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aSparkOfDivinity

Gen Z (20-somethings)

Non-binary

Orange County, CA

Speed of commitment:

In between: Open to a commitment after a defined time for a trial run, Slow: Open to a situation where trust can build over time

IC types I would live in or am forming:

Activist commune supporting shared work, Artist collective & live work space, Cohousing: private residences around shared space, Ecovillage or agrihood, Farm or ranch, Housing or shelter for a vulnerable group, LGBTQ+ focused, Medical risk bubble, Off-grid, Resource-sharing commune, Retreat or event hosting as community, Shelter for homeless, Spiritual or religious focus, Tiny homes community

Food production:

Working toward a mix of producing our own food and buying groceries, Working toward producing all or nearly all of our own food

IC seeker or founder/resident:

IC seeker or cofounder: I’m seeking to join likeminded others as a core group in founding a new IC. Together we will establish a vision and norms.

Service-based IC (population served):

Aged out foster teens, Animal rescue, Chronically homeless, Escaped from sex trafficking, Learning disability, Low income LGBTQ+, Low income families with children, Low income racial or ethnic minority, Low income with high medical risk, Mild to moderate mental illness, Physical disability, Refugee resettlement, Runaway or homeless minors

Service-based IC (services offered):

Long term shelter, Permanent residence, Provides school or vocational training for the selected group(s), Short term shelter

Vulnerable population as a proportion of residents:

About half, All, Less than half, More than half

Residential proximity:

House mates (separate bedrooms, shared kitchen), Separate units (separate apartments but some shared common areas with shared resources), Shared land (separate houses possibly with some shared buildings)

Ownership types:

Co-operative (collectively owned separate houses or apartments), Rent-to-own with shared housing or shared land, Rented with shared housing or shared land, Whatever the group can agree on

Reasons for shared housing:

Ecological sustainability to reduce carbon footprint, Friendship and sharing activities, Having a “chosen family” to share good times and support each other thru hard times, Having social interaction while limiting the amount of influence or interaction with society, Lower cost of living, Sharing meals and chores, Sharing resources (spaces, equipment, tools, vehicles, gardens)

Décor of shared areas:

A consistent aesthetic theme is important, Decisions based on practical utility and durability

Clutter level of shared living areas or work space:

Average level of "lived in" look, Creativity in progress (translate: not tidy in designated work space), Tidy in shared spaces, with a designated place for things

Cleanliness level (germs & crumbs):

All food counters & tables wiped down after each use, All food counters & tables wiped down daily to not attract pests, Dishes washed (or loaded into dishwasher) daily to not attract pests, Disinfectants must be ecologically safe products (chemical sensitivity), Medical need for a dust-free environment

Yard or landscaping:

Covered space for storage, Gardens and edible landscaping, Paved walkways and driveways, Space for kids and/or dogs to run, Xeriscape

Neighborhood or scenery:

Clean well maintained urban or suburban surroundings are a priority worth paying extra for, Nature scenery is a priority worth paying extra for, Scenery is not high on the list of property characteristics that's worth paying extra for

Current city, town, or county:

Orange County, CA

Nation(s) of current residence:

U.S.

Preferred regions:

Oregon, U.S. California, U.S. Washington state, U.S. rocky mountain region

Population density:

Remote, Rural, Small town, Suburban or exurban

Ideal location(s):

West Coast, Washington State, Oregan, California

Commitment to my current location:

Happy with current location but open to considering other options, Want to eventually commit to a permanent location if it goes well, Would relocate if group decides to try another location together

Relocation capacity:

Other, Ready to move from my current residence now or in the near future, Ready to move from my general area within the next few years

Resource sharing:

Car share, Child care swap, Farm or food forest (share work and produce), Garden (share work and produce), Meal preparation, Pet care swap, Time bank

My socioeconomic status:

Low income

Leisure and lifestyle:

Leisure time is a high priority, but not necessarily expensive

Leadership availability:

I'm willing to join as part of a core leadership team

Roles and responsibilities:

