 Our most recent members Mary and Lucas are relocating from New Hampshire. The above photo was taken just days after they joined Washington Commons and we can see that they are very happy. While we have speculated that cohousing can cause bouts of joy, Mary offers, "The trolls are magical."
Welcome, Mary and Lucas, and your connection to magic. We are so happy you chose Washington Commons for your next "living in community" chapter. Read their first person accounts of their journey to cohousing and West Sacramento: Lucas: To continue to grow in loving kindness is most important to me. Apart from life with Mary, I haven’t felt much sense of belonging since I left the LGBT community in Iowa City in the 1980s, and belonging is a big part of what drew me to cohousing and intentional community. I also feel drawn to social justice, diversity and the environment. I care a lot about reversing climate change, and have cut my carbon footprint in half this decade. Cutting it in half again next decade will be more challenging, and impossible while living in a single-family home! Initially I was thrown by the prices of the units at Washington Commons and by what seemed like a lack of diversity. Further research showed me that housing prices everywhere are quite high, and costs in CA are about 15% higher than in NH, where we live now. I called Shelly Parks, who was so friendly, and introduced Mary and me virtually to several members of Washington Commons community, each of whom is friendly and intriguing, and more diverse than they may at first appear in photos. On a more personal note, I play several musical instruments at the beginner or rusty intermediate level, and like the physical feeling of playing cello especially. I like to walk in the woods or along water, to ride my bike on errands and, when possible, to work. After 30 years as a family practice doc, I am switching to palliative care, drawn by the enriching conversations I have with patients who face serious illness. Mary: I’m Mary, and I’ve been involved in community for a long time. I’m the eldest of seven children, joined a convent when I was nineteen, left when I was 39, and then helped found a community of women writers in 2000. Joining Washington Commons seems like a great way to deepen the joy I feel when interacting with others. I love my work as a Humanist Celebrant, creating personalized ceremonies for life’s important moments: weddings, funerals, divorces, gender affirmations — whatever anyone would like to celebrate! I wrote An Unquenchable Thirst about my experience in the community founded by Mother Teresa, and also participated in the podcast The Turning: The Sisters who Left. Though I feel like I’m done telling this story, a television series based on the memoir and podcast is now in development. Like Luke, I’m looking forward to living in a walkable, bike-able community, and I’ve been impressed with the friendly care, personable respect, and the specialized skill of keeping meetings short and to the point that I’ve seen in our interactions with folks from Washington Commons. "When Lisa asked me if I would do the Happy Hour, I was like, "Oh no!" Then I said I would think about it. Then I said I would do it. I would do a Happy Hour as the Sicilian Julia Child, one of my all-time idols, making bruschetta. I'd do it as a hybrid in-person and Zoom presentation. The stage is set. Me, a short, Rubenesque and sarcastic Sicilian - actually Sicilian, French and Iberian (thank you, Ancestry.com) - woman, channeling Julia Child making bruschetta. One must envision me, 5'2+3/4" and very, very Rubenesque, channeling the 6'2" slim and refined Julia Child. But, alas, we both love FOOD, WINE, beer and spirits. (Story continues below photo gallery) The hour starts with me introducing the theme. Then, throughout the hour I intersperse tidbits of information about Julia Child with actual "how to" information on knife use, olive oil types and quality, coring and dicing tomatoes, different ways to dice, slice or mince garlic (garlic is its own food group), slicing and preparing the french bread, etc, etc, etc.
Did I forget to say that the in-person crew was enjoying wine and non-alcoholic drinks and tidbits of food? But, worry not, the attendees had to help put all this together. Finally, we enjoyed the bruschetta. We talked both in person and over Zoom and had a great time. Thanks to everyone who attended. I want to apologize to all of you who were not able to come in person. Soon, that will not be an issue. I love doing this stuff. A special thank you to Allyce. She makes it possible for me to do these things with her loving support." A great time was had by all as we gathered for a Happy Hour on “How to make Bruschetta” ♥️‼️Thank you, Frances (and Allyce) who graciously co-hosted the event.
