THE GOLDEN YEARS

GRASS VALLEY, CALIF. -- Suzanne Marriott's brave drive into the future started with a traffic jam, which gave her a lot of time to think about what she was getting herself into -- and out of.

Newly widowed and recently retired, the lanky 64-year-old was making her way to the Sierra foothills to meet a group of complete strangers that she might just spend the rest of her life with.

Left behind in the rearview mirror was a sprawling ranch house in Castro Valley, near Oakland, that managed to be full and empty all at once, jammed with the stuff of a long, happy marriage but drained of life since the death of her husband, Michael, from multiple sclerosis six months before.

For decades, the couple, avid backpackers and mountain bikers, had wandered the world together. Now she was striking out on her own, placing big bets on the rest of her life and on a nascent movement called senior co-housing.

Marriott was betting that she could join a group of like-minded people -- all relatively healthy and not that old -- and together they could build a community that would be something between commune and condo complex.

She was wagering that they could all live there to the end without burdening family members or enduring life in an institution picked by somebody else. And she hoped they would have fun in the process.

So as Marriott navigated Interstate 80 toward her fellow pioneers in late-life living, she was more curious than terrified.

"I wanted to see if there was a way to make more meaning in my life now that Michael was gone," she said. "We'd been together 30 years. I thought I was being led to something that would be meaningful and be a way to move forward."

In the 18 months since she hit the highway, Marriott and her future neighbors have done something only a few groups of forward-thinking seniors in America have accomplished.

Along with the architects who imported the idea of cohousing from Denmark 20 years ago, they have designed their 30-unit complex from the ground up, complete with an elaborate common house where they plan to dine together several nights each week.

They've attended scores of meetings, made thousands of decisions -- all by consensus -- buried one beloved member and welcomed others. They have pledged to "support each other through rough times, whether physical, emotional and/or spiritual." They have learned how to listen and how to disagree.

And if all goes according to the meticulous planning of the 16 women and four men who have so far signed on, Wolf Creek Lodge will break ground in spring here in the heart of Gold Country. It will be California's second elder cohousing community and only the fourth such project nationwide; a dozen or so others are in the works.

"Many people don't have an extended family, or it's an extended dysfunctional family," Marriott said. "We'll have this close community for, well, the rest of our lives."

'A team sport'

The idea of cohousing was born in Denmark in the 1960s and imported to the United States nearly three decades later by Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant, husband and wife architects from California who have written extensively on the topic.

There are about 100 multi-generational cohousing communities in the United States -- more in Northern California than anywhere else -- and they usually consist of town houses or separate residences built around a common house and shared open space, Durrett said.

The basic premise of cohousing -- that life is better together than apart -- is an even neater fit for people as they age, because "aging is a team sport," said Dr. Bill Thomas, geriatrician and author of "What Are Old People For?" But cohousing communities specifically geared for seniors are just beginning to take off.

"For a long time, the team was your blood kin. Now the team, more and more, is going to be the people with whom we choose to live," Thomas said. "Elder cohousing is a response to the fading away of our traditional understanding of family and care-giving."

It is also a search for the elusive ideal of community: that remembered or dreamed-of network of people who won't cramp your style but will make sure you're OK as you grow up or grow old.

In fact, many of Wolf Creek Lodge's members, who live throughout Northern California and Washington, were drawn to cohousing after watching friends or relatives founder alone at the end of their lives and deciding they wanted better for themselves.

Butch and Virginia Thresh, both 69, live on 15 acres in rural Nevada County. They chop wood for heat, revel in the peace and quiet of their isolated hilltop homestead and have no intention of hanging up their hiking boots, bicycles and petanque equipment.

But after reaching 65, they began to wonder what would happen if one of them became disabled. Then one day, Butch was out fixing up a house they own in Grass Valley. Their elderly tenant had called four months earlier and said his wife had died and he needed to move.

As Butch labored away, Virginia recalled, "the neighbors came by and said, 'What are you doing here?' They didn't even know the wife had died or the husband had moved. We don't want that."

The Threshes each have two children from previous marriages, and "they all think it's a good move," Virginia said.

What they do want, her husband said, is to live in a place where "if you break a hip, your neighbors will help you buy groceries. . . . We're trying to re- create the neighborhood, so the neighbors will look out for you."

The process has been a lot of mostly enjoyable work, from the first two-day meeting of potential residents in June 2006 to the current tussling over a proposal to ban smoking complex-wide. (What about private property rights? Chemical sensitivities? Medical marijuana?)

