Bernice Bratter in her book “Project Renewment,’ wrote about women being more socially orientated then men. Women in general have more of a group mentality, so it isn’t surprising to learn that they are more apt to think about their futures in terms of where they will want to live.
There is a good chance that married or not, we will end up alone. The author thought that pooling resources and buying one big one story house, hiring a concierge to manage services, hiring a chauffeur to drive, and a cook to provide meal service would be the way to go. The important thing would be the companionship and support of friends living together. This means that you could surround yourself with friends rather than moving into a place with a lot of strangers. You may not think this, but people in retirement communities and in care facilities as well, can be quite “cliquey,” and they are not always as welcoming as they should be.
This would be more along the idea of communal living or a house share. Most of us resist the idea of being rounded-up and herded into senior housing projects. The idea of being told by managers half your age what you must or must not do is quite unacceptable. The other alternative to traditional nursing care is the “aging in place” model. I rather like the idea of making my own arrangements. What do you think?
The desire for women to live together is not a surprise. It is a female thing and we have been living with others for most of our lives. It also reflects the prevalent desire for alternatives to assisted living or retirement communities. It is more of an intentional community. This is not as far fetched as it might sound. The idea appeals to those who want to live with people they like, in an environment that reflect their individual personalities.
Today’s seniors are of a generation capable of creating new models for living. One day independent sororities may be a reality.
Questions designed by the author to help you decide what to do:
- What kind of housing are you in now?
- How will your current situation work for you as you age?
- What kind of changes are you going to have to make (or be willing to make) to continue in your present situation?
- How do you feel about communal living? How do feel about living with a friend or a relative?
- What is your opinion on the ideal living situation for you, as you get older?
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