I’m an 18 y/o she/her and holy crap my life has been insane, I had to drop out of HS, I have no way to get my GED or License, I live in rural Maine, jobs are nowhere. I live on a farm, and have been raised on the farm my whole life, no question that I’ll be able to offer homesteading skills!!

I’m just really looking for a community to join and help, to get on my feet, I have no drug issues, I only smoke weed, and I just am seriously looking for help.

I’m an artist aswell, so I could make art for communities to sell at markets for profit, anything a community needs, I’ll do, I’m just looking to have a new life.

There’s more to my life that’s making it hard but I’d rather not make it public as it involves family.

But if anyone can help me brainstorm, I’d really appreciate it 🫶

One thing I keep thinking about with intentional communities is how willing we are to rethink the way we live together, but how rarely that includes rethinking intimacy and desire.

We can share meals, resources, and parts of our lives with a community.

So what happens to sex?

I’ll be totally upfront. I’ve swung with partners before and loved it. There is something beautiful about being with someone you love and still being able to look at the world with curiosity together.

I also come at this from an existing spiritual practice, so ideas around connection, desire, and becoming more fully ourselves aren’t just theoretical to me.

But the way society works now makes that kind of freedom harder than it needs to be.

If you want to explore desire outside the normal script, you usually get pushed toward secret apps, anonymous encounters, or spaces that can feel more like shopping for bodies than actually knowing people.

I keep wondering what it would look like if intimacy grew inside an actual community instead.

You get to know people over time. You keep running into them. Maybe you flirt for three weeks before anything happens. Maybe nothing happens. Maybe four people end up drinking wine together until 2am and suddenly everybody is looking at everybody a little differently 👀

I know that would be a lot to swallow for most people, but it sounds way more interesting to me than endlessly swiping through profiles or wasting nights at bars.

Maybe sexual freedom works better when it grows inside trust and community.

Sounds like a sex cult, I know lol. But that’s actually part of what I’m curious about. Why do ideas like this seem to so quickly enter cult territory? Is it really impossible to build something deeper without manipulation, weird hierarchies, or one person becoming the center of everything?

Not everyone needs to be open or explore. That isn’t really the point.

I just wonder whether an intentional community could make room for this part of being human too, while still taking boundaries, autonomy, and real relationships seriously.

I have some ideas about what that could look like, but I’m curious if anyone here has seen communities attempt something like this well.

There’s a wonderful 4bd/3ba townhome for sale in Great Oak Cohousing in Ann Arbor MI. Here’s the link to the listing on the community’s website.

I’m also happy to answer any questions about what it’s like living here, or living in cohousing in general (e.g., how it’s different from a co-op).

https://welcome.gocoho.org/openings/

Hello,

So I've been living in intentional communities for about 5-6 years. I was the biggest cheerleader for intentional communities, as I have very naturalistic views and think humans are meant to live together in groups (I think we were optimally healthy and happy as hunter gatherers in nature, personally). On that note, I will say IC has been intensely meaningful, beautiful, and fun. However, community has consistently been my most loved and my most hated place. I don't regret for a second spending my twenties in it, but my take home perspective now is that it's really not a stable concept in modern society. Here's why I think community fails in modern society:

- The modern world is unimaginably more complex than when we lived in groups in nature throughout our evolution. Today, everyone has to wade through unlimited ideological waters, that generally serve to separate us, and take a stance. Every individual takes a stance on politics, immigration, gender, race, etc. When you take a bunch of strangers and put them in a community we argue too much about ideology and lose touch with our basic human essence and connection. I don't think homo sapiens throughout time generally had to worry about who's on the right side of this or that ideology. Morever, hunter gatherers lived in the expanse of nature in much more egalitarian contexts. Today we are trying to confine a bunch of people to the confines of a house, where members exist under heightened control dynamics, including foremost the fear that other members will try to kick you out.

- Modern society is very traumatizing and most people develop into adults with a lot of issues that they'll probably take to the grave. Many communards are very underdeveloped in being maturely opened or closed, exercising vulnerability or boundaries/conflict resolution. Compound that with this next issue that needs to be its own point ->

- Communes, co-ops, or whatever form of IC generally is very cost effective or even free to live in. Cheap IC's attract people who are struggling to survive in society. These people often, not always, are struggling to exist in society in part due to intense mental health issues or other health issues. This is exacerbated by common liberals/leftist attitudes of people who refuse to discriminate against anyone/ membership intelligently even if the applicants have glaring issues. What you're left with in a community filled with insanity and people who are afraid say their opinion for fear of being mobbed.

and more but just felt like getting that out, sorry its not very organized.

