Jack Kerouac's boarding-house now co-living for creatives
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 พ.ย. 2020
- In 1953 Jack Kerouac stayed here for part of the spring, but when Sara McEre bought the former 19th-century boarding house in San Luis Obispo (CA), it was rundown. Instead of converting it to apartments for a profit, she turned it into a communal living residence for 19 like-minded individuals. Having lost her 19-year-old son she had lost 3 months prior, she wanted to create the kind of place he would have liked, with the people she liked.
Today, “The Establishment” is one of the country’s longest-running coliving sites. With 4 refrigerators, two stoves, 19 bedrooms (many with private sinks), a living room, a porch, a vegetable garden, 4 bathrooms, and one outdoor bathtub/shower, there is plenty to be shared, including cleanup (the chores board assigns a weekly task to each resident).
It’s run as a democracy- new members are voted in- and while there is no bigger philosophy behind the place, everyone strives to live in a community. While each resident has their own fridge and pantry space and cooks their own food, often meals are shared (usually around a themed dinner). To stimulate conversation and bonding, cell phone use is forbidden in the communal areas and board games are plentiful and well used.
Rent for a room is around $600/month in a town where the average rent is over $2000/month. In a gentrified college town like San Luis Obispo, the Establishment is one of the last places where artists can still find a safe haven.
Sixty-year-old Mark Grayson first heard about the place while living down the street in 1992 and finally moved in four years ago. Cardiac surgery and the need to isolate post-surgery due to Covid-19 forced him to move out this year despite having found a real home here. “Prior to the surgery I had planned on living out my life here, like riding into the sunset, and that all changed… You hear people talk about bonding, friendships here that last lifetimes. Such an abundance of lifetime friendships here and that doesn't happen when you live 2 blocks away in an apartment by yourself. I miss it so much.”
On •faircompanies faircompanies.com/videos/la-c...
*Thanks to Molly Vanderlip for the video footage of life at The Establishment. - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Sweet anti-establishment Establishment. I lived here for 5 years in the early 00's, even managed the place for a time. I came to it by way of Gizmo, the beautiful gentleman who speaks so eloquently of his love for his housemates, and what it feels like to leave. Started upstairs in room 11. At the time it was painted a deep red, and I filled it with plants. Spent some time in room 7, the one filled with bikes today, and closed out my time in spacious room 2, which is bigger than many studio apartments.
And just the other day, a friend I made there, formerly of room 2, came by my current home (a 3 bedroom home in nearby Los Osos with way too much stuff in it) to drop off a gift. It's the kind of place you can stop by 15 years after you leave and say "Hi. I'm Sara and I used to live here." And then you talk about your rooms and your memories and your shared friends, because there will definitely still be shared friends even after 15 years.
Communal living is not without its challenges, of course. Sometimes (not often) the wrong person gets in, and that can cause its share of strain. You don't have room to hide in a place like this. For a friendly introvert, it was sometimes overwhelming, always rewarding, and a truly beautiful chapter of my life.
The comment above me is mega awesome!
Thanks for sharing.
Couldn't you lock your door? :0
It is a must have as an introvert!
@PenelopeNele I didn't find I needed a locked door when I lived like this, with only six people decades ago. I liked a lot of aspects of it, but boy was I glad when everyone took holidays at same time over summer break. Peace and quiet at last! As a friendly introvert (at that time, writing/illustrating a book) it was sheer heaven to have the place to myself for a month or so! That's when it was time to move on, and I did - but I still catch up with that household thirty years later! They are great people who have sparked a lot of good community stuff in their neighbourhood: a low cost wholesale dry goods food outlet (run by volunteers), cyclepath creation (with local council help) and lately a Repair Cafe. Forty years and going strong...they are masters at the art of overcoming any issues that crop up.
I felt so sad for him when he said he was missing all those lovely people. deep connection to others is what really matters. I can see it has been a big loss. I hope he will be alright.
So happy to say I lived here from 2012-2015 in room No. 3. I can't even begin to explain what a life-changing experience is was for me. Some of the folks in the video I know, and still live there! Thanks Kirsten for making such a rad video!
NO WAY!! What a fun surprise this one is Kirsten! I did an internship in SLO in 1992 and rented an apartment in the red house right next door to this place. You have one little shot of it in the film. I was in the attic and could look over at the crazy life all these people were living. Never went inside so it was fun to see that part here. Right across the street was Gus's Grocery which was owned by my cousin. Good food and super chill community. Have great memories of that time. No place like the Central Coast.
