{"id":2362,"date":"2017-09-06T17:27:27","date_gmt":"2017-09-07T01:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/?p=2362"},"modified":"2017-10-09T20:57:49","modified_gmt":"2017-10-10T04:57:49","slug":"living-in-a-38-person-mansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jaeminyi.com\/living-in-a-38-person-mansion\/","title":{"rendered":"What Surprised Me About Living in a 38-Person Mansion"},"content":{"rendered":"
I was parked outside the mansion, slumped in my car. Feeling down. Hopeless.<\/p>\n
I desperately wanted to live in an intentional community. Hell, I moved to San Francisco for that very reason. But after weeks of searching, I just couldn\u2019t find a good fit. I was starting to give up hope.<\/p>\n
And then I came across a Craigslist ad that caught my attention. A bat-shit insane Craigslist ad. <\/p>\n
It was for a shared room in a whimsical 38-person mansion (with nearly as many chandeliers as residents).<\/p>\n
Um yeah, there\u2019s no way this would work.<\/p>\n
Not only was I an incredibly light sleeper already struggling with insomnia and hypothyroidism, but I was known amongst my friends for needing tons of private space and quiet time. <\/p>\n
Yet there I was, sitting despondently in my car, waiting for my interview to start.<\/p>\n
Five minutes later, I walked through the ornate, French-Victorian doors. Two hours later, I could barely tear myself away.<\/p>\n
Swept up in a flurry of exuberant, loving vibes, stimulating conversation, and freshly baked banana bread – I knew that I had no choice in the matter.<\/p>\n
I was about to move into a 38-person mansion, sleep be damned!<\/p>\n
And just like that, the 2 hour interview turned into a 12 month stay. Some of the most exciting, inspiring, and powerful months of my life.<\/p>\n
This intentional community was like nothing I had ever experienced before. Imagine some mix of a college dorm, creative summer camp, and international hostel, with a splash of Burning Man, all wrapped up in love and gratitude.<\/p>\n
Oh and cuddles. Lots of cuddles.<\/p>\n
Going into this situation, I had a decent idea of what to expect\u2026<\/p>\n
Kitchen dance parties? Yup. <\/p>\n
Deep, late-night talks around the firepit? Uh-huh. <\/p>\n
Jam sessions, creative tomfoolery, laughter, tears, and everything in-between? You betcha.<\/p>\n
But there were a few things that I didn\u2019t see coming and was actually surprised by\u2026<\/p>\n
The culture we live in has somehow over-sexualized all forms of touch (just as we\u2019ve over-sexualized all forms of nudity) and has left us in a barren, touch-less, oxytocin deprived wasteland.1