Quote:
Originally Posted by ZephyrusX  That sounds like an interesting topic. My mother and grandmother grew up and lived in England and they will tell me about their past living arrangements. It was still common for individuals and even family units to share households due to economic constraint when my mother was growing up. |
Another interesting thing is that the whole "children leave home when they're 18" ethos isn't even that old, at least in my region of the United States. My mom and dad both lived with their parents until they were in their early and mid-twenties, respectively. My mom talks about how, when she was growing up, it was considered quite ordinary for people (especially women) to live with their parents until they got married and moved into a home of their own. Which makes sense, when you think about how many people back then got married right out of high school, or in their early twenties.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZephyrusX I think living in a commune definitely has its perks. In one of my psych intro classes, there were a group of women who all lived together and pooled their resources together to deal with issues that could not be resolved by the market or by the State. Child care was one of those issues. Apparently, they all took turns taking care of a child even if the child didn't belong to them. I definitely sensed that they had their own unique culture and way of being. |
Interesting!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZephyrusX I think such an idea might clash with dominant ideas on living arrangements in North America though. Talking from a place of relative privilege, I really like living alone or living with my mother. It is quiet and stress free. I wouldn't want to live in a commune for no other reason other than the fact that I like my alone time and don't think I'd get it there. |
Yeah, if it weren't for the fact that my parents both work outside the home and I thus have plenty of time to myself, I probably wouldn't find my current living situation workable. When I lived with my (retired) grandmother for a couple of years, it was hell because I almost never had the house to myself.