This is almost exactly like any big student house here in the netherlands, down to the bikes and the quirky rooms and mods to the house
This is wonderful! They will remember these days for the rest of their lives, the community, the collaboration, the creative time, the support, the authenticity. I lived in a large artists' community in Chicago and leaving was so painful that I felt like I was walking around without my heart. For some of us our values and our heart have to take precedence. It's wonderful when there is a place for us, even for a short time.
Steve Irwin Memorial Bathroom. Something i would never guess to hear. But what place is better to remember someone than a bathroom.
my favorite part ;)
The John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant or The John Oliver Koala Chlamydia Ward
I'm glad that there are set ups like this for people who want and/or need them. But I could never do it. I don't need a lot of space, but I do need my own space.
And having extreme sound sensitivity doesn't help in terms of constantly having other people around.
Same here! Glad to see I'm not alone. I felt stressed out just watching this lol
@@waugse me too! I would never fit in!
shared housing is just a closer version of being neighbors
unless you are alone in the woods or the ocean, you will have neighbors and ppl nearby, but as long as you have your own room and freetime and headphones its all good
the secret to instant silence is a pair of soundproofing headphones, or spongy earplugs, or both
and then, of course, is for ppl to be kind, independent, adults whom dont make constant inconsiderate noise and who also use headphones themselves for listening to their music and films
@@MilwJay Um. No. Communal living is not at all like having neighbours. My neighbours do not have free reign access to my kitchen, laundry room, living room, or anywhere else. Unless I expressly permit them.
And the only time we come within less than a few feet of each other is when we both happen to be outside and engage in awkward conversation
Like... wtf
Also, I have a condition that affects how my brain interprets various stimuli. Do not talk about it as of you know. Thank you.
@@bleh329 You haven't lived in a dorm, have you?
As someone who grew up in the SLO area, it’s heartbreaking to see rent and home prices continue rising into the stratosphere. I want to move back to my home, but I can’t afford it and probably never will. It’s such a beautiful, charming place. I’m glad to see this gives people a way to make it there and I’m interested to see if more people follow suit.
Same here (Pismo). But instead of struggling to stay there I moved to Panama and life is good.
@@downandout992 I’m moving to South Carolina this fall. Land and housing are cheap and I should be able to find a good job. Best of luck in Panama.
Lived in similar communities in NY. 1st in Staten Island, later in Brooklyn, finally on 19th St in Manhattan. The 19th street place was a 4 floor building with a shared bathroom on each floor. People left personal items in front of their rooms, like shoes, we all trusted each other which is very rare in a city like NYC. I do miss those days as it was a very fun yet challenging time in my life. This is why I can empathize with Mark. Married with kids now in a house in Connecticut, still a minimalist tho, which I can thank my days of communal living. Thx for this vid Kristen. The world can learn a lot from this type of lifestyle. Oh and SLO is a beautiful town! Visited there in the 90’s 🙂
It’s remarkable how everyone loves an outdoor shower. More homes should have one. (Excellent video as always).
I've lived in 2 different co-living situations, one in Oakland, CA the other in Los Angeles, CA. Both were awesome experiences. If I had known that this place existed, I would have moved to SLO in a heartbeat. These people are experiencing a glorious life.
The "House of Friends & Laughter", sharing and caring for one another. A fine community.
I remember going to a party in this house when I was a student at Cal Poly:))) San Luis Obispo is such a unique place and this community pretty much sums up what the mood of the town is.
Cool video! I’m a Canadian living in Cologne, Germany. Here we have the “WG” or Wohngemeinschaft, which is a communal system similar to this one. They have tens of thousands of them in every major city. Even the room sizes and loft beds are pretty much identical. I used to think it’s a student thing, but have since met people who are working professionals and chose this kind of setup. A deciding factor is the high rent in large German cities. It’s not for me, but I’m glad it’s there and always enjoy visiting friends at their WGs, because you always meet new people.
I traveled for 6 years living in intentional communities. It was fantastic! You always had people to hang out with and if you wanted privacy you could go to your room or a hike in the woods (many are rural communities). I think everyone should experience this way of living first hand! It may be the best thing that ever happens for you!
Hey, this sounds great. How did you find such communities while traveling?
I LOVE Portlandia, so grateful that they're still making new episodes!
lol
This is an introvert's nightmare
Yup! I need to go calm down now. 😑
Or rather a perfect opportunity ! :)
Looks cool...but does this symbolize the decline of USA ? Or are we moving toward a more sustainable future ?
As an introvert myself, I can say I enjoyed dorm life in college and I think I’d like living in this place too.
