a home away from home

hi. i will be starting college this fall, but i won't be living on campus-i'm going to be a commuter :-( when i was younger and dreamed of going to college, i always pictured myself living in a dorm and making so many great new friends. i have heard so many stories about sororities and how great they are because it is a home away from home and it's like a second family. so, my question is, is there anyone here in a sorority or frat who doesn't live on campus and just commutes to school? i was just wondering what it's like for you. i know you don't have to live on campus to be in a sorority, but i kind of wish i was. is college life the same if you don't have all the freedom of living without your parents for the first time?