad weather. (We usually walk and I don't drive.) It's been something lovely that we just kind of fell into. 😊
Love this! I think that's such the beauty of getting to know our neighbors well as it really can be that communiyt-without-a-commune kind of feel. Love it so much!
It’s my dream to find an investor to buy a plot of land out here where I can build a number of small cottages (maybe even those cool/modern shipping container homes) that I can both use as temporary housing for women going through divorces and communal living. But yes, definitely need my own space. There’s no way I could do a true commune at this point in my life. 😅
I think I might have that dream now, too! I also LOVE the housing for women going thru divorces. It's so funny, the day I posted this, I was taking my son to a camp and it led me to the wrong address. Where we ended up was right in front of this cohousing community (which is less than 10 min from my house!): https://cullygrove.org/. And right next to it was a house for sale in this super cool community: https://electrifynow.net/going-street (I mean straight out of Denmark!). I've had the listing open just to ogle despite moving not being anything on our radar let alone for that price. But it was pretty cool to see how possible it is in a city. The neighborhoods are beautiful with so much tree cover. Perhaps when the kid is out of the house this is what we do!
I love that these communities exist. I’m going to check out both of them. Gosh, I just need to find the right people here. As in, someone with a lot of money. Lol. But yes, certainly something to aim for once the kids are out of the house. Especially since I’m planning on moving back west!
Long-term plan: Get rich and start a cohousing community on the west coast together ;)
but also, I think we can do the latter without being rich
I’m in!
Helps to start with your neighbors!
totally!
I love this, Elizabeth! I have Bern absolutely blessed to have fallen into this kind of commune without the commune situation with our neighbours on our street and to a degree with other nearby neighbour friends. Our house is in the middle of a row of 3 houses that all have kids of similar ages. Our Kids play in each other's backyard often. Us wives/mothers have visits and chats (sometimes with the kids, sometimes without). My husband has asked for and received electrical advice from the husband/dad next door who happens to be a professionalelectrician. We've swapped ingredients for impromptu baking. Another neighbour a few houses down gives us rides to the school with her kids in bad weather. (We usually walk and I don't drive.) It's been something lovely that we just kind of fell into. 😊
Love this! I think that's such the beauty of getting to know our neighbors well as it really can be that communiyt-without-a-commune kind of feel. Love it so much!