Im introverted i would try it but i would need to have my own bathroom and alot of time to myself i would get drained from being around so much people all the time
This is amazing... Ive dreamed of making a Green Tiny House village with a community kitchen and outdoor Fire Pit.. What a bonus to having Scientists live there..Thank you for sharing
What a wonderful idea....u would have to have fairly similar ideas about things...I think something like this is good for senior citizens too. I wish it would catch on and become a new trend.
"stevie irwin memorial bathroom" I hope she wasn't kidding because that's hillarious
This is awesome!!!! Everyone helping out and getting along, the owner will never be lonely.
I lived a couple blocks from that building and thought it was just another apartment until someone showed me this video. This is really cool! I didn't know this was a communal living building.
It would be nice to have an episode just on the owner - she sounds fascinating.
i have a much smaller place, but 5 young people at any given time and we all cook together and eat at times. play get together games and make life long friendships.. I love it!
Do a part two on “The Establishment” please Kirsten! Just starting to get to know the characters.
heck do a whole series :P
@@illestj3990 Amen J ! They could host a mini series.
They should start their own TH-cam channel.
I loved this
@@Toodle.Pipp001 Too much attention can be unhelpful. Local word of mouth is likely the best fit.
Shared virtues & life outlooks & minimalism seem to be an integral component too.
Kinda puts "big brother" in perspective 😎
I love this kind of community living. Filled with laughter and fun :)
I like the sense of community, the shared experiences, the common health and environmental values, drinking, laughing, and talking under the starry sky. 🌙
We call this an SRO - Single Room Occupancy. Used to be a lot more around before Manhattan became luxurified.
I the mid 80s I lived in a communal/ co-ed house with 6 other people in Vancouver BC. Best time of my life. Yes we hung out with each other a lot but we were all serious about our own lives and autonomy. 35 years later, we’re all still friends.
These guys are cool, I would like to have such an experience!
yes and then spread your religious dogma here right.
This is great! People aren’t meant to live in isolation on a quarter acre lot in a 3500 square foot plywood and stucco balloon.
What an interesting departure this video was for you Kirsten. Though it's not a style of living that would work for me, I can certainly appreciate the appeal for many, and I could see how strong bonds could form so that one would feel like you're living with family. My heart broke for the older gentleman who had to move out for medical reasons and how emotional he became at not being able to be there anymore.
I lived here 2008-2009. I miss it so much. I also subleased for a month in 2016 and I didnt match the vibes so much then, but they change often.
Lol the suffering tract on the chore wheel 😂
It would be amazing if you could find more of these communal living spaces and document how they work for people. Thanks!
People and governments are afraid of that kind of living. Those people knows how to work together.
Democratic ways.
I hope is democratic and not communistic !
@IM O
Like what ? Hobo's guide to architecture and urban planning ?
Yes, governments are absolutely terrified of socially liberal people with no property or family. Do you really believe this?
@@autonomy.9463
Have you ever lived or worked in a communist country like China, Cuba, North Korea, Russia or the defunct East Germany before ?
Human's greed for power and wealth are rampant and well in those communist/socialist countries.
You are the best Kirsten, this video made me cry. I am in love with this place. I am originally from India, I moved to the states a few years back and this video has all I miss.
Wonderful! I'd live there! For elders, though. 67yo.
Our 60yo housemate just moved out :(
Kirsten you are amazing. Love watching your videos.
What a great concept & a lovely community you have!
Geez I barely managed my days with 3 roommates in college. This is gonna be very challenging.
I am so jealous!! What an absolutely beautiful way to live!!! The house and all of it’s occupants are so full of life and character!!! I truly loved this video, thank you 🙏🏻
Cheers
I've just watched this again. It looks like such a truly lovely place and way to get to live. Those folks are all interesting. I wish I could learn more.
it's such a shame this type of new construction is illegal anywhere there are enough people to support it
Why is it illegal? Explain to us non-native, please!
Most cities, medium-sized towns, small towns, villages, & rural communities in USA have “zoning laws” which prevent this type of thing. Look up both “zoning” and “zoning laws.”
The thought that came to mind when I watched this was.....HAPPYNESS!!!.
Being born in SLO watching this made me home sick and lonely
In our days this is something that people really need, coz many people have been living lonly lives.. going to work, coming back tired in the evening, left to themselves with little social life. In these communities you have to socialize. All of them are fortunate to have good people to live with.. Bravo to the owner 👍 instead of turning this into a hotel she decided to provide people with affordable living.
This says a lot only on people's living space but humanity in general
I have house mates... I never see them... I would go crazy being in the kitchen at the same time..
It's super cheap living tho... Thoroughly recommend.
Being a hippie from the 70s Im inspired
DOes anyone WORK☺???????????????
