The pocket neighborhood idea sound very much like the subdivisions/communities in my area but on a smaller scale and with a more communal feel. (My neighborhood, when built in the 60s, was very community-oriented, but I would not say communal.)
I like the idea of of being community focused, but I do not want the front of my house looking at a community garden (like in the rendering). 
Thereās a co-housing development in a town right near me. Itās been there for at least twenty years. I have a friend/former co-worker who lives there and she refers to it as an āintentional community.ā Thereās been turnover in the community, which raised some isses. There was an article about it in the Boston Globe.
Hereās the website for the development:
Article about changes that happened over time at the development:
http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/07/close_for_comfort/
We have a cousin who lived in an intentional community way back probably 40 years ago. I donāt recall all the details but I think it was 6 families/couples who bought a small apartment building. They eventually moved to another state and also bought in an intentional community that had houses. They divorced and the wife and kids moved out but the husband stayed. He eventually also moved as his new wife didnāt like the community living.
I think there is one of these that went up in Concord, MA.
A walkable, intimate, smart community on the Assabet River in Concord, MA | Concord Riverwalk.
There are a number of co-housing and pocket neighborhood communities in the Seattle area. Weāve visited many. Winslow (on Bainbridge Is.) was an early one, patterned after the Denmark concept. Years ago, I studied the co-housing concept in depth, thinking it was a great idea. Why should we each own a lawn-mower that sits in a garage 6 days a week (as an example). Why should we each have a guest room for guests that only visit 3x a year. A community guest room seemed smarter. We also thought it would be a great way to move to a new community, and become an immediate part of a neighborhood. I briefly attended meetings of a group intending to start a new community. It eventually folded, but it was enlightening.
As I aged, some of the design features were no longer as appealing. Most of the original communities purposefully have no garages, for example, and instead included remote parking to āencourageā residents to walk to their homes, and have the opportunity to interact with neighbors. No thanks ā especially in the PNW. I want to get out of the rain to carry groceries into the house. Most I visited, also included TOO much community time & commitment. I love the idea of community, but perhaps slightly less often.
Then I thought pocket housing was a better alternative. Slightly less communal; more privacy; but still more āintentionalā. One of the leaders of the movement is also a PNW architect (Ross Chapin, Langley WA), and there are quite a few in the PNW area. Houses tend to be VERY small, with shared common exterior spaces.
Then, I discovered the Village Movement (One of the first was Beacon Hill Village in Boston). Primarily for seniors, but not a senior community, it offers community and support in place, while maintaining your own home in a āregularā neighborhood. Even more privacy, but a community network when desired.
See a pattern? I guess Iām learning to value my privacy, and ability to decide if and when to partake in community.
We live in apartment half the year, in a very walkable neighborhood. We love that, but have also experienced neighbor issues ā significant enough that the landlord would not renew their lease. The other half, we spend in our home, with a small wooded yard. Love that too.
We want it all 
.
The apartment we are splitting our time in gives us lots of community. There is a park next door, a community pool, gym, and the town is very walkable. It is 55+ and there is a group that sits and socializes in the lobby every night. I join occasionally when I want to be social, no obligation (very easy going group). They also have events in the building which I attend - game night, paint night, ice cream social, etc. This along with lots of events at the local library (walking distance) is all the community I need.
sbinaz - love your vision of community - so specific and detailed. They say thatās a great way to approach a vision for the future - paint the picture thatās uniquely perfect for you!
The other options discussed here are interesting too. Iāve researched pocket communities a fair bit (the ones in WA are really well-developed) and variants of co-housing.
kjofkw - like you, I started out thinking co-housing would be great - but as I played it out, Iām realizing I value my privacy more than I originally thought! My son is interested in developing an intentional community with nearby properties (as are many millenials who lack the connections prior generations had via the same religious community/job/house for 30 years). I love that idea. 
So in communal neighborhood, what happens if Neighbor X constantly treats the lawnmower poorly and/or breaks it. But Neighbor Y takes good care of the lawnmower. Who responsible for maintaining and fixing the lawnmower? Are the Y-types going to eventually get irritated for the X-types for costing them more by not caring for the lawnmower as they would, etc.?
And why am I paying for a communal bedroom when my sister visits once a year and yours visits 10 times a year?
How are things made āfairā?
@shawbridge that community in W. Concord would be my ideal but looks expensive, with fewer one bedroom options. Not to mention that it is sold out!
