Flower children no more, some adults are nevertheless finding the ideals of living communally appealing once again. After decades in careers that dashed daily connections with family, friends, and local interaction, more people are longing to feel connected to one another. Being part of an intentional extended family when your own is here, there, and everywhere has a lot of appeal. Though you may not expect it, it takes a great deal of hard work to plan and execute the dream of a commune. Some of the challenges include:

• Finding like-minded people

• Establishing goals for what will define community

• Sorting out the decision-making process — do all big decisions need to be unanimous?

• Selecting a geographical location

• Getting permission from local government to build — possible zoning battles

• Finances

• Designing, building, and landscaping facility

Most intentional communities have a core value, or a theme, tying the residents together. These can range from sexual orientation, professions, religious beliefs, or political persuasions to a desire to live a “green” lifestyle. According to Diana Leafe Christian, editor of “Communities” magazine, adults seeking communal living want:

• Equity ownership

• Shared cooperative decision-making

• Clear structure

Unlike their much younger selves, after forty years of slogging it out in rough and tumble careers, the new commune dwellers are going to make decisions without wearing the rose-colored glasses. What were once “pads” — with no structure to the point of anarchy and frequently downright filthy — are now being reincarnated as civilized microsocieties. Life experiences, and a few greenbacks to throw into the mix, make for much savvier planning.