All About

La Paz

La Turquesa

Los Planes

La Ventana

El Sargento

Agua Amarga

Guadalajara

Los Barriles

Vacation

Spa Opportunity

The Golden Years
Shared Living

Partial Ownership

Mining

Early lessons

One of the first lessons was how to reach consensus, which is a lot harder than simple democracy. Everybody has to either agree with a decision or at least be able to live with it, and a single dissenter can bring the process to a standstill.

One early -- and easy -- choice was the name, inspired by the creek that borders the 7.9 woodsy acres where the complex will be built, just a short walk from a post office, grocery stores, restaurants and gourmet coffee.

Also simple -- though legion -- were the environmentally conscious decisions the members made to ensure their new home's sustainability. No old-growth trees would die as it was built. Only the common house would have air conditioning.

A third of the acreage would remain in a natural state. Low-toxicity materials would be used whenever possible. Gray water would be recycled for nondrinking purposes. Landscaping would be indigenous and drought-resistant.

Although the idea of a Sierra summer without cold air on demand makes Mari Kobus, 61, "a little nervous," she said, she is very proud of her new home's deep green pedigree.

"All of us," she said at a recent group potluck, "are committed to living more lightly on the environment."

Such complex decisions were a snap compared with writing the Wolf Creek Lodge pet policy, which took weeks of discussion in person and online. The joy that animals can bring was weighed against their potential for destruction, noise against security. Quantity was a serious sticking point.

In the end, the group decided on two pets per unit and nothing too exotic. But the policy is flexible enough so the falconer who is thinking about moving in would be welcome. Along with his hawk.

Exceptions will be considered case by case. Said Marriott: "We don't want to exclude someone on the basis of an extra cat."

Although the financial details won't be firmed up until construction begins, the units are expected to run from about $200,000 for those designated affordable to $500,000. Seventeen have already been sold, and the project's marketing committee is seeking new members.

The complex is designed for adults, and there are no child-friendly amenities, although grandchildren are welcome and a multi-generational cohousing project is planned for the same property.

So far, the denizens of Wolf Creek Lodge are decidedly 21st century seniors. The common areas of their new home will include an espresso bar, a hot tub and a computer room. The residents communicate via listserv and e-mail and chide their future neighbors who don't bother to sign on often enough.

The complex will also have two guest suites and a unit that could be used for a shared caregiver, because these women and men are nothing if not pragmatic.

They have no plans to slow down any time soon, but they realize that someday they'll be glad their doorways were designed to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers.

They have also faced the reality that there may come a day when some of them will need the kind of intensive care provided by nursing homes.

But they are betting that Wolf Creek Lodge will accommodate them through, say, cancer or heart disease, the kinds of ailments that require some skilled assistance on a regular basis and a cadre of supportive neighbors nearby.

"My preference is to die at home with hospice," said Virginia Thresh, which would be possible at Wolf Creek Lodge. But "I am not at all thinking that if I'm really in need of 24-hour care, it will happen in cohousing."

Questions ahead

Elder cohousing in America is so new that little is known about how it will actually work when residents become old and frail and ill.

This country's first two elder cohousing complexes opened their doors two years ago, Durrett and other experts said. Residents of the third moved in late this fall. Only one person has died in such a community in the U.S. And only one has been institutionalized for dementia.

Both were residents of Glacier Circle in Davis, near Sacramento, where most of the members have known one another for the last 40 years and belong to the same Unitarian Universalist church. The average age of the residents who moved into the complex when it opened in late 2005 was 80.

Glacier Circle resident Ellen Coppock, 81, says residents there have only one regret: "We all wish we'd started five years earlier."

The future residents of Wolf Creek Lodge are at a distinct advantage in that respect. Although they range in age from 59 to 84, most are in their 60s.

And that, said Marriott, is "the whole point."

"The idea is to make lifestyle choices now that can sustain you through your future but which provide a lot of fun," she said. "The idea is to maintain control over your own life as long as possible."