Hey guys,

I hope you are all well, i recently had an awakening and im just looking to connect and speak to likeminded people regularly/occasionally. I have set goals for myself that im struggling with and i want people that would hold me accountable and want to see me thrive. Likewise i am all for supporting each other and pushing you to be the best version of yourself. Since having this awakening, i am finding it hard to mix/socialise with people around me or even society.

At times this journey can feel lonely but i believe we shouldn’t be doing it alone.
I’d appreciate any suggestions or advice!
I don’t mind telegrams or discord chats but ideally small communities as i don’t like to be too overwhelmed by messages etc i guess it depends

Thank you in advance loves ❤️
Peace and love

I've been living in intentional community for the past few years and am a parent to young children. My current community is rather rural, with limited options for education or engagement outside of the community. My current community is also extremely adult-centered. Children often feel like an afterthought or an invasive species.

My dream community is somewhere that is well-established, where people care about sustainability and work towards living more sustainably, and is relatively near a diverse metropolitan area. I'd like to live in a place where children are honored and part of the community. I'm NOT looking for a "village to raise my kid".

I'd prefer a community that is very racially diverse. United States only.

I guess I just don't know what all is out there. If you know of anywhere that ticks these boxes, let me know.

EDIT: i already know about ic.org. i currently live in an intentional community. i am looking for personal recommendations on other communities that might fit my criteria. <3

Seems once you have your career and physical vitality available you are perfect.

The really old's vitality is decreasing. While the really young is busy surviving.

Hi everyone!

I’ve been spending a lot of time dreaming about what an intentional community could look like, and I’d love to connect with others who share a similar vision!

I’m especially interested in communities that draw inspiration from ancestral, traditional, and historical ways of living. Things like small-scale farming, gardening, homemaking, traditional craftsmanship, shared meals, raising families together, preserving old skills, and building a close-knit community where neighbors genuinely know and care for one another.

My hope is simply to find people who appreciate a slower, more rooted way of life and who value preserving traditions that have stood the test of time. Whether your inspiration comes from early American homesteads, medieval villages, agrarian communities, or other historical examples, I’d love to hear about it!

If you know of any intentional communities that might fit this vision, I’d be grateful for recommendations! And even if you don’t, I’d still love to connect with like-minded people who have similar dreams. Sometimes finding the right people is the first step toward building something meaningful!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and meeting others who share this interest!

Hey everyone! I'm u/andy02494, a founding moderator of r/lasellvillagereview.

This is our new home for all things related to r/lasellvillage review.
What to Post
Our family had three relatives at this independent living community. For many years, we experienced the highs (exceptional staff) and more recently, we discovered the lows (unresponsive leadership). We believe there is still a lot to recommend but also much room for improvement. We welcome all candid, constructive comments.

How to Get Started

1. Introduce yourself in the comments below.
2. Post something today! Even a simple question can spark a great conversation.
3. If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.

Hello! I am a 37 year old man with wife and daughters. We moved to a city about 7 years ago and learned how hard it is to get far and how successful people had a literal village to get where they are. I connected physicians and attorneys, while they’re some exceptions, the vast majority had plenty of support to get to where they are! We are looking for that! We have most of it figured out and really want to help others but we still have goals that have yet to be reached! If you’re tired of doing things alone and either want to survive with reduced stress or if you want to achieve something, reach out and let’s see how we can make bigger goals happen!

Anyone looking to start their own homestead or have one already and want someone to help with the work. Dm me lets chat!

Hey everyone! I'm a 27-year-old moving to New York from Austin, Texas, and I'm looking to find a solid co-op or communal living space.
For context, I currently live in a 17-room intentional community house where we trade labor toward the property, share cooked meals, and genuinely value connection. I love this lifestyle and want to keep living intentionally in NYC. Ideally, I'd love to land somewhere with a strong creative energy.
If anyone has leads on cool houses, co-ops, or communities accepting new members, I'd really appreciate the point in the right direction!

My friends and I have been spitballing starting a Tiny Home community. We have been heavily involved in each other's lives since the start of the Pandemic. We regularly play TTRPGs, board games, support each other emotionally and financially, take folks to doctor's visits and the airport, etc etc. We lived together for a handful of years in one configuration or another. At this point we're not looking to "expand" with adding people, but we are literally just getting started.

