Podcast Summary
Living Communally for a Fulfilling and Productive Life: Living communally offers deeper connections, addresses loneliness, and enhances overall well-being. Try a communal living experience for a month to see the benefits.
Building community and living communally, whether it's through coliving or other means, can have significant positive impacts on our health and well-being. This concept, where people live among a group and share space, goes beyond mere convenience or cost savings. Instead, it's about creating deeper connections and tying our lives together. Historically, communal living was more common than the current trend of living alone or with only nuclear families. Coliving advocate Gillian Morris emphasizes that this modern trend is relatively new and that living communally can offer a more fulfilling and productive life. Even if moving to a castle in France with a group isn't an option, trying a communal living experience for a month, such as renting a vacation house with friends, can be a great starting point. Ultimately, cultivating community and living communally can help address the public health crisis of loneliness and isolation, making our lives richer and more meaningful.
Exploring the Benefits of Communal Living: Communal living offers deeper relationships and harmonious living through shared expenses and collaborative decisions, taking various forms from apartment buildings to multi-family homes, and attracting those undergoing major life changes
Communal living, or co living, can offer more than just shared expenses and space. It's about deepening relationships and living harmoniously with others. Jillian, a co living expert, shares her experiences and insights on this episode of LIFE KID. She emphasizes that communal living doesn't have to mean chaotic group houses. Instead, it can take many forms, from renting in the same apartment building to raising kids on the same street, and even buying a house with like-minded individuals. The key difference is the commitment to pooling resources and making collaborative decisions. This commitment is often long-term and can be an attractive option for those going through major life changes. COVID-19 has also highlighted the benefits of co living as more people seek alternative living arrangements. So, consider what you truly want your life to look like and whether co living could be a good fit for you.
Exploring communal living as a solution to aging challenges: Transition points in life offer opportunities to reassess happiness and fulfillment, communal living can provide connections and support during aging, and alternative living arrangements offer solutions to isolation and high costs.
Transition points in life can serve as opportunities to reevaluate what truly brings happiness and fulfillment. The example of the "Wow House" in Seattle, home to a group of older queer women, illustrates the power of communal living and the connections and support it can provide, especially during the aging process. This alternative living arrangement offers a solution to the challenges of aging, such as isolation and high costs, and can take various forms, from formal cooperative living to informal arrangements with trusted friends. To explore this option, consider identifying potential housemates and evaluating the benefits and challenges of different communal living arrangements.
Rethinking societal norms for fulfilling living situations: Consider non-romantic relationships for a fulfilling living situation, build a list of trusted individuals, and discuss potential challenges with potential housemates.
Building a fulfilling and sustainable living situation can be achieved by rethinking traditional societal norms and considering non-romantic relationships as equally valuable. Reina, the author of "The Other Significant Others Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center," spent time talking to individuals who defied societal expectations to create their ideal lives. In a society that heavily emphasizes individualism and romantic partnerships, she encourages us to consider who we truly want to live with, regardless of romantic involvement. Instead of focusing solely on romantic relationships, consider the people you trust and rely on, such as friends, acquaintances, and even family members. Make a list of these individuals as a starting point. Reina's own goal was to build a life with her friends, but she was initially intimidated by the logistics. She was inspired by a couple who created a communal living arrangement, but realized that even simpler arrangements would require effort. To ensure a successful communal living situation, ask potential housemates the hard questions ahead of time. While each ideal home may look different, it will require work. The author's husband even adapted premarital counseling questions for their unique situation. By discussing both the ideal aspects and potential challenges, they were able to create a living arrangement that suited everyone involved.
Considerations for Successful Communal Living: Thoughtful planning, open communication, and a shared commitment are crucial for successful communal living. Discuss routines, conflict resolution, and exit plans. Focus on shared spaces, especially the kitchen. Balance privacy and social time, and consider sound isolation. Effectively handle chores to prevent small issues from snowballing.
