Cohousing Is an Option in a Changing Retirement World

http://www.cohousing.org/directory

Above is a link to co-housing communities by state. In my book, "The Single Woman's Guide to Retirement," I include a story from Jacque B., a single woman who moved to a co-housing community in California, Wolf Creek Lodge, after she found herself "devastatingly divorced after 30 years of marriage and desperately looking for some kind of silver lining." She loves the built-in support that co-housing provides.

There can be a "buy-in" fee associated with these communities, at least the ones I looked at, which put them out of the picture for me personally.

it would be interesting to hear how the decline (physical or mental) of community members is handled. Is "buy in" money refunded to the heirs if the person has to leave or dies shortly after moving in? if a member develops antisocial behaviors are they kicked out?

From Martha..
Your title should be "Cohousing Offers a Great Retirement Alternative; IF YOU HAVE THE $$$" Overall I've found co-housing to be the most expensive option. I've been looking at co-housing for a number of years - and while it's an interesting concept - most of the communities are "high tech" homes which makes them fairly pricey. Not sure how the "millennials" can afford them. LOL.

I am attracted to the concept of Cohousing; however as a nature lover, i'd love to see a community develop that provides more land per home as well as walking trails.

agree with ella....many baby boomers are not in the best of physical condition ...espec. women....because "fitness" as we now know it was not a lifestyle priority
...as an athlete my entire life and outdoor /nature lover I would like to see a community with similar values and lots of green space.
how about an old ranch
also small indiv houses on larger land plots i.e. sandwiched together
as a pianist I need acoustic space

comments or like minded folks welcome

Isn't a 55+ community with a community-center a form of co-housing?

Editor's comment: In a way, yes, that would be a distant form of co-housing, since that facility is shared. But cohousing facilities are cooperative at their core - much more so than almost any 55+ community. Plus, they tend to have smaller living spaces and are much more clustered.

Ella and Ingrid I’m with you. I love my animals and nature and would love to live in a community where others shared similar interests. A small cottage or cabin would be fine because I’m outdoors every minute I can be. As I get older I don’t want to have to drive to maintain social connections but I’m not willing to give up nature. I do hope there will be an affordable alternative. I’m still looking.

Kate, my thinking goes along the same lines as yours.

Now there are 4 of us - Ella, Ingrid, Virginia and me. I've looked at several cohousing developments because I like the concept. I've left each one knowing I need more space and separation. I've got a horse & a dog and want to be outdoors as much as possible. But I also want the sense of community and "family" cohousing provides. The problem is money as always. Land is increasingly expensive; architects need to be paid, etc., etc., etc. I keep hoping the right place is out there; I just have to find it. Laney

I'm right with you 4. Love to be outside, have a horse and want to be able to continue to trail ride for as long as possible,and garden. I also want a community where I know my neighbors. Currently I live where most everyone puts up those huge "privacy fences" and you only see your neighbor once a year at the most. I continue to look at cohousing communities, but can't get past the prices and affordability is a big factor. I don't care about communities that have hundreds of clubs, when I might only be interested in 5 at the most. Also do not want a bunch of picky rules, like some communities I looked into have.

Some horsey friends & I have talked about buying land (somewhere cheap) & all building houses on it. We'd probably share pastures and barn & cooperate on running the shared areas. No one has volunteered to be the front person tho so right now it's only talk.

Laney, you might look in Indiana for your land--the southern part of the state has rolling hills and is beautiful. Many Amish have left Maryland and headed to Parke County, Indiana. You will have four seasons, but the cost of living is lower than many states and the land is reasonably priced south of Indianapolis.

I'd like to keep in touch with you, Laney. Some friends & I looked at something similar to your idea, but in the end they decided they liked their current homes too much to move. Not sure how you keep in touch with someone through this website.

Ella, Ingrid, Virginia and Laney, I've been reading your thread. As a lifelong horsewoman, animal lover, and lover of the wide-open spaces myself, I suggest you might want to look into Santa Fe, New Mexico and surrounds. Another resource for aging-in-place when you are wanting to maintain your lifestyle as much as possible is the Village to Village Network. Know there is one in Santa Fe. You can learn more about it here: www.vtvnetwork.org I think you are on the right track in wanting to establish a community-type living environment where you can help each other--especially if you want to keep and care for your horses and other animals. Wishing you the very best...

Ladies just read your thread and will be following it as well. Another lifelong horse owner here with dogs too. Also agree on your comments for wide open space and access to trails. Sharing a common barn and chores sounds appealing too. I certainly want a smaller cottage house and prefer larger outdoor space. Access to decent healthcare and vet care that is not hours away is also a priority. Remote locations do not appeal to me.

If any of you horse and trail folks are interested in a central MN property...... we have a lovely place for sale with up to 16 acres available. Tell your friends, if you know of anyone. The ranch style home can accommodate a separate lower level walkout living arrangement. Huge shed too. It's not on the water, yet it is within 10 minutes of 20 different nice lakes, good veterinarians, and active horse clubs.

Nancy & others - here's some background on my discussion with friends about starting a horse co-op. We know each other because we're all endurance riders. There are FB and email groups just for endurance riders so it was easy to keep connected. The problems were that we live all over the country; are different ages (late 50s to late 70s) with different time lines; but the biggest issue was lifestyle. Some want to be at least moderately close to civilization, others want to be entirely off the grid in the back of beyond.
There are equestrian focused developments throughout the country (including one in Santa Fe, Barbara Anne). If I could find one that I could afford in a place I want to live, I'd move in a heartbeat. Still looking! Laney

Thanks Laney. I've been checking out all the horse-related communities around here also, but they all are astronomically high-priced. I've thought seriously about moving into a 55+ community closer to where I currently ride, but they continue to tear down the wooded areas and put in either commercial places or very expensive housing developments (I have no idea how they think people can afford the houses they build). and take our riding trails away.

Laney, I now have a better concept of your group, and the spectrum of its needs and wants. Two of my very good friends live with their five horses in a Santa Fe, equestrian-focused community. It is pricey. Pooling resources is a way to overcome the expense barrier, but in studying co-housing communities over the past couple years, the common thread is the importance of agreement. Those invoved in the shared living really need to be on the same page for it to work. My opinion. Please, keep us updated as your search continues. I will keep an eye out for you as I continue mine. :-)

Ella, Ingrid, Virginia, Laney, Nancy and JoannL. I so relate. Am totally an animal person, have not had horses for years but could ride (western) before I could walk, and would like to have horses back in my life. Location important only as concerns issues you have already mentioned, plus state taxes being retirement friendly and not being off the grid. A sense of community, security, trust, friends and "family" was the world I grew up in, but is not the world today. If anyone finds a place, please share.

Been following this and I am also seeking same type of situation. Proud owner of a horse, dog and 2 cats. All the communities I have looked at that even remotely have horse facilities are too expensive for me.
Definitely interested in finding some like minded women.

Ella, Ingrid, Virginia, Laney, Nancy and JoannL, Trucy and Dee, it would be nice to keep in touch to discuss this further.

Admin's is there a way for like minded people to contact each other outside of this forum?

Daisy May,

I can contact those you mentioned in your comment and they can choose to get in touch with you via email. Thanks for asking.

I am in southeast SC, near Beaufort. You women are talking about something I am interested in as well. As much as I love all animals, I have not been around horses very much. But I love all animals and my dream has been a place where people can live cooperatively, but separately, with lots of cats and dogs. Taking care of animals is what I do best. It has to be somewhere warm, as it took me 60+ years to get out of the northeast, and I plan to never be cold again. If a group of you are talking and are willing to add me to the conversation, please do: jreeseny@gmail.com. Thanks.