Clear responsibilities are important to minimize conflict, In a reciprocal relationship you give about as much as you get, but it happens without keeping track, In a small family-like group, the saying applies, “to each according to their need, from each according to their abilities", Transactional relationships are more fair; to a reasonable extent there should be accountability through written agreements

Common practical skills:

Childcare, Cleaning, Cooking for groups, Gardening or crop cultivation, Group facilitation, Organizing & labeling, Permaculture

Experience or schooling:

Consensus facilitation, Diversity, equity, and inclusion trainer, Group therapy or processing, Humanitarian work, Mediation or dispute resolution, Medicine - alternative, Nutrition, Psychology, Visual art, Writing

Languages:

ASL/PSE, adequately and still learning.

Occupation(s) and expertise:

Cook delicious vegan/vegetarian and gluten free meals. Provide energy healings, reiki sessions, divination through various methods, intuitive channeling, psychic animal communications, "witchcraft", herbal remedies, and alot of wisdom to share.

Years lived in an IC:

Lived with roommate(s) or housemate(s), Lived with sibling(s) or other non-parent relatives

Experience in community:

shared a room with my sister while growing up. also rented a room with family, living in an aunt and uncles house. I've also lived with my grandparents, mom, half-sister and 4 dogs.

Professional certifications or degrees:

Certified Reiki Master

Generation:

Gen Z (20-somethings)

Generations intended in IC:

Gen A (born 2013 – 2024), Gen X (born 1965 – 1980), Gen Z (born 1997 – 2012), Millennial (born 1981 – 1996), Younger boomer (born 1955 – 1964)

Number of working adults:

Alcohol (tolerable rules):

Should be regulated by group decision only if it becomes problematic

Tobacco smoking (tolerable rules):

Should only be allowed outdoors

Cannabis (tolerable rules):

Should be regulated by group decision only if it becomes problematic

Psychedelics (tolerable rules):

Should be allowed by those authorized to use them for ceremonial purposes, Should be allowed only in a legal supervised therapeutic setting

Illegal recreational drugs (tolerable rules):

Should be dealt with by group decision in a manner to support non-use

Overnite guests (tolerable rules):

Should be subject to group decision only if it becomes problematic, Should not be a concern of the community, as long as everyone's privacy is respected

Daytime visitor access (tolerable rules):

Should not be restricted after certain individuals or visitor types are approved

Nudity (tolerable rules):

Should be limited to private rooms or private residences (as is the norm outside the IC), Should be permitted within designated areas of the IC (e.g., a gated hot tub)

Required disclosures:

Current addictions even if under treatment, On sex offender registry, Past felony conviction

Prohibitions:

Absolutely no: homophobia, transphobia, racism, bigotry, and/or fascism. I personally would feel safest in a community where cis-men members are in the minority if included.

Religious or spiritual practice-based IC:

Mandate of adherence to shared religious beliefs and practices, No mandate of adherence to shared religious beliefs and practices

My religious beliefs or practices:

Astrology, Buddhist, Kabbalah, Mediumship, Near-death experience or out-of-body, New Age (mix), New Thought (law of attraction), Pagan, Pantheist, Shamanic or indigenous animist, Spiritual but not religious, Spiritualist, Tarot, Theosophical Society

Practices welcome in IC:

Agnostic, Astrology, Bahai, Buddhist, Hindu, Jainist, Jewish, Kabbalah, Mediumship, Native American / First Nations, Near-death experience or out-of-body, New Age (mix), New Thought (law of attraction), Pagan, Pantheist, Shamanic or indigenous animist, Spiritual but not religious, Spiritualist, Taoist, Tarot, Theosophical Society, Wiccan

Ecological preservation ethics:

Commitment to reduce, re-use, recycle, Composting toilet, Eating vegan, vegetarian, or certified humane animal products, Gray water recycling where permitted, Local food commitment for low carbon footprint, Use of alternative power such as solar or wind

Belief-related practices:

I enjoy qi-gong and other movement-based healing activities, sound healings, energy healings, guided and/or group meditations, divination practices, intuitive channelings. It'd be cool if there was someone to help make love-based and intent-filled meals with me for the group! Monthly bonfires to promote gratitude, grounding, and love for all would be really cool too!

