What would fit my situation?

I'm a professional cook and sporadic writer, with free-thinking ideals and an interest in living in some type of commune setting, in either Oregon or California. First of all, I didn't know that these kinds of places still existed, and am incredibly excited to find out if what I am looking for is actually attainable.

Thing is, I'm not really sure what I'm looking for. I've done a little reading, and it seems like there are many, many different types of communes. Hopefully, someone can guide me in the right direction.

Here's some things about me, along with some questions.

1. I cook for a living, and would like to make it as a chef some day. That being said, I want to continue to cook and work while I am living as part of a commune, in addition to whatever duties I will acquire upon becoming part of one. Hopefully I can find one that is in need of someone with professional cooking skills! That'd be an interesting tidbit on a resume, right?

2. I'm a gay male. There's a lot that goes into that, but I'm sure pretty much any commune is open to homosexual compatriots. Some places, I noticed, have like...an "open-sexuality" kind of thing going on. I'm not against that idea at all, but it's not a requirement or anything. I'd like more info on this.

3. I currently live in Chicago. Going out and investigating communes would be difficult for me, at first. I could use advice in this.

4. Are there communes within major cities, or are they all off the beaten path, so to speak?

I need some help guiding my search, in general. Where do I start to look, essentially? And based on what I've said so far, what do you knowledgeable folk think is more up my alley? Thank you so much, and I hope to get some feedback, soon!

 

As I'm sure you already know about ic.org. The other place to check out on the web is the intentional community forum on Permies (permaculture site).

Anybody know any other good forums or directories on the web?

Lots of communities have websites, but even so aren't that easy to find. Obviously google search, but its probably easier via the directory on IC.org. Only a couple of communities are very active on the web - I think the folks at Dancing Rabbit are the most active. There are some communities on Facebook, some communities post regularly in various forums or have active blogs. There are the three or four "famous" communes - Twin Oaks, The Farm, etc.

So after you've found Dancing Rabbit and Twin Oaks and Acorn and one or two others (including where I live), now you've got to do some digging.

There are certainly communes in cities: Ganas in New York (Staten Island), a couple in San Francisco, the LA Ecovillage in LA, I'm sure there are others I don't know about.

I would suggest that in considering any community you bear in mind that the lifespan of most communes is measured in months, so I would give a lot of weight to the fact that a group had been together for more than 5 years, or even better, been together more than 10 years.

Shameless self-promotion: You might consider a place I lived for three year, the Oakland Morehouse. Its in downtown Oakland, CA. Its been around 'forever' - since 1968. I moved from there to their big-sister group, the Lafayette Morehouse, which is more rural. You may know that there is a booming Oakland CA restaurant scene (chefs can't afford to start a restaurant in San Francisco so droves of them have moved across the bay to lower rent Oakland).

 

hi there, are there any that are 'child friendly?" Twin oaks said they rarely have children there and it is difficult...I would like to find one that is child friendly and where I can continue to dance nearby..I do contact improv. a post modern dance. thanx for any info.