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How to Advertise for Community Living: Resources Beyond Craigslist

February 18, 2014 by
Image by In 30 Minutes Guides via Flickr

Image by In 30 Minutes Guides via Flickr

So many people ask me for practical advice about shared households and how to get started. One of the biggest steps toward this goal is to spread the word about your need for like-minded people to join you on this journey.

Since there are so many possible ways to handle shared living a lot of the information will vary depending on your specific situation. For instance, if you want to purchase a home with two or three other people your relationship with them should be very different than if you were renting our rooms in an existing home. Sometimes, but not always, you will want to keep your focus local to attract people who are ready to make this change now. Other times you may want to expand your search further out from where you are now. All of these factors will play into exactly how you advertise and where.

My ideas are after the jump.

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Filed Under: Collaborative Tools, Personal Preparation, Resources for You Tagged With: ,

Business Innovation Factory Connected Aging Participatory Design Studio

December 17, 2013 by

In early November I was invited to Providence, Rhode Island to participate in a discussion with 15 others about leaving outdated concepts of aging behind.  The day long “think tank” discussion was  part of  the Connected Aging project, funded by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation with the  Business Innovation Factory.  BIF  will be completing the project with a video featuring some of us and parts of our stories as part of the project.

Photo by MeSome of the questions posed in November included:

What if we created experiences that focus on the continued pursuit of connection and purpose rather than the increasing need for monitoring and care?

 

What if we broadened the pool of possibilities for accomplishment and contribution?

What structures would support connection?

Throughout the workshop I got to know the others involved in the discussion. They included representatives from Artists and Scientists as Partners, the Time Goes By Blogger, and a Director of Elder Affairs to name of few of those assembled for the day. I felt honored to be in such great company.

The reoccurring question that we asked ourselves was:

How do I want to live my life?

I encourage you click below to learn more.

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Filed Under: Collaborative Tools, Events Tagged With: , , , , , ,

My Favorite Things: A Women for Living in Community Gift Guide

December 10, 2013 by

Tis the Season!

Blog after blog is releasing their gift giving guides and lists of their favorite things. I figured if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!

Image by Matthew Huchinson via Flickr

Image by Matthew Huchinson via Flickr

Here is a list of my favorite things that can make great holiday gifts this year for the women, and men, in your life who embrace their age. Don’t forget to put a few of these on your own wish list.

Crone Cards. This deck of cards provides wisdom right at your fingertips from elder women who represent all walks of life.

In the Arms of Elders. This part memoir, part fiction, part parable book is a great novel that highlights the dignity and value of older people.

Golden Girls DVDs. Why not give the gift of fun and laughter? The Golden Girls are an all-time favorite and provide an excellent representation of community living.

Click below for more great gift ideas! 

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Filed Under: Collaborative Tools Tagged With: , , ,

Women for Living in Community Glossary: Definitions of Common Phrases

November 19, 2013 by

photo credit: Stuck in Customs via photopin cc

One of the challenges with discussing community living options as we age is knowing whether or not we are all on the same page in the first place. Are we using the same language and talking about the same things?

If only there were some helpful definitions that we can use as tools to facilitate the conversations…

As it turns out, there are. I thought I might be able to shed a little light on the subject by providing a glossary of community related terms that can help us in our discussions.

  • Accessory Apartments. These are sometimes referred to as “mother-in-law suites.” This is a self-contained unit added on to an existing building. Accessory apartments are a great option for individuals who want to live with family or other loved ones but don’t want to share a home with them.
  • Accessory Dwelling Unit. While accessory apartments are added on to existing buildings, the accessory dwelling is a free standing home on the same property as another house. However, their function is usual the same as an accessory apartment. Elder Cottages is one company that designs and builds these structures.

Click below to read more common community living definitions.

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Social Media and Community Living: How to Connect with Like Minded People

November 4, 2013 by

I have some good news for you. Other people interested in building community are out there. Now, that is the easy part. What we all need to do next is figure out how to meet them. This is where social media can help us.

If you’re not on social media I highly suggest that you change that. These websites, like Facebook or Twitter, can help us connect not only to our friends and family but also engage in conversations about our lives with others who have similar goals and interests.

Here are four ideas for connecting with linked minded people through social media.

Facebook. A lot of people from all age groups spend time on the most popular personal networking site online. You can connect with old friends from High School and keep up with your kids and grand kids. There are also plenty of Facebook resources for connecting with others who want to live in community or explore alternatives as they age. Women for Living in Community has our own Facebook page to encourage connections and discussions. Another popular page is the Golden Girls Network.

Click below to learn more about social media and community connections.

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How do I get Started Building Community?

September 24, 2013 by

The number one question asked on this blog and social media is, “How can I start living in community?” I thought I might take some time to answer a few of those questions.