Size of community:

11 to 20, 21 to 50, 6 to 10

Sense of togetherness:

An IC should foster close interpersonal relationships, An IC should have regular opportunities to encourage all to share their feelings, Relationships should develop naturally, not thru team building exercises or mandated group circles

Gender + number:

Non-binary

Genders welcome in IC:

Female, Male, Non-binary

My current couple situation:

I'm available

Couple situations welcome in IC:

Available somewhat (e.g., in open relationship), Committed closed partnership(s) (e.g., married monogamous couples), Not available (e.g., you're okay if you're not going to be a threat to my primary relationship), Single (not in a committed closed partnership)

My sexual orientation:

Not necessary for others to know, Pansexual, Polyamorous

Sexual identities welcome in IC:

Heterosexual (straight), LGBTQ+ (non-normative gender identity and/or same-sex attraction), Monogamous (committed to a single sexual partner), Non-monogamous, Polyamorous (in more than one physically intimate relationship with consent of all involved)

Sex & intimacy norms in IC:

A topic discussed with curiosity and respect, allowing for experimentation around what works for the community, Primarily left to the individual to determine, with the understanding that personal choices can impact community culture

Physical affection:

It depends

My availability for physical intimacy:

Prefer not to share at this time

Mobility accommodations:

Wheelchair accessibility, people willing to not cook with certain foods/ingredients in community kitchen (due to many allergies and sensitivities). Access to shade and A/C due to heat sensitivity.

Learning difference accommodations:

I am autistic, suspected ADHD, and just generally neurodivergent. I am also Hard of Hearing, I have Low Vision and I experience Sensory Processing Issues, patience is key. Written information and/or instructions are incredibly helpful.

Diversity beliefs or intentions:

I have experience with (and knowledge about) the physically disabled, chronically ill, hard of hearing, d/Deaf, LGBT+, autistic, ADHD, neurodivergent, mentally ill, CSA and trafficking survivors, and religious-cult survivors. I am white so I have no lived experience of racism and BIPOC culture directly, but am learn, listen, and uplift BIPOC speakers about their lived experiences.

Children in IC:

Children are welcome but not a necessity (not a dealbreaker issue)

Children present in household:

No dependent children

Other people’s children:

Children are the responsibility of their parents, so any shared care needs to be agreed on between individuals, I am open to a community of free-range children who are allowed to roam the majority of community spaces unsupervised, I want to be in a setting in which all feel a responsibility for well-being of children in the community

Behavior correction:

Parents shouldn't allow their child(ren) to be loud and disruptive in group settings, Parents shouldn't be offended if other adults respectfully question their child(ren)'s behavior, Parents shouldn't have to micro-manage their child(ren) for the benefit of adults around them

Dogs:

Indoor dog(s) okay, Indoor dog(s) okay if some rooms are off limits, Not applicable, with separate residences each household decides, Outdoor dog(s) okay, Outdoor dog(s) okay if not frequent barkers

Cats:

Indoor cat(s) okay, Not applicable, with separate residences each household decides, Outdoor cat(s) okay

Farm animals or pets I have or want:

I have one cat currently. I also intend to get and train a hypoallergenic dog as a service animal. I am open to pretty much all animals. Ideally, I'd love there to be chicken, goats, and/or horses!

