Have You Ever Wanted to Live in a Hippie Commune?

Sharing is caring!

Were you or did you ever dream of living the life of a hippie when you were young? In 1968 I was a junior in high school, so I was just a tad too young to revel in the summer of love. But you can still live the hippie commune or Golden Girls lifestyle now that you’re older.

I’m in that situation now. After my boyfriend, who I lived with for 15 years, died, I temporarily rented a room while waiting for a friend from high school to finish building a home next to hers. The idea was to have a compound of sorts where women of the same age could live together side by side.

I finally moved in a month before the house got the green light for occupancy, so I’ve been spending part of the day in the new house working while sleeping in the old house at night.

Two of us will live in the new house that has 2 bedrooms, and 2 baths, while my friend who owns both houses will live in the old one. She was smart to buy property in Altadena, California, which is only a few miles from Pasadena and has tenants in two other homes nearby.

Altadena is an old, ethnically mixed neighborhood filled with Craftsman-style bungalows, so it has a lot of character. There’s even an old cemetery several blocks away. Notable members of Pasadena society from bygone days are interred there. I’m hoping to visit soon because it’s supposed to have a gorgeous mausoleum.

Coming from the San Fernando Valley which is known for its bland 1950s track homes, I’m excited to be near cultural sites like the Huntington Library, Descanso Gardens, The Pasadena Playhouse, and an array of museums, shops, and landmarks.

It’s not exactly a hippie commune but it’s close

The three of us living here are now in our sixties. For older women, who are single, living together has its advantages. A huge one is that there will be someone around in case someone takes a spill or has a medical issue.

Unlike a hippie commune where everyone shares meals and everything else, we each buy our own food because we have preferences. But we can still eat together, celebrate special occasions, and chit chat without feeling lonely.

Living like Golden Girls

It’s hard to imagine that we’re at the stage of life Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia were in the TV show but as hard as it is to admit, we are. There’s a possibility of having a 4^th friend join us at some point as well. Hopefully, we’ll be just as hilarious.

Adjusting to living with other single older women

One thing I’m going to have to put up with is that both of my friends smoke pot. That’s part of the hippie commune atmosphere, LOL. I don’t indulge and never have even in the 70s when everyone I knew did.

As a voice actor who specializes in young sounding voices, I want to preserve my “instrument” and not sound like a husky-hacking barfly. I’d probably get more work if I sounded like that but don’t want the health issues that come with it.

At least they don’t smoke cigarettes which I abhor.  The skunky smell of pot a couple of times a day is something I can deal with but I see an aromatherapy infuser in my future.

Animal antics

Together we have 3 dogs, a cat, and a bird so it’s quite a zoo. My dogs are still adjusting. They have no idea where they live between my recent moves and pet sitting for my daughter and her friend.

We’ll see how my two senior chihuahuas deal with the cat who is almost twice as big as they are. I’m sure it will take some getting used to as they’ve never lived with a feline. I’m more worried about my roommate freaking out because I know they’re going to give the cat a hard time until they work out the animal pecking order which I’m sure they’ll figure out . . .  eventually.

I’m planning to stay awhile

The thought of moving again is not something I want to think about so I’m hoping this will be my last time as long as we’re all alive.  It’s a perfect situation if it goes well. If you’re a single older woman, you may want to consider doing something similar. Our hippie commune days may be over, but we can still live like Golden Girls.

Are you single and have you thought about living with other older women? Or, do you feel that might be a possibility if you find yourself alone someday? Please leave a comment below.

Sharing is caring!