Just like good journalism, it is important to ask yourself the “5 Ws” before to create a plan to get started.

Who, What, Where, Why, and When?

Answering these 5 questions will give you a head start on the “How?”

Start with your “Why?” What purpose do you want to achieve by living in community? Is it to reduce your expenses? It is to have companionship as you age? Is it to have assistance? There are so many reasons to consider it is important to know your motivations.

The next step is to determine the “Who?” If you have been talking about this for a while, who have you spoken to about the idea? Have you noticed any sparks of interest in those conversations? Look at your extended social networks. Who thinks outside of the box? Who might be interested in this type of living situation? Think though the tangible concepts like current life situations, time and money resources, and if you can see yourself living with them.

I encourage you to click below to see more steps to take on the path toward community living.

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Filed Under: Collaborative Tools, Resources for You Tagged With: , , ,

Sharing Resources: Using a Time Bank in Your Household

September 17, 2013 by

Have you ever heard of a Time Bank?

Many communities are establishing formal time banks. At this year’s Ignite Asheville event, speaker Thomas Beckett shared some information on the concept.

The idea is pretty simple. You exchange your skills and time for other people’s skills and time. And what better way to implement this than within your community living environment.

Many of the resources you will read when it comes to time banks are about a formal establishment; however, bartering your time with that of your housemates doesn’t have to be any more formal than a verbal agreement. Consider these ways to create a time bank in your home.

Click below to read some the ways you can make this happen.

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Filed Under: Collaborative Tools, Resources for You, Shared Housing Tagged With: , ,

Share the Mission: 4 Ways to Advocate for Community Living

September 10, 2013 by

So, you want to live in community but you don’t know how to get started. I plan to provide a step by step guide to help out toward the end of this month but for now I want to share one of the most important things you can do to establish community: Advocacy. In order to attract like-minded people it is important to get the word out about what you’re doing.  Here are four ways you can advocate community living.

1. Social Media. Even if it just to look at photos from friends’ vacations or connect with your family on the other side of the country, you probably have Facebook. It is a valuable tool to use for connecting to others who have similar values. Search for groups on community living and “like” the pages. Use hashtags, or phrases that start with #, on Facebook or Twitter for your posts to be searchable by others. For instance you may say something like, “Attending a workshop on co-housing this week! #livingincommunity.”

I encourage you to click below to read more ideas on how you can advocate for living in community.

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Filed Under: Collaborative Tools, Community Anywhere, Personal Preparation, Resources for You Tagged With: , , ,

Challenges You Might Face on the Path to Community Living

August 27, 2013 by

photo credit: NCinDC via photopin cc

Anytime someone has an idea that is different than that of mainstream culture they will face some challenges from society. The good news is that humans do well in adverse situations so it is safe to buckle in and see where this road takes you. Here are 5 challenges you might face as you begin a journey toward living in community.

  • Purchasing a shared home. Living in community involves resources so you need to make sure you discuss finances with the individuals with whom you’ll be sharing a home. If you chose to pool your money to purchase a home this is doubly as important. Be sure to be thorough with your agreements and the legal language so everyone feels safe with their investment.
  • Zoning laws regarding unrelated roommates. Several years ago, here in my town of Asheville, a local homeowner came under fire by the city for renting the 8 rooms in his home. In order to establish a community household you need to be aware of the laws in your municipality regarding unrelated roommates. Unfortunately, there is not one good answer since the regulations are different from place to place. Sometimes the issue can be solved by having safety measures in place and other times it is more complex. Talk with your local government or others who have done this in your city to find out more.

Click below to read more about the challenges you may face when building community.

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Filed Under: Collaborative Tools, Personal Preparation, Resources for You Tagged With: , , ,

Settling Conflict in Community Living

July 1, 2013 by

photo credit: Aislinn Ritchie via photopin cc

It is important to understand that even with all the benefits of community living, it isn’t always a bed of roses. Conflict between adults happens, even in marriages and between friends. When it comes to living in community it is important to have a peace plan in place to settle conflict respectfully. It can be difficult to separate yourself from the situation because you and your housemates are more than just acquaintances or roommates.  Here are some ideas for dealing with conflict between women living in community.

  • Establish house rules. There are many resources available for designing roommate agreements on line. Use these and talk with your housemates to create a set of rules that will not restrict anyone’s personal freedom but will keep the home safe and orderly. For example, there may be rules about visitors, laundry, cooking, and quiet time. Many of these are common sense but having rules in writing from the beginning is important for dealing with future issues.

Click below to read more.

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Filed Under: Collaborative Tools, Graceful Aging, Personal Preparation, Resources for You, Shared Housing Tagged With: , , , ,
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