Careful consideration is necessary when choosing to live communally. Before making a decision to live with others, it's essential to have open conversations about house routines, handling conflict, and exit plans. The physical space is also crucial, with a focus on shared spaces, especially the kitchen. A well-designed kitchen that opens into a dining area can foster a sense of community and encourage social interaction. Balancing privacy and social time, as well as sound isolation, are also essential considerations. The way a household handles chores can significantly impact the culture and management of conflict within the living arrangement. The concept of the "law of large numbers" highlights that small issues, like a dish left in the sink, can snowball into larger problems if not addressed promptly and effectively. Ultimately, successful communal living requires thoughtful planning, open communication, and a shared commitment to maintaining a positive living environment.
Living in a co-living community means dealing with messes and imperfections, but also opportunities for help and learning: Co-living communities offer opportunities for help and learning amidst messes and imperfections, fostering a sense of community and new experiences
Even in a co-living community where well-intentioned people live together, messes and imperfections are inevitable. The law of large numbers suggests that with more people comes more opportunities for issues, but also more hands-to-help. Instead of policing housemates, try to maintain a light-hearted tone and take care of any "Cheryl-like" messes yourself. In a well-functioning community, contributing labor is a joy due to the abundance of resources and support. Furthermore, living communally offers opportunities to learn new skills, share tools, and even help with childcare. Instead of being siloed off in small family units or individual homes, consider the benefits of sharing more than just space with others. This communal living model can lead to new experiences, a sense of community, and even allow parents to feel like adults again.
Discovering Unexpected Joys in Communal Living: Moving into a shared living space introduced Sindhu to a diverse group of housemates, enriched her life through their various skills and interests, and led to new discoveries and collaborations.
Opening yourself up to communal living can bring unexpected joys and benefits. Sindhu's story illustrates this through her experience of moving into a shared brownstone in Brooklyn after feeling isolated in a relationship. This new living arrangement introduced her to a diverse group of housemates who not only shared space with her but also enriched her life through their various skills and interests. Sindhu's discovery of her housemates' hidden talents, from sewing to haircutting, led to a sense of collaboration and even a new "job." The constant flow of people in and out of the house reminded her of her childhood home in India and offered a contrast to the quiet predictability of her previous life in the US. In considering this lifestyle, it's essential to reflect on how you want to live and surround yourself with trusted individuals. Look for a balance of public and private spaces, especially a thoughtfully designed kitchen, and be open to sharing more than just living quarters. By embracing the unexpected and allowing yourself to learn from your housemates, you can create a vibrant and fulfilling living environment.
Expanding social circle brings opportunities and challenges: Building a larger social network can lead to benefits like new opportunities and possibilities, but it also comes with complexities and complications. Despite the challenges, the rewards often outweigh the difficulties.
Expanding your social circle and pooling resources can bring about numerous benefits, but it also comes with challenges. Reporter and producer Sam Jay Leeds discussed this concept on LIFE KIT. While more people in your life mean more opportunities and possibilities, it can also lead to complexities and complications. However, the rewards often outweigh the challenges. If you're interested in more LIFE KIT episodes, check out their website for episodes on baby name selection and spring cleaning. Don't forget to subscribe to their newsletter for even more content. The LIFE KIT team values your feedback and episode ideas, so feel free to share them with them at lifekit@npr.org. This episode of LIFE KIT was produced by Claire Marie Schneider, with engineering support from Maggie Luther. The visuals editor is Beck Hartland, and the digital editor is Malika Gharib. Meghan Keane is the supervising editor, and Beth Donovan is the executive producer. The production team also includes Andy Tagle, Margaret Serino, and Sylvie Douglass. This message comes from NPR sponsors, Stearns and Foster, offering handcrafted mattresses with indulgent memory foam and ultra conforming IntelliCoils for your most comfortable sleep. Learn more at stearnsandfoster.com. The other sponsor is Capital One, providing customized financial services and resources for businesses to help achieve their goals. Explore the possibilities at capitalone.com/commercial.
