Samuel

Growing up in Southern California, I became jaded about its weather—perfect sunny days intermixed with predictable seasons of fire, rain, mudslides, and drought. Throw in occasional earthquakes; it is the perfect environment to train for the coming apocalypse.

Needless to say, as soon as I was able, I relocated to the Pacific Northwest, and after several more moves, here I am in Durham, NC. However, I still felt disconnected and started to wonder if the problem isn’t with me. After all, there are over 300 million people in the US, and I am fairly certain that a dozen or so are perfectly happy with where they live. So, what makes a place a home?

My feeling is that we have embraced junk values instead of what is truly meaningful. Just as junk food can make us unhealthy, junk values can lead us to be disconnected, leading us to become anxious and depressed. Just as exercise helps our body stay fit, I appreciate being exposed to alternative viewpoints so that I can refine or change my construct of the world. It is a form of mental exercise and growth for me, and joining in cohousing is part of it.

I do not expect to like everyone or agree with everything within my cohousing community, but I appreciate that we are open to discussion and the possibility for consensus. My view of cohousing is that it provides the possibility of connection. After seeing much of the world, I am ready to find my own tribe at Bull City Commons, where members value cooperation & social connections.