CommonUnity
Millennial (30-45)
Female + Male + dependent(s)
Portland, OR U.S.
Speed of commitment:
Fast: Open to a situation that takes everyone being all-in from the start (with contracts & clarity), 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, Multi-house collective (resource-sharing among houses not adjacent), Off-grid, Resource-sharing or income-sharing commune, Retreat or event hosting as community, Tiny homes community, Van life co-travelers
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: I’m seeking residence in an existing household or IC with a stable culture and/or established norms.
Service-based IC (population served):
Animal rescue
Service-based IC (services offered):
Short term shelter
Vulnerable population as a proportion of residents:
More than half
Residential proximity:
Multi-house collective (shared resources, but IC houses might be scattered within a traditional neighborhood), 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), Join an established IC to learn and possibly stay, Joint land purchase to subdivide, hold shares, or hold "tenancy in common", 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 or land:
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, Helping each other with childcare, Lower cost of living, Sharing meals and chores, Sharing resources (spaces, equipment, tools, vehicles, gardens)
Décor of shared areas:
Decisions based on practical utility and durability, Prefer furniture & decor that's kid-or-pet friendly (used or easily replaceable)
Clutter level of shared living areas or work space:
Super tidy at diagnosable OCD level, 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, Disinfectants must be ecologically safe products (chemical sensitivity)
Yard or landscaping:
Gardens and edible landscaping, Space for kids and/or dogs to run, Tidy and clutter-free outdoors with storage out of sight
Neighborhood or scenery:
Nature scenery is a priority worth paying extra for
Current city, town, or county:
Portland
Nation(s) of current residence:
U.S.
Preferred regions worldwide:
Canada BC, Canada ON, Canada QC, Canada northern provinces , Canada prairie provinces, U.S. California, U.S. Washington state
Population density:
Remote, Rural, Small town, Suburban or exurban
Commitment to my current location:
Want to eventually commit to a permanent location if it goes well, Would relocate if group decides to try another location together
Relocation capacity:
Ready to move from my current residence now or in the near future, Ready to move from my general area now or in the near future
State, province, or region:
Oregon (OR)
Resource sharing:
Car share, Child care swap, Farm or food forest (share work and produce), Garden (share work and produce), Joint business (share work and profits), Meal preparation, Pet care swap, Time bank, Tool share (maintenance and use of expensive equipment)
My socioeconomic status:
Substantial assets but lower income
Leisure and lifestyle:
Somewhat frugal about leisure and entertainment expenditures
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"
Common practical skills:
Carpentry & repair, Childcare, Cleaning, Cooking for groups, Gardening or crop cultivation, Grant-writing, Organizing & labeling, Permaculture
Experience or schooling:
Activism & organizing, Animal training or care, Carpentry & construction, Computer science, Experience teaching adults, Musical performance, Natural building, Nutrition, Political science & history, Sports or physical recreation, Travel, Waterworks, plumbing, sanitation, Website design
Languages:
Ukrainian
Years lived in an IC:
Less than a year in IC, Lived with roommate(s) or housemate(s), Lived with sibling(s) or other non-parent relatives
Experience in community:
Short term workshops/camps and many IC visits.