The kitchen is always the first reason I give as to why I'll never live with people again 😂 can't stand sharing kitchens or the dick housemates that wash up everything but your one glass etc lol
@@aussiejubes I wondered who always left that glass on the side .. 😂😂
I travel and always stay in hostels. I meet amazing people from every country.
Very similar deal.
The communal living thing seems like it could offer a lot of joy, but also a lot of frustration.
Please keep this going. I found this so blissfully amazing just watching....
Everything's fine until you find someone's missing watch in your Life cereal.
I came to this video by the Kerouac fetish thingy and left out in love with a sense of community, it was lovely! Experienced something similar in my first year abroad, living in a cosy hostel!
the last bit with the guy made tear up sounds kinda relatable for some reason
I've lived communally and loved it!
It works for them. Hopefully when Civic 19 is passed Mark will be able to come home.
cool, in russia it is called a communal apartment (communalka) kek :)
I lived in a funky community house just like this and it didn't work out at all for me because there were too many meetings needed for the tenants to run the entire place, zero enforcement of making occupants pay rent or clean up after themselves, etc.
These folks in the video seem to have worked out such kinks and if so, good on them. I have a feeling though they probably have a few unadvertised issues.
I would advise a few critical things for anyone thinking of starting such a community living place.. If you want to ensure your happiness and success.. 1.. Hire housekeepers 7 days a week so that there's no chores for tenants to do. 2. Hire a manager to run the place from A to Z and have strict, legally binding rental agreements with every tenant so that when you end up renting to undesirables (and you will,) you'll have an automated systematic eviction policy. Also, avoid setting up any kind of tenant or community voting systems. They may seem like a good idea for fairness, but they're not. Trust me. Don't let anyone get voted in or voted out. Don't let the tenants run the show. Voting on things will open the door to racism, sexism, etc, illegal practices, unsolved problems, all kinds of deficiencies, and lower everyone's standard of living. Such a place needs to be ran and managed professionally just like an apartment building despite being room rentals. Don't do everything on the cheap either. Do it right, nice, and charge accordingly. People don't live like this because they have no money. They live like this to be a part of a close knit community. If you remember that and create a great place and community for your community of residents, you can attract quality tenants and succeed with an otherwise very risky endeavour. 💕
I miss my life in the dorms, but this is so much better than that!
2:06 - Wow, I'm using headphones and it sounded exactly like someone was messing around in MY kitchen, so I had to go see! lol
I went to Cal Poly during the early 1990s and i never knew Kerouac lived in SLO before. Why wasn't this piece of information made available when i was there?
He lived there for perhaps a year.
This is beyond amazing! I currently live in similar situation but on a smaller scale. What you've shown in this video is exactly what I'd love to achieve one day. ❤️
Why aren’t there more communities like this in every town ?
Thank you, once again you have captured the true embodiment of connection.
This was so incredibly moving, I deeply believe this is how humans are meant to live, in loving harmony with one another. It weeds out the ugly mean spirited individuals ♡
Communal living has existed forever, it works for a while because needs change ( if you have kids, marriage ,illness or age or you move away from the city) this is not permanent, it’s an experience you need to have when you are young, for sure!! There are communal living buildings in every city, and a good owner or not.
Sharing what can be multiplied so many times just brings it all together...a great bunch of happy humans living well together..
🌳🏤🌲
Not a bad way for kids in their early 20s to socialize. I lived in Berkeley with house mates ( much more modern and clean than this ) but the interactions were fairly similar. It was a good way to meet girls and party before deciding to get a real job so I could afford my own standards of living and aspirations.
Yes, this place is very Berkeley. I’ve lived in 3 places like this in Berkeley.
I'd be the same. I'd have a blast living here, but after about 12mths I'd want my own space because that's who I am. But the memories would be very fond.
Like minded people living together that would even better if they tidy up each & every available space. The elderly owner will definitely be grateful.
i love this. communal living is so so so special. i would have liked to know how they were all dealing with quarantine/staying safe during the pandemic with so many people.
Such a cool space! We need so much more of this in North America
What a lovely group of interesting people!
GOD BLESS SARAH MCNAIR What a generous thing to do I hope she has found healing with doing this in her son's memory. May he rest in peace.
I couldn't live here but I love that people who can have such a place. FANTASTIC
I grew up in this area, and there may still be some spaces like this, but they're far and few between. The second you lose access to one, good luck surviving in the area at all. Unless you are a rich yuppie, the central coast will chew you up and spit you out.
I left in 2009 and am extremely grateful i did.
Interesting! She was so proud of that telephone. Certainly don't know how I'd feel about sharing with this many people, but this is a nice co-living concept.
