Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Is Senior Cohousing for Me?/Aging in Place (Neil posting for Ann Z)

[marvin berkowitz (marvinb780]

Guess I opened up a sensitive subject.  It’s one America needs to face with an 
aging population living alone and lonely, not enough care workers, a tendency 
of adult children not to want to take on the responsibility of caring for their 
parents, and inadequate affordable housing options for those on modest fixed 
incomes.  
Marvin

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 4, 2022, at 2:52 PM, Neil Planchon <neil [at] swansway.com> wrote:
> 
> Neil posting for Ann Z zabaldo [at] earthlink.net since there I found lots 
> of goofy characters, which I removed and two signatures! Both excellent. I 
> thought one was enough though. ❤️ — Thank you :: Neil :: List manager 
> 
> -=-=-=
> 
> Hey Fred!  Good morning!
> 
> And out comes the Red Flag!  Apologies in advance to everyone.
> 
> Why is it intergenerational vs. senior cohousing?  One is not better than the 
> other.  They are just different than each other.
> 
> I was answering Marvin's question about whether cohousing would be a good fit 
> for a senior who is 83 years old and still healthy.
> 
> And, now, borrowing a phrase from my colleague, Katie Henry, I?m going to 
> throw gasoline on this smoldering fire.
> 
> We, that is, ALL of us are long overdue for a white gloves off serious 
> discussion about aging in cohousing.
> 
> Here's the gasoline:  
> 
> Ed Sutton's email coupled w/ Marvin?s along w/ an attempt to deepen the 
> discussion by Sharon and, lastly, Fred's email expose a fault line in the 
> social fabric of cohousing.  You are welcomed to stay as long as you can 
> contribute, do the majority of the work in the community for which we are 
> eternally grateful because we?d be in very sad shape without you,  but when 
> you can?t be independent you?re expected to leave.  Gracefully. No fuss.
> 
> What's amazing to me is that the seniors themselves believe they should 
> depart.  What happened to community. This is personal to me.  I've spent 23 
> years helping to build Takoma Village into the community it is now.  I am not 
> a kid person but I have supported the raising of children here.  And now at 
> the ripe old age of 72 I am facing a decision of what happens next?
> 
> We do not create life long community in cohousing.  We create a temporary 
> island that you can visit and stay for awhile but even if it's a long while ? 
> you will have to leave.  How is this helpful to evolving a different way of 
> living in the world that cohousing promises if in the end,  we just do what 
> the rest of the society does?
> 
> I have lots more gasoline to throw on this discussion.  Here's a sample:
> 
> Apologies to you, Marvin.  I fear, this is not going to be pretty.  Let me 
> say, unknowingly you have done a huge service to cohousing by opening this 
> discussion with a simple question of whether cohousing is a good fit for you. 
> Is there an intergenerational cohousing community out there for seniors 
> seeking to live in cohousing like Marvin?   If so, I am eager to hear about 
> your cohousing community, your values and your options for seniors to age in 
> your community both those who have aged w/ the community and those who seek 
> to join your community.
> 
> Of course, this potentially incredible discussion has to come along on the 
> very day and week when I?m completely booked end to end w/ meetings and 
> obligations.  :-(  I apologize.  I don?t have time to write a shorter email.  
> And I don?t have time to make it ?pretty.?  Sorry, sorry, sorry.
> 
> Since I'm the ED of Mid Atlantic Cohousing and I have access to the zoom 
> account ? I’m inviting all of you, and whomever else you think would be 
> interested, to a Zoom meeting on 
> 
> Sunday, May 1, 2022 4-6pm:  EDST
> 
> Register in advance for this meeting:
> https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctfuiqqzwqGtOwEjkKNOOp5vGBtBM1DneM 
> 
> After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing 
> information about joining the meeting.
> 
> White gloves off.  Let's get down and dirty.
> 
> PS: anyone want to help me w/ this? Let me know ASAP!
> 
> Rock n Roll!
> 
> Best --
> 
> Ann Zabaldo
> Takoma Village Cohousing
> Washington, DC
> Member, Board of Directors
> Mid Atlantic Cohousing
> Principal, Cohousing Collaborative, LLC
> Falls Church, VA
> 202.546.4654
> 
> Those without ovaries should not tell those with ovaries how to live.  
> Fallopians 5:12
> 
> NOTE: Please add my new email address to your CONTACTS list.   I'm 
> transitioning to this new email address.  Please start using annzabaldo [at] 
> me.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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