If there was a better choice, it's doubtful that any of us would be enthusiastic about aging in today's assisted living facilities and certainly not in the nursing homes populated by so many of our parents and grandparents. Cohousing is an option that is steadily gaining popularity with Boomers because of its emphasis on creating real community in small neighborhoods where neighbors can age in place and live independently much longer.

Kaleidoscope Village in Austin, Texas is a cohousing community that recently broke ground on their project.  In this article, Allison Allen talks to Jay Marchand, one of its founding members, about their journey and explores Jay's thoughts on community and aging in place.

We’ve all felt the surprise and amusement when a couple informs us proudly that they managed to design and build a house together without heading off to the divorce courts.  We’re laughing, but we’re laughing a little uneasily since we ‘get’ just how challenging a process it is to work with another person to accomplish that.

Well, imagine designing and building a whole neighborhood of homes with a group of total strangers.  That’s just what Jay Marchand and a group of other cohousing enthusiasts calling themselves the Central Austin Cohousing (CAC) group have done in Austin, Texas.  As of August 1, 2008 they had broken ground on Kaleidoscope Village.  It has been a long and winding road.  But, they have persevered, learned more than they ever dreamed in the process, and now the pay off for their patience and hard work is in sight!

Cohousing is a 30+ year old concept that has gained significant traction in the past few years.  Cohousing is an intentional community where residents are consciously committed to living as a community.  They actively participate in the design and operation of their neighborhood which is configured specifically to encourage and facilitate social interaction.  And, all decision making happens by consensus so it is very much a group process. For these reasons and because it can be a more affordable housing option, it has been gaining attention from Baby Boomers who are looking for a downsizing option or a way to stretch their retirement income.  

According to Craig Ragland, Executive Director of the U.S. Cohousing Association, there have been three times more cohousing communities breaking ground in the last ten years than in the previous ten before that.  Women in particular seem drawn to the idea, more so than men.  Craig speculates that it’s because by nature they are more family focused and more comfortable with process.  Boomers especially seem to be attracted to the benefits of these new community models because of the desire for:

•    Community
•    Sustainability and smaller carbon footprint
•    Ability to ‘age in place’

When WomenBloom interviewed Jay, these three reasons came up frequently in explaining why the thirty-odd members were seeking a cohousing solution like Kaleidoscope Village.  

Community:  Why Cohousing Is Different Than A Traditional Neighborhood

Many studies have found that a strong social network is a very important piece to overall emotional and physical health, especially as we age.  Cohousing communities are designed with that in mind.

I asked Jay why she thought living in a regular neighborhood wasn’t the same as an intentional or cohousing community.  After all, I thought, you could get together with your neighbors in the ‘hood, couldn’t you?  She guesses it’s partly because the people interested in cohousing by definition place a high value on community to start with.  And, since the community is run by its residents, all members have to serve in some governing capacity or on a committee.  That creates regular opportunities for interaction and getting to know one another.

And, she said CAC already has a number of interest groups forming among their members.  There are people planning on holding Spanish classes and having Spanish day in the community kitchen.  There are a number of avid gardeners.  Some folks are laying plans to save money by buying food in bulk.

The common house with its various amenities also provides another outlet for interacting with neighbors.  Jay passed on a neat turn of phrase she had heard about intentional communities, “As much privacy as you need, as much community as you want.”

Sustainability And The Economics Of Shared Living  

Some personal finance experts have sung the praises of sharing costs of living with others in order to stretch your income much further.  Kaleidoscope Village units range from 1 bedroom/1 bath to 4 bedrooms/3 baths.  Original members get a discounted price because of all the work they’ve done in the planning stages.  Currently, their price is estimated to be around $150 a square foot for a 700 square foot unit, or approximately $105,000.  Keep in mind that is a price per square foot averaging the costs larger and smaller units.  Yet, that is still a relatively low price for the area and for the amenities it includes.