It's a Movement. Join us!
This week a celebrity came to Asheville, NC, my home town. She’s a lawyer and she wrote a book that everyone should own. The Sharing Solution: How to Save Money, Simplicify Your Life & Build Community. The title says is all. Who wouldn’t want to own this book?It’s been a wild and wonderful ride since last Saturday’s show on NBC Nightly News Weekend edition. It started out with a call on my cell phone a man, Tranh Tran, with a very sexy voice, saying he was with NBC and would like to talk to me about the possibility of featuring something about the growing trend of Boomer women sharing houses. He had found my name in various places in his Google search. [Read more…]
No coffee today!
What a way to start the day! Got a bad cold and laryngitis too! Poor me. But wait ! There is a knock at my door. S. shows up to apologize for slamming the door as she takes out the recycling for pick up. Slam away, at least I don’t have to take it out in the blustery, gray and rainy morning.
Next I get a hug from S. Joining both G. and S. for coffee is offered in the common kitchen which they share, and I say “Sure!” I didn’t have to make my coffee today. Then on top of that wonderment, I got some scrambled eggs at a table with cloth napkins and some company. Couldn’t even sit and feel sorry for myself this morning.
To add to the festivities of the pre-8am goings-on (is that a Southern term?) a raccoon or some other creature had gotten into the garbage and it was strewn all over the driveway. The thought of going and picking all that up this morning overwhelmed me. Before I had a chance to grab the rubber gloves, (which I did slowly) L. was out there doing the chore of picking up after our 4-legged neighbor. Bless your heart. (Yes, that is Southern expression, I am sure).
Off went G. to give a ride to a friend with instructions to S. NOT to do the dishes. Yes, they do them by hand. I saw my opportunity to give back for the treat I had been given this morning. I did the dishes in their kitchen, as I have my own kitchen in our shared house, and felt GREAT about doing dishes. Maybe I do have a fever. The things that continue to surprise me about living in a shared house with the right folks.
Next is was helping S. off to her 17-day trip to St. Croi (sp?) for her daughter’s wedding. Don’t know that I was much help, but it felt good to try! Off she went in her little bug. It felt good to wave goodbye to her. I know that I love to have someone wave goodbye to me when I am off, especially for a long trip. Makes me feel like I have a family who will know I am gone.
Well, we have that here. A chosen family who looks out for each other, and so many little things that add up to a big feeling of comfort and love.
Who knew? I didn’t but I did dream about it. It’s reality now.
My BFF or Best Female Friend is Sarah. We have known each other for 33 years and counting. We have been through our weddings, divorces, buying houses, care giving for our parents, the death of parents, family challenges, work in Silicon Valley for years and all that took, and the escape from that Valley of horrors without too many ticks or enduring health challenges.
We moved apart, physically but never did we move apart in other ways. I can sometimes feel her when we are together on the phone. I know that I can call her no matter what is going on with me and she will be there.
I hope you all have a friend like this. I always know she will understand me.
She has shared my dream for the type of living where those of us without children (not that would secure a future) we can have fun, live surrounded by folks we love and care for and and love and care for us. That mutual support that is so important to all of us.
Sarah always got what I was talking about around this idea. We brainstormed, talked about ideas, and even looked at property. She came to visit me in North Carolina and I visited her in Santa Barbara. We looked at the many possibilities that might work. The creative process continues and the reality of that living alternative as we age together becomes visible.
Will we live together like the Golden Girls? I hope so. What a blast it would be. Having that kind of knowledge of each other, the history without the family system in place would be divine. You have a BFF you would love to have share the ride with us? Keep dreaming with Sarah and I.
Reflections of my move to my shared housing in Asheville, NC
Most moves, especially in a short amount of space, take a toll emotionally, spiritually and physically on me. This one feels so different. Why? Because I am in the place with the people in a way that feels right for me now.
I have said to anyone who would listen, that I wanted to live like the Golden Girls for the last 20 plus years. The laughter, zest for life and camaraderie really has called to me. So much so that I have encouraged others with workshops and my work on Women FOR Living in Community.
How this wonderful arrangement came about is one of the parts of the story. While I was doing “my work” and sharing my passions with women at the workshops and other related work I was also looking for my tribe, those who I would want to live with. [Read more…]
Welcome !
I am Marianne Kilkenny and I have been interested in aging in community for many years. In particular, living like the Golden Girls is the best way to describe what I have in mind. A place that provided camaraderie, zest for life and laughter that was always present in their home together.
Living in community, THE solution to the challenges and isolation of aging today.
My interest is to bring Boomer women together to bond and form connections together. You might see a theme, it’s about not waiting, but to take action now. As women, we are the ones who bring others together so it’s time now to build alliances that will give us new models to thrive in as our lives move forward into our 2nd Half of life. Whether you live with other women, your family of friends, your extended family, it’s about making it happen.
Many of us have talked about getting together and buying a big house, or sharing a space, building or retrofitting a neighborhood, or doing more than just talking about getting to know our neighbors.
The time is now. Please join us. I would love to hear what you are dreaming about, doing to build this vision into reality. We can learn from each other to form a future that encourages interdependence and trust. [Read more…]
Creating Community Everywhere Conference, Sarasota, Florida (3/2011)
Conference sponsored by the Living in Community Network as a follow on to last years conference. Marianne spoke about models and the people who are drawn to them. See short video of presentation.
Women Wanting to Live in Community- Sarasota, Florida-( 3/2010)
One day conference offered as a kick-off day to inspire movement into Sarasota to start the dreaming process about alternative housing for women. Over 72 women attended the event held on a Saturday in March, 2010 held at Unity.
WOMEN for LIVING IN COMMUNITY is able to provide conference planning in other regions of the country, as well as regional meetings designed to create connections and build local communities.
Our initial ground-breaking conference attracted over 90 women, from the United States and Canada, who listened to our conference speakers….
♥ Diana Leafe Christian, Author; and Editor, Communities Magazine
♥ Maureen K. McCarthy, Creator of the State of Grace Document
♥ Joan Medlicott, Author of the Ladies of Covington novels
♥ Dene Peterson, Founder/Developer for ElderSpirit Community
♥ Joy Silver, President/CEO RainbowVision Properties
….. and then created their own conversation utilizing Open Space Technology – a powerful tool which recognizes the experience and wisdom of each individual present.
Held in Asheville, North Carolina, the conference was an enormous success evidenced by the continuing conversations amongst those who attended and the actions that many have already taken to make changes in their lives and create their desired future.
Attendees gather to learn and share.
From Conference participants
“We came home psyched from the WLIC conference. We have been telling everyone about how well thought through, organized and hospitable your event was. The spirit of collaboration and connective-ness was always there from top to bottom! And you inspired us to meet you in kind…. Congratulations on a Wonderfully Inspiring Conference!! ”