From my former research, most co-housing communities have some type of required scheduled meetings, HOA type rules (and fees), etc. Some share tools. Many share garden spaces. Most share some (not all ) meals. This could be once a week or even less. If there is a guest space, there may be a limit on use, or even fees. Ultimately it is up to the community. Each community is unique.
Iāve been on committees that require āconsensusā decision making (rather than majority voting). This model takes A LOT more work (and time), but the intent is to seek solutions that are mutually beneficial. At least one community I visited works with this model.
Residents go into this knowing it takes compromise in exchange for the benefits. But I agree with you that for some, the compromises may outweigh the benefits.
Many associations have members share cost of a lawn service, rather than actually sharing equipment. Perhaps it could work similarly in these communities.
Saw this article and thought of this thread!
Wondered if anyone had thought of selling suburban home, sticking proceeds into a CD or other safe investment with, say, a 4% return, then using the interest to fund renting?
Was thinking that might provide a chance to kick the can down the road in terms of a āwhere we go nextā buying-property decision (without that sinking feeling that weād be āthrowing money awayā with rental that could have otherwise been increasing equity in prior home)?
I have a friend who did this. The profits from her house sale will fund her rent and other housing costs for about 20 years with inflation and increases considered. Since she was 78 when she did this, she felt pretty good about it. Ohā¦and no expenses related to owning a house like insurance, taxes, lawn/yard care, snow removal, and issues when something breaks. When her AC was acting funnyā¦she just called the office in her building and poofā¦they were there and fixed it.
She did, however, go from a three bedroom house to a two bedroom apartmentā¦but itās pretty spacious!
I havenāt thought of an apartment, but I have thought about selling and then being ready when we see a smaller place we like. BUT, realistically it will take months to get our house ready to sell, and havenāt really moved in that direction.
Around here right nowā¦if I sold my almost 4000 sq Ft home, I would not be able to buy a smaller one in this area for what I would get in the saleā¦and my house is fully paid for.
Great to hear about your friend, thumper1. I just wanted to know if that path made sense as an option!
Our second kid hasnāt landed where she will live post-undergrad life (which could change anyway) and hub and I have a lot of visiting/exploring to do before we settle on a future location(s).
Just thrilled to have an option in play that would at least make financial sense!
Iāve taken hub to a few apartment open houses just to see if he could envision living in a smaller space. They seemed nice & we both are pretty okay with them (thinking as an easy home base while traveling).
But heās got a garage full of professional-grade tools and equipment that would have to factor in to a future locale. 
Weāll see!
Thanks for the feedback!
We are doing this right now. Selling our 3 bedroom home of 35 years and taking the proceeds to pay rent in a smaller 2 bedroom apartment. We love the idea of never having to do home maintenance again (and the costs associated with it including property taxes). I think the money we will make on the home sale (minus all the home selling expenses - realtor fees, lawyer fess, NJ selling property tax, etc.), should last us over 10 years of rent. We have other retirement savings that we can use as well (plus at 64 we are not tapping into 401(K), pension, Social security yet.)
Interesting, kiddie! The great market right now is sure an incentive to sell.
I was actually thinking weād buy something in the future (condo? ADU near son on land he plans to buy? Not sure!).
Was thinking that in the interim the investment returns on the proceeds of the house could fund - at least? - 3/4 of the rent on an apt.
Are you guys doing that? (if you donāt mind my asking!)
Actually, I have not factored in the interest/proceeds on the home sale monies. My ten year estimate is just the amount we will get and a good guess at rent (including annual increases). We will invest the proceeds and hope to do well on that.
I have seen many older people who sold during the pandemic and got great money from the sale. They have moved temporarily into apartments, but still look to buy something. However, the buying something has proved very difficult, as they are competing with young people buying their first homes and the market has not softened (still a sellerās market).
We have actually already been living part time in the apartment we will be moving to full-time, as a trial. Testing out how we liked the place, the idea of being in an apartment, the town, etc. We have decided we really like it, so it will be an easy transition once we close on our sale, and just live there all the time.
A part time trial is a great idea! Thatās what Iām contemplating too. Am actually looking at visiting some warm weather (possible future snow-bird) locales with family this winter.
Just to get a first-step feel (also want kids to like any place weād pick so theyād visit!).
Nice that you like the apt living generally. From the few Iāve toured, it seems having a ground floor place with a little patio, nature nearby, and a quiet location would be great. Although other folks might like the urban fun experience!