I'm an introvert and autist and this is my personal hell. I've tried living with house mates before and it caused me sky high stress levels non-stop.
KINGS CANYON!!!!! To the gal that was doing the project on the plants etc there. Be careful of the snakes! I found they are all over! LOL! I was chased from a picnic table at lunch by a very large rattle snake in 2017 and we also saw a bear on the opposite side of the canyon on our way out! One of my most wonderful trips in my life! The roaring river with the winter runoff on the way in was spectacular! The narrow road, the hairpin turns and the drop-offs from that road were amazing. Driving out as the sun was setting almost blinded us! Ahh...to go back there again. She is so lucky!
My friend Andrea lives in a huge old boat in Refshaleøen with maybe 12 other peeps, it is exactly like this, the person with seniority gets the bigger room (command booth) with its own private bathroom 🚽. I loved every piece of it, but my husband hated it 😂 he’s a super (super cute 🥰 ) Czech introvert that can get stressed/anxious pretty easy! 💕
Wow the vibes in this place skyrockets
That was awesome!!! Thanks for making my weekend even better!!.
Fantastic... A delightful episode Kirsten, thank you.
"The Establishment" of San Luis Obispo would make a compelling 'reality' TH-cam Channel if focused on the achievements of community living and gardening, sustainability, creative use of available space, home improvements, etc.
Yes, and conflict resolution comes into it too. We had a weekly thing on Monday nights where we could bring up things, I never got comfortable enough at the age I was 30 years ago to be honest but calm enough to express feelings. So I didn't stay more than five months, but I like those people and still visit sometimes. (Australian community household)
@@pipfox7834 I imagine it would be uncomfortable to engage a public "airing of grievances"; not unlike the bizarre (and resoundingly hilarious) "Festivus" episode from the Seinfeld sitcom. Still, conflict resolution skills develop with maturity and continue to be applied in the workplace and in the neighborhood.
Such a community household is a marvellous option for young adults. I rather wish I had discovered such an environment, rather than taking up rooming in the echo chamber of retarded frat friends where expressions of feelings were only exposed through routine experimentation with a diverse range of narcotics and sublime semi-lucid discussions surrounding the writings of Charles Bukowski. Thanks for reading my comment and sharing information about your experience. :-)
So many questions! Waiting list? Price? Average length of residency? Application process? Utilities?
And most of all, what happens when someone doesn't fit in, do their share, etc?
They said in the video ballpark was $590-600/mo
@@DoPeTz Oh! Thank you. Now if I multiply that times 19... Oooh!
@@bob_frazier Right?! 😂🤑
What an amazing place full of incredible people. I would move in right away if given the opportunity!
#Rented a #room with a #sink for years, built #loft #bed, added small #fridge, #recliner and #TV , there was no community #kitchen ,but used toaster #oven, later years added window AC , #Florida #rent was very #cheap ,most boarding houses difficult to find lately, #California could use or #build them for #homeless ?
THIS is a Retrosuburbia style project. so permaculture so beautiful i love it
That's wonderful. I've always wanted more of these.
This is perfection. I would love to live like this.
So beautiful all
Wonderful!
Perfect!
Good to see. Although I wouldn't do well in co-housing, it's important to have the option for different kind of living.
i really enjoy the communal living videos. thanks
So... a share house but for eclectic types. Plenty of those where im from, but here it's tidier/more organized. Less manic energy.
Interesting question in the middle of the thorn wheel, 7:30.
Kristen, I’ve said it before. Your camera work and editing is amazing. The stories you tell...Wow. How much of your time in TV has influenced your approach? There is always a little bit of footage showing you reminding us that this is a documentary.
Awesome. Nice to see places like this exist and thrive. ❤️
I am envious!
Love the idea of communal living especially for single elderly people for the community benefits, but for me to live in a place like that I would need my own toilet/shower room and a mini kitchen and just have communal social areas and garden. I could not stand having to share a bathroom or fridge space with everyone else at my stage of life.
Same. I’d appreciate my own en suite bathroom and kitchenette, but I’d be in love with sharing a kitchen in a world where everyone I knew washed their hands at end of each trip to the toilet
Aw man!! You guys were just in SLO!? I have been following your channel and films for years, and I would have love to have met your family in person! Such a cool profile of a bygone era of communal living. Reminds me so much of my days of living in the Mission District of San Franciso in the '90's. I have lived on the Central Coast for 20+ years and had no idea this place existed! I love the mini-"Critical Mass" bike ride at the end. Warms my heart.
Oh my gosh. I wish there were options like this in Sydney