Generation:
Millennial (30-45)
Generations intended in IC:
Gen A (born 2013 – 2024), Gen X (born 1965 – 1980), Gen Z (born 1997 – 2012), Millennial (born 1981 – 1996), Older boomer (born 1946 – 1954), Pre-boomer (born before 1946), Younger boomer (born 1955 – 1964)
Number of grade-school children:
2
Number of working adults:
2
Alcohol (tolerable rules):
Should be regulated by group decision only if it becomes problematic
Tobacco smoking (tolerable rules):
Should not be allowed on the premises, Should only be allowed outdoors
Cannabis (tolerable rules):
Should be regulated by group decision only if it becomes problematic, Should not be allowed on the premises, even if its legal in our location
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, Should not be allowed on the premises
Illegal recreational drugs (tolerable rules):
Should not be allowed on the premises
Overnite guests (tolerable rules):
Should be subject to group decision only if it becomes problematic
Daytime visitor access (tolerable rules):
Should be discussed and limited by the IC agreements, Should not be restricted, Should not be restricted after certain individuals or visitor types are approved, Should require that community is informed of planned visits
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), Should be welcome and discussed through the governance process, to consider each individual’s preferences
Required disclosures:
Current addictions even if under treatment, On sex offender registry, Past felony conviction
Religious or spiritual practice-based IC:
No mandate of adherence to shared religious beliefs and practices
My religious beliefs or practices:
Agnostic, Atheist, Spiritual but not religious
Practices welcome in IC:
Agnostic, Atheist, Native American / First Nations, Spiritual but not religious
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
Size of community:
11 to 20, 21 to 50, 51 to 150, 6 to 10, Under 6
Sense of togetherness:
An IC should foster close interpersonal relationships, An IC should have regular mandated “group work” to resolve conflicts as they arise, An IC should have regular opportunities to encourage all to share their feelings, I do not want to be required or pressured to share feelings in a group setting
My gender identity:
Female
Genders welcome in IC:
Female, Male, Non-binary
My current couple situation:
I'm in committed partnership
Couple situations welcome in IC:
Committed closed partnership(s) (e.g., married monogamous couples), Single (not in a committed closed partnership)
My sexual orientation:
Monogamous, Straight
Sexual identities welcome in IC:
Cisgender (gender aligns with natal sex), Heterosexual (straight), LGBTQ+ (non-normative gender identity and/or same-sex attraction), Monogamous (committed to a single sexual partner)
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:
I enjoy hugs and lean toward the easily affectionate side
My availability for physical intimacy:
Not currently open to a new relationship
Significant other(s):
Male
Dependent(s):
+ dependent(s)
Children in IC:
I have dependent child(ren) living with me and I am only seeking community with other families with children
Children present in household:
Full time
Other people’s children:
I am open to a community of free-range children who are allowed to roam the majority of community spaces unsupervised, I am open to sharing child-care responsibilities such as carpooling or swapping child-care, 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 have to micro-manage their child(ren) for the benefit of adults around them
Dogs:
Outdoor dog(s) okay, Outdoor dog(s) okay if not frequent barkers
Cats:
Indoor cat(s) okay, Outdoor cat(s) okay
Farm animals or pets I have or want:
Dog
Special food needs:
Celiac's or gluten sensitivity
Plant-based or not:
Strictly vegan (no animal products)
Organic:
Commitment to all organic, Commitment to local-grown as much as possible, Commitment to non-GMO, Organic non-certified is okay
Shared meals (acceptable norms):
Prefer shared meals daily, Prefer shared meals weekly or monthly, Shared meals are necessary community glue
Medical risk bubbles:
I can live with or work physically close to people who do not take precautions against infection, allergy, or injury, I can't live with or work physically close to people who need strict precautions from people in their IC
Pandemic norms:
Keep good health practices for good immune function, Masks only when in public and mandated, Unvaccinated, Vaccinated, Whatever results from group decision-making process
Noise level:
A lively social environment should be the norm, As long as the vibe is positive, loud gatherings can be frequent, Different noise tolerance can be managed by having designated times for noise and quiet, Parents with children shouldn't have to constantly keep them quiet
Sleep:
I’m a late riser, My sleep is easily disturbed so I need quiet at night, My sleep is not easily disturbed
Comfort & convenience:
I can participate in a rugged life and hard physical work, I enjoy a rugged life and hard physical work
Tech savvy:
I’m pretty good troubleshooting tech
Internet connection & phone signal:
I can work without consistent internet connection, I'm concerned about the effects of constant wifi exposure
Off-grid:
Is a workable favored option, Is the definite only plan
Political orientation:
Progressive left