Special food needs:

Celiac's or gluten sensitivity, Severe food allergies, Strongly prefer a high quality of food preparation, Strongly prefer home-processed foods

Plant-based or not:

Everyone makes their own food choices even when eating together, Mostly vegan, Mostly vegetarian, Strictly vegan (no animal products), Strictly vegetarian (no meat or fish)

Organic:

All food choices are accepted, Commitment to all organic, Commitment to local-grown as much as possible, Commitment to non-GMO, Not applicable (e.g., no obligation for shared meals), Organic non-certified is okay

Shared meals (acceptable norms):

Prefer shared meals daily, Prefer shared meals weekly or monthly, Shared meals should be optional

Medical risk bubbles:

I am in a high-risk category and must have those near me take precautions seriously, I can commit to taking extra precautions for others in a high-risk category

Pandemic norms:

Keep good health practices for good immune function, Maintain strict social distancing and masks outside the IC, No masks or distancing around friends and family who aren't part of IC, Only normal hygiene within the IC; no extra precautions, Sanitize hands frequently in public, Vaccinated, Whatever results from group decision-making process

Severe allergies:

peanuts & other nuts, cinnamon (and other cinnamate-containing spices/things), oranges, mango, raspberry, beets, and more allergies. (full list can be shared later)

Health conditions:

mitochondrial disease (& multiple secondary conditions that cause severe fatigue, weak/fragile bones, weak/unstable joints, muscle weakness, + more), MCAS, Chronic Migraines, mild hearing and vision loss, Autism, C-PTSD, Anxiety, suspected ADHD

Noise level:

A quiet serene living space should be the norm, One quiet space should be reserved for those who need to focus on work, One space should be available for those who like to have videos or games on frequently

Sleep:

I keep a late bedtime, I often stay up past midnight, I’m a late riser, I’m not very consistent with my waking and bedtimes, My sleep is easily disturbed so I need quiet at night, Not applicable (e.g., not planning to share living space that's close to sleeping space)

Comfort & convenience:

I can participate in a rugged life and hard physical work, I can participate with others who do not tolerate rugged life or extreme temperatures, I cannot tolerate extreme temperatures

Tech savvy:

I'm about average with tech use

Internet connection & phone signal:

I can work without consistent internet connection

Off-grid:

Is a workable favored option, Is not the plan if it doesn't work for others I want to be in community with, Is okay but not so important, Is the definite only plan, Is workable for a part time location

Leisure time:

cooking, reading/writing, meditating, art/crafts, foraging, music/singing, learning languages, making jewelry, giving my cat snuggles

Films, books, music, podcasts, shows:

Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron is my favorite movie of all time. I love music by BTS (including all the solo-members work), TXT, Jhene Aiko, AURORA, Phildel, WILLOW, Andy Black, and a wide variety of genres and artists. When I was growing up I was obsessed with every book by Rick Riordan. I'll always adore the Peter and The Starcatchers series. Currently, I am enjoying an audiobook by Dr Joe Dispenza. I enjoy alot of asian TV dramas, anime, and generally lighthearted tv series. I'm pretty sensitive to the content I consume.

Political orientation:

Progressive left

Culture influencers:

Dr Joe Dispenza, Kyle Cease, Rick Riordan, BTS, Carl Jung, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Anil Seth, Yasunori Nomura, Anita Moorjani

Civic, political, or activist groups or movements:

support/follow: BLM, ACAB, LGBT+, Pro-choice, disability awareness /advocacy, and (not sure if this technically falls under this category) O.U.R.

Extroversion (under 50% means more introverted than average):

Emotional even keel (under 50% means more ups & downs than average):

Agreeableness (under 50% means less compliant or more contrary than average):

Conscientiousness (under 50% means more easygoing than average):

Open to new experiences / imagination (under 50% means more traditional than average, sticks with "tried and true"):

Tendency for dealing with others' expectations:

Questioner

Myers-Briggs (& Keirsey-Bates) temperament type:

INFP-T (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving - Turbulent)

Astrological sign(s):

1w9 (Perfectionist with Peacemaker) and 4w5 (Individualist with Investigator)

A note about me/us:

A close relative of mine has 20 acres of land in Madeline/Termo, CA. It's completely undeveloped at the moment. I am interested in seeing if there are others who could help utilize this land for an LGBT Commune, who's focused on spirituality, healing, and interconnectivity while honoring the land and ourselves.