HOME

FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP SHARED HOUSING SHARED FUTURE		Relax, enjoy: Today is the first day of the rest of your life
THE GOLDEN YEARS AND WHERE TO SPEND THEM After visiting the homes of some of the residents, Margaret Ritchie said: “Over the years Northern Ireland has come to accept as normal, a society where most people live separately and where our children are educated separately. This division and segregation through housing, employment and in schooling has come at a high price for the whole community. “We need to change this. We need to see more shared housing and shared education. I want to do everything I can to encourage a peaceful, inclusive society. Imagine a cluster of ten to twelve living units in a heavenly setting. In that you will find access to the Sea of Cortez, the Sun and Air of year-round temperate weather. Meals can be taken in the individual units but there is a central eating, lounging and recreation area. There are exercise and activity facilities, a communal hot tub and plenty of planned, pre-arranged activity or quiet retreats where one can be safely alone. All this developed to provide healthy, wholesome, comfortable living for people with limited physical capacity and little fixed income. You own this along with your own private quarters. Help is plentiful and cheap. Trips out are frequent and entertaining. How much you can charge depends upon the market you target and how you get your clients. It is there to be had: Money, Retirement, Pleasure, Rest, Quiet, Comfort and Healthful. Let's talk about a partnership or whole ownership for you, your friends and neighbors. Check out the idea and the potential market. READ THE THIRD COLUMN The population is growing older. There are complex and personal reasons for many to seek Shared Living. Where in the world besides Mexico can you get friendlier attendants, more dedicated people, ample good good, great weather and facilities at such reasonable prices? The answer is MEXICO IT THE PLACE. All the comforts of home. Why can we do this? Because we have the land cheap, the labor pools is of willing people who need the work. Construction costs are a small percentage of what IMPORTANT LINKS National Association OLDER PEOPLE LIVE LONGER COMMUNITY BUILDING RESOURCES BACKGROUND AND OPTIONS For a growing number of persons faced with losing their independence and struggling to keep housing costs within their budget, shared housing is an affordable and viable alternative. A home sharer might be a senior citizen, a person with disabilities, a working professional, someone at-risk of homelessness, a single parent, an AIDS patient, or simply a person wishing to share his or her life and home with others. For these people, shared housing offers companionship, affordable housing, security, mutual support and much more. Shared living has been known to enhance the health and well-being of all people and allows a person to remain independent in their home. Home Sharing also preserves neighborhoods, creates an affordable housing and saves housing and healthcare dollars. Shared housing programs fall into one of two categories: Match-up programs, which help home providers find a compatible home seeker to pay rent or possibly provide services in exchange for a reduction in rent; and shared living residences, which involve a number of people living cooperatively as an unrelated family in a large dwelling. *Shared Living is for You!* OR IS IT? Would you enjoy a home with: Fully furnished living room, dining room, and laundry area; Completely equipped kitchen, including dishwasher; Raised gardening area; Your own private bedroom. More or Less Just a room with a bath. Food in a common area, Library, game room, recreation facilities, and lots to do? COHOUSING Coop Living Cohousing communities combine the advantages of private homes with the benefits of more sustainable living, including shared common facilities and ongoing connections with neighbors. These intentional neighborhoods, created and managed by residents, offer an innovative solution to today's environmental and social challenges	SHARED LIVING FOR ELDERS A Profitable Business Seniors are beginning to see the advantages of shared-living complexes. By Maria L. La Ganga, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer December 23, 2007 GRASS VALLEY, CALIF. -- Suzanne Marriott's brave drive into the future started with a traffic jam, which gave her a lot of time to think about what she was getting herself into -- and out of. Newly widowed and recently retired, the lanky 64-year-old was making her way to the Sierra foothills to meet a group of complete strangers that she might just spend the rest of her life with. Left behind in the rearview mirror was a sprawling ranch house in Castro Valley, near Oakland, that managed to be full and empty all at once, jammed with the stuff of a long, happy marriage but drained of life since the death of her husband, Michael, from multiple sclerosis six months before. For decades, the couple, avid backpackers and mountain bikers, had wandered the world together. Now she was striking out on her own, placing big bets on the rest of her life and on a nascent movement called senior co-housing. Marriott was betting that she could join a group of like-minded people -- all relatively healthy and not that old -- and together they could build a community that would be something between commune and condo complex. She was wagering that they could all live there to the end without burdening family members or enduring life in an institution picked by somebody else. And she hoped they would have fun in the process. So as Marriott navigated Interstate 80 toward her fellow pioneers in late-life living, she was more curious than terrified. "I wanted to see if there was a way to make more meaning in my life now that Michael was gone," she said. "We'd been together 30 years. I thought I was being led to something that would be meaningful and be a way to move forward." In the 18 months since she hit the highway, Marriott and her future neighbors have done something only a few groups of forward-thinking seniors in America have accomplished. Along with the architects who imported the idea of cohousing from Denmark 20 years ago, they have designed their 30-unit complex from the ground up, complete with an elaborate common house where they plan to dine together several nights each week. They've attended scores of meetings, made thousands of decisions -- all by consensus -- buried one beloved member and welcomed others. They have pledged to "support each other through rough times, whether physical, emotional and/or spiritual." They have learned how to listen and how to disagree. And if all goes according to the meticulous planning of the 16 women and four men who have so far signed on, Wolf Creek Lodge will break ground in spring here in the heart of Gold Country. It will be California's second elder cohousing community and only the fourth such project nationwide; a dozen or so others are in the works. "Many people don't have an extended family, or it's an extended dysfunctional family," Marriott said. "We'll have this close community for, well, the rest of our lives." 