Women in Shared Housing Write About Their Experiences
The news is covering it, and women are writing about it, because more and more Boomer women are doing it – choosing to live with roommates in a shared housing situation. This trend is growing so fast that it’s becoming a regular feature on news and lifestyle sites. We first noticed this trend emerging onto the national news scene two years ago – in July 2014 – when CBS did a morning segment on two Boomer women in New York who were sharing an apartment, and the very next morning, NBC did a segment featuring two Boomer women roommates from Seattle.
It’s great that the media has caught onto this development among Boomer women. Even better, we women are writing about our shared housing experiences. One good book we’ve found on the subject. With A Little Help From Our Friends by Beth Baker, explores multiple options for aging well within community, including shared housing, cohousing, various “village” support programs and more.
Joan MacCracken, author of The Winter House, a personal story of one woman’s choice to live with like-minded roommates, has said it well: “It does appear that this is becoming a feminist movement of the twenty-first century.”
I live in Austin, Texas, and I am rapidly being priced out of the market for a decent 1BR in a convenient area. I am 63 years old, disabled but mobile, and I am working just about at the limit that social security allows. I am looking for intelligent, fun, friendly women to share housing/community with. My psychiatrist has been stressing this need for years. I spend way to much time alone, but I’m a little shy and won’t willing to out and do things alone. I’m really easy to get along with, love to laugh, read, create! How do I meet similar people? I have an elderly dog and two elderly cats,who won’t be around much longer. I’m ready,and willing to move, and even have ties in Playa Troncones, Mexico, very near Ixtapa/Zihuatenengo. So that’s a nice possibility. Please, I need to hear from other women in my situation! I’m willing and ready to go anywhere!!
Hi, I understand fully; just returned from Austin after spending 5 months w/my niece there … enjoyed having my own “room” but sharing evenings and weekends with what all is going on in her family, with a teen-age daughter living there and sharing 2 weekends a month with them.
I returned home to OH, sold my more space than I needed … and moved into an apt complex, all new, with all ages, LOL.
My local friends invite me to their events, and hope now with not so much to take care of, that I will be happy in my new surroundings.
Keep working on your plan … I know that you will find it.
Donna
Clearly you’re taking positive steps forward – and big ones at that. Enjoy your new lifestyle!
I’m writing from Portland Oregon, very interested to know about Playas Troncones since I would like to retire in Mexico. I always wanted to explore Ixtapa. Take care Ellen
That sounds like a cool plan! If we every hear anything about Playas Troncones, we’ll post what we find. In the meantime, you might want to check out this post we wrote earlier about retiring abroad.
Yes, saw the news article on TV about expats moving to Mexico, during the later years … they (Mexico) has a lot to offer, but be ready for health care needs when making this change. No Medicare (if over 65), but worth hearing more from you on this choice! thanks, Donna, Ohio