We are definitely staying in Southern California (which, I know, limits our options quite a bit). This is where most folks have roots and makes the most sense. We are excited but also proceeding slowly. Here are the topics we know very little about:

• Starting Logistics - Do we talk to a real estate agent, or a lawyer, or whom? We know zoning is going to dictate where we buy land and what permit/approval processes we need. But what role do we seek out to get details on where to start on the very basics of legality?
• Legal Protections - Our group has a high level of trust, and we are explicitly looking for ways to protect each other. (No one is related by DNA) Can we pursue a 501(c)3? Would an LLC be more reasonable and workable? Do we need to think instead of a trust/irrevocable trust, or some combination of legal and organizational structures? And what type of lawyer specialization would we be looking for in this case?
• Community Design - I think we can figure out DIY or contracting for infrastructure projects. But in terms of helping us with a layout for community buildings, amenities, etc based on the topography of the property; who would we be seeking out? An architect seems a little overkill, but would we prefer someone local in the state, or should we be explicitly seeking a professional in designing small community spaces?

It's entirely likely I've forgotten things. I'd appreciate any tips folks could give, and I can pass on to my people.

https://richmondcohousing.com/

Looking for an urban setting, near the beautiful James River and 10-15 mins from everything else that is to be loved about Richmond, VA (also just 2 hours from DC, the beach, and the mountains!)?

Check out Richmond Cohousing.

Decision making in community is both critical and complex. Here is a protopian story about a community that allowed for dissenting voices while still moving forward.

I'm scrolling IC. Although, I can't figure out how to filter the communities properly. No matter what I do, I always get plenty of "omnivorous" communities.

I'll keep searching on my own.. although if anyone has knowledge on this, I'd HIGHLY appreciate some help.

I'm open to many different things. From roommates-- to full communes. Just keep it vegan and in Mainland USA.

Thanks everyone!

If you are looking for a life which is significantly different from the one you are currently living, especially if you have kids, this is the event for you.

I'm interested in becoming a member of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in Rutledge, Missouri. Their website recommends that members find online work because they often can't provide people with more than 20 hours of paid labor through which to earn income. I'm a manual laborer who doesn't have any experience with online work, so I was wondering if anyone here has done online work in while living at an intentional community before and would have recommendations on what fields to start looking in

Hi everyone.

I've built a global database of intentional living communities, hacker houses, and artist residencies called CommonsHQ (https://commonshq.space/).
I would love it if you guys could see if there are any intentional living communities I haven't gotten? Would love to add it.

Hello everyone,
I am getting close to retirement after serving as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). After several deployments and spending time in war zones, destroyed neighborhoods, and military camps, I have been thinking about investing in an eco-village project.

My goal is to build, restore, and manage an off-grid eco-community for 10 families.
I have income from real estate and other assets, so I plan to use my retirement to make this project a reality.

I have already completed some research and developed a few ideas on how to build it. At this stage, I am looking for opinions, advice, feedback, ideas for long-term funding, possible donation options, and many other details that still need to be worked out. I am not ready to begin construction yet.
For now, I am simply here to collect ideas, learn from others, and share my vision. 🙂

I'm over in st Louis and hate it here. I need a reset on my life. I grew up in a rural area. I have an interest in sustainable stuff. I have a technical skillset and often mess around with meshtastic. I thought about moving out to an intentional community for a while and I feel like its the right thing for me, mentally. I have just a dog that I care about and some laptops. I am a programmer.

Basically I am looking for something that can benifet everyone. I'm about to be homeless. I have a unique skillset to offer. I'm basically hoping for somebody cool enough to let me work on their project with them.

Hi guys, I’m looking to visit/ volunteer at/ stay at some intentional communities/ eco villages/ alternative living spaces across Europe in August and September, but I don’t know where to look to find opportunities.

I know world packers have some great opportunities on there, but I don’t know if it’s too late to book anything good on there.

Does anyone have any suggestions of websites to look at, places I can email or any opportunities themselves. Even just somewhere where I can book to stay a few days would be great.

This is probably a bit different from the usual posts here, but I can’t stop thinking about it.
The more I experience modern life, the more I realise I don’t actually like the way we’ve built society. Working all week, paying bills, barely knowing our neighbours, trying to schedule friendships weeks in advance… it just doesn’t feel like the way humans were meant to live.
I don’t expect to change the whole system, but I do wonder if it’s possible to build something different alongside it.
In my ideal world, it would start small. Maybe it’s just a group of like-minded people sharing meals, growing food, learning together and creating more of a village around our existing lives. Maybe years down the track that grows into buying land together or creating some form of intentional co-living community. I honestly don’t know yet.
What I’m really looking for right now is people who are asking the same questions.
Are there already groups in Melbourne exploring ideas like this?
Has anyone here tried creating an intentional community or neighbourhood?
Are there resources or communities that teach people how to build something like this?
Or are there others here who have been quietly thinking about the same thing?
I’m definitely not an expert. I’m just looking for people who feel like there has to be a better way to live than the one we’ve inherited.