'A team sport' The idea of cohousing was born in Denmark in the 1960s and imported to the United States nearly three decades later by Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant, husband and wife architects from California who have written extensively on the topic. There are about 100 multi-generational cohousing communities in the United States -- more in Northern California than anywhere else -- and they usually consist of town houses or separate residences built around a common house and shared open space, Durrett said. The basic premise of cohousing -- that life is better together than apart -- is an even neater fit for people as they age, because "aging is a team sport," said Dr. Bill Thomas, geriatrician and author of "What Are Old People For?" But cohousing communities specifically geared for seniors are just beginning to take off. "For a long time, the team was your blood kin. Now the team, more and more, is going to be the people with whom we choose to live," Thomas said. "Elder cohousing is a response to the fading away of our traditional understanding of family and care-giving." It is also a search for the elusive ideal of community: that remembered or dreamed-of network of people who won't cramp your style but will make sure you're OK as you grow up or grow old. In fact, many of Wolf Creek Lodge's members, who live throughout Northern California and Washington, were drawn to cohousing after watching friends or relatives founder alone at the end of their lives and deciding they wanted better for themselves. Butch and Virginia Thresh, both 69, live on 15 acres in rural Nevada County. They chop wood for heat, revel in the peace and quiet of their isolated hilltop homestead and have no intention of hanging up their hiking boots, bicycles and petanque equipment. But after reaching 65, they began to wonder what would happen if one of them became disabled. Then one day, Butch was out fixing up a house they own in Grass Valley. Their elderly tenant had called four months earlier and said his wife had died and he needed to move. As Butch labored away, Virginia recalled, "the neighbors came by and said, 'What are you doing here?' They didn't even know the wife had died or the husband had moved. We don't want that." The Threshes each have two children from previous marriages, and "they all think it's a good move," Virginia said. What they do want, her husband said, is to live in a place where "if you break a hip, your neighbors will help you buy groceries. . . . We're trying to re- create the neighborhood, so the neighbors will look out for you." The process has been a lot of mostly enjoyable work, from the first two-day meeting of potential residents in June 2006 to the current tussling over a proposal to ban smoking complex-wide. (What about private property rights? Chemical sensitivities? Medical marijuana?) All About La Paz La Turquesa Los Planes La Ventana El Sargento Agua Amarga Guadalajara Los Barriles Vacation Spa Opportunity The Golden Years Shared Living Partial Ownership Mining Early lessons One of the first lessons was how to reach consensus, which is a lot harder than simple democracy. Everybody has to either agree with a decision or at least be able to live with it, and a single dissenter can bring the process to a standstill. One early -- and easy -- choice was the name, inspired by the creek that borders the 7.9 woodsy acres where the complex will be built, just a short walk from a post office, grocery stores, restaurants and gourmet coffee. Also simple -- though legion -- were the environmentally conscious decisions the members made to ensure their new home's sustainability. No old-growth trees would die as it was built. Only the common house would have air conditioning. A third of the acreage would remain in a natural state. Low-toxicity materials would be used whenever possible. Gray water would be recycled for nondrinking purposes. Landscaping would be indigenous and drought-resistant. Although the idea of a Sierra summer without cold air on demand makes Mari Kobus, 61, "a little nervous," she said, she is very proud of her new home's deep green pedigree. "All of us," she said at a recent group potluck, "are committed to living more lightly on the environment." Such complex decisions were a snap compared with writing the Wolf Creek Lodge pet policy, which took weeks of discussion in person and online. The joy that animals can bring was weighed against their potential for destruction, noise against security. Quantity was a serious sticking point. In the end, the group decided on two pets per unit and nothing too exotic. But the policy is flexible enough so the falconer who is thinking about moving in would be welcome. Along with his hawk. Exceptions will be considered case by case. Said Marriott: "We don't want to exclude someone on the basis of an extra cat." Although the financial details won't be firmed up until construction begins, the units are expected to run from about $200,000 for those designated affordable to $500,000. Seventeen have already been sold, and the project's marketing committee is seeking new members. The complex is designed for adults, and there are no child-friendly amenities, although grandchildren are welcome and a multi-generational cohousing project is planned for the same property. So far, the denizens