Author Topic: Mustachian Retirement Community?  (Read 3229 times)

frugalecon

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 730
Mustachian Retirement Community?
« on: March 23, 2014, 07:00:51 PM »
The thread on maintaining friendships in a Mustachian lifestyle made me think about what it would be like to have an entire community of Mustachian folks enjoying early retirement from wage servitude, living out their best years for decades. Feasible or not? How many would be willing to relocate?

lizzzi

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2150
Re: Mustachian Retirement Community?
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2014, 07:14:59 PM »
What location were you thinking of? What kind of housing set-up?

beardedone

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Re: Mustachian Retirement Community?
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2014, 07:25:32 PM »
As an inspiration for how to set something like this up, you might want to take a look at the Free State Project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_State_Project.

The place to move to would probably need to be decided based on the expected cost of living for the largest number of people. Places that are highly walkable, bike-able, with cheap housing available, etc.

arebelspy

  • Administrator
  • Senior Mustachian
  • *****
  • Posts: 28444
  • Age: -997
  • Location: Seattle, WA
Re: Mustachian Retirement Community?
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2014, 07:28:49 PM »
Previous discussion on this idea here: https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/intentional-community/

Anyone interested in the idea may want to read that thread.

Here's my thoughts on the idea:
A community of tumbleweed homes would be sweet.

Totally agree with the OP that I like the idea, but wouldn't want to live with most of the people who would want to live there.

(I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member.)

If something like this was set up, I could see the wife and I living there for a few years during our long stretch of FIRE.

Invariably groups attract "social loafers" (psychological term). These are folks who, when placed in a group, float along on the works of others, hiding their lack of participation.

In my mind, I would imagine most of the people there being FI, rather than the typical commune where everyone is broke and has to pay their way via hard work (in the garden or what have you).

So many of the issues you brought up (job loss, paying for a vacation, loafers) aren't an issue at all.

Heck, I want to loaf around a bit!

The best part of the idea for me is the chance to discuss life and philosophy.. Have community readings and stuff like that.

It would probably work best if a laid back individual owned the land and people came together and built tumbleweed homes on it (paid for their own to be built, and could move it if desired). It'd be no different than an RV park, or a place with an HOA.

Less commune-like, persay, but just like-minded individuals living near each other, as neighbors.

I could see having something like that as a "home base" while we travel half or 3/4 of the year.
I am a former teacher who accumulated a bunch of real estate, retired at 29, spent some time traveling the world full time and am now settled with three kids.
If you want to know more about me, this Business Insider profile tells the story pretty well.
I (rarely) blog at AdventuringAlong.com. Check out the Now page to see what I'm up to currently.

frugalecon

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 730
Re: Mustachian Retirement Community?
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2014, 07:33:46 PM »
Oh, I wasn't thinking in terms of a commune. I was thinking more in terms of a community that had low taxes, nice amenities, and a decent location where folks chose to put down roots for the relatively long haul.

frugalecon

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 730
Re: Mustachian Retirement Community?
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2014, 07:40:02 PM »
Oh, I wasn't thinking in terms of a commune. I was thinking more in terms of a community that had low taxes, nice amenities, and a decent location where folks chose to put down roots for the relatively long haul.

In other words, a place where people buy their own houses and such and just have a critical mass of like minded folks to hang out with.

I suffer a bit from having no family and few friends who share a frugal orientation, so not a lot of people who understand the frugal life I can talk to.

greaper007

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1117
Re: Mustachian Retirement Community?
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2014, 07:52:18 PM »
It sounds like someone's read "Atlas Shrugged" too many times.

frugalecon

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 730
Re: Mustachian Retirement Community?
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2014, 07:58:40 PM »
It sounds like someone's read "Atlas Shrugged" too many times.

That makes me laugh, since I completely reject the Ayn Rand worldview! I think I wasn't clear...probably a consequence of having a bit too much of a delicious Sauvignon Blanc at dinner. I was just musing about whether it made sense to try to co-locate to be near other people who have similar ideas about how to enjoy life, even if not political views.