of Wolf Creek Lodge are decidedly 21st century seniors. The common areas of their new home will include an espresso bar, a hot tub and a computer room. The residents communicate via listserv and e-mail and chide their future neighbors who don't bother to sign on often enough. The complex will also have two guest suites and a unit that could be used for a shared caregiver, because these women and men are nothing if not pragmatic. They have no plans to slow down any time soon, but they realize that someday they'll be glad their doorways were designed to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. They have also faced the reality that there may come a day when some of them will need the kind of intensive care provided by nursing homes. But they are betting that Wolf Creek Lodge will accommodate them through, say, cancer or heart disease, the kinds of ailments that require some skilled assistance on a regular basis and a cadre of supportive neighbors nearby. "My preference is to die at home with hospice," said Virginia Thresh, which would be possible at Wolf Creek Lodge. But "I am not at all thinking that if I'm really in need of 24-hour care, it will happen in cohousing." Questions ahead Elder cohousing in America is so new that little is known about how it will actually work when residents become old and frail and ill. This country's first two elder cohousing complexes opened their doors two years ago, Durrett and other experts said. Residents of the third moved in late this fall. Only one person has died in such a community in the U.S. And only one has been institutionalized for dementia. Both were residents of Glacier Circle in Davis, near Sacramento, where most of the members have known one another for the last 40 years and belong to the same Unitarian Universalist church. The average age of the residents who moved into the complex when it opened in late 2005 was 80. Glacier Circle resident Ellen Coppock, 81, says residents there have only one regret: "We all wish we'd started five years earlier." The future residents of Wolf Creek Lodge are at a distinct advantage in that respect. Although they range in age from 59 to 84, most are in their 60s. And that, said Marriott, is "the whole point." "The idea is to make lifestyle choices now that can sustain you through your future but which provide a lot of fun," she said. "The idea is to maintain control over your own life as long as possible." Contact Us HOME	THE APPEAL OF SHARED FUTURE FACILITIES DO NOT THINK IT IS JUST FOR ELDERS. ALL THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE AREA ARE GREAT DIVERSION AND LIVING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Watch for an announcement presenting our plans for the younger folks
		Escape Financial Burdens There is a place where all your resources do not to into housing, heating, insurance and health care. There is a place where you can be with people who care for you and whose very existence depend upon your being happy. Imagine a small initial payment with fixed monthly payments for your housing and your food and your personal attendant. Imagine having a place where love ones can live and be happy, occupied, happy and protected with their own private home and private things around them; having someone who checks on the frequently and sees to their personal needs. Imagine the relief of having this care taken care of to your standards and demands. You want to know your loved ones are cared for but your job, your children and your own personal needs do not allow you to care for them personally... and besides, there just is not enough money to do it right in the United States where costs are high. You cannot get the help, you do not hve the emotional or physical strength to deal with their every need. YOU WANT THEM TO HAVE THE BEST AND BE WHERE YOU KNOW THEY ARE COMFORTABLE AND CARED FOR. You want to now you can see them when you wish and when you can. There is no other member of the family who can do it or will not do it. You want help and answers. They have their Social Security and perhaps a little more or money to you is not the object. Then consider the BEST alternative where love and care are available. The idea of Shared living has occurred to you, or maybe it has not. But the idea is sound and you should explore it. BE FREE We can tailor a program to fit your needs: A single room, a shared room, meals, recreation needs, medical care, personal care... what ever the need. We will address them with you. The atmosphere is clean, healthy, comfortable, friendly and affordable. THINK FOR YOURSELF You do not want to be the 5th wheel, the old man or old woman in the back seat; being a burden or hassle for your kids and grand kids or wanting a little space of your own. You have a little money and a little retirement and Social Security. What can you do? You like to be alone or love talking to people your own age. You like quiet times, quiet games and your kind of activity... You NAME it. In our Shared Living cottages, you go and come as you please. You swim or fish, you sew or you read, your walk or you talk, you sail or kayak, you do what YOU want to do and it is all provided at a fixed cost For More Opportunities: La Paz La Turquesa Los Planes La Ventana El Sargento Agua Amarga Guadalajara Los Barriles Vacation SHARED COSTS HOME Related and Helpful links: Fractional Ownership in Wikipedia A CNN Feature on Fractional Ownership Feature on Second Home Values The Wise Geek on Fractional Ownership Home financing in Mexico Yes, You can own in Mexico Great Information about Living in Mexico Remember that in our plan, you are always in charge of your home and we are there to help. Your privacy is maintained and guaranteed. Flexibility in design is a major factor in our program • Using universal design, each living space can transition from a home for an active lifestyle to one that supports progressing needs for accessibility. • Common areas, indoors and out, are designed to provide easy access and recreation for all levels of physical ability. • Studio residences can be included in a community’s common house to provide living quarters to home health aides whose services may be shared by several residents, allowing members to remain at home for all but major medical emergencies.