WC Member Rebecca C. Ambrose (RCA) writes almost daily to the President in her blog, ”Letters to the POTUS: Encouragement to Be Your Best Self (BYBS)”. The mantra above reveals her strategy (disarm with love) and hints at her purpose in adopting this disciplined practice, first with President Trump (DJT), and continuing with President Biden (JRB). RCA calls herself a political commentator, and as such she is a model for civil discourse. She treats both Presidents with great respect, yet speaks honestly to their foibles, chiding them at times, gently, with compassion. WC members will appreciate the shared history RCA chronicles from 8/12/18 to the present. What better way to learn about a future neighbor than to read her memoir? Read the 2/25/24 entry with her idea for our community on “disagreeing better, not disagreeing less”. “Becki’s gift to WC is her courage and ability to disagree with the majority, opening our minds in the process,” noted Anne. Readers who want to know what kind of people are drawn to cohousing will find a poster child in RCA. She speaks from her Quaker upbringing which instilled the “concept of a single human family & the belief that all members of that family are equal” (9/12/23 entry). Quakers embrace a form of governance like that used in cohousing communities, seeking to honor this equality and hear all voices. Reminiscent of “the Lazlo Letters” by Donald Novello, RCA writes to the Presidents (DJT) and (JRB) offering advice, suggestions to consider situations that could use some Presidential influence, asking that he not sell weapons to any visiting heads of state and encouraging each to BYBS. She writes with wit, intelligence, honesty, and compassion. She consistently mirrors what she expects the President’s state of mind might be from the most recent events which she has researched and connects with him empathically. We get a hint of RCA’s passion for women’s equality in this 8/19/2018 excerpt (one week into this blog): I hope you are busy planning celebrations for the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote. That's going to be August 18, 2020 so you have just 2 years to plan the biggest celebration that nation has seen. You can use the $90 million that you were going to spend on the military parade on it. It would be a great project to put in Ivanka and Melania's hands. I'm happy to help. Have a great Sunday, RCA To understand RCA’s purpose in this letter writing vigil, access the last letter RCA writes to President Trump on 1/20/2020, here DJT, and the first letter to President Biden on 1/22/2020 here JRB. If you would like to read more of this historical record, access the entire archive. Learn more about the author and WC Member, Becki, here (RCA)
Each time I visit West Sacramento, I feel very comfortable there. Even though our location is considered urban, our neighborhood has a quiet and friendly hometown feeling. It feels womb-like and safely tucked away from frenetic energy of Downtown Sacramento, but we can take a short walk over the Tower Bridge to connect with the action in Sacramento whenever we want a dose of that energy.
I’m excited to be close to many mass transit options that are a short walk or drive away which will provide easy access to beautiful nature locales in the Sierra Mountains, Tahoe, and the Bay Area. Speaking as a gerontologist, the study of aging, I know how important it is to have a wide variety of quality medical care, fun activities, and exercise options close by. Research has proven that having strong social connections helps people thrive in body, mind, and spirit, and I've already experienced these benefits being a part of the WCC community for five years. At a deep level, WCC has enhanced my life beyond my wildest dreams.
Why did we do it? Here’s what drew us to this community right now:
 Patsy & Richard visited WCC in December to see firsthand how walkable our urban location is! We’re most looking forward to sharing meals, choosing and learning to ride e-bikes, leaving our car in the garage for who-knows-how-long, tackling postponed projects of writing a book (just Richard) and arts and crafts, seeing how many flowers and how much food we all can cram into the 2 raised beds on the 2nd floor deck, and having casual conversations with neighbors who want to build “community at our doorsteps.” We’ll see how our two cats, each used to their own private floor, do in a flat that’s half the size. They won’t be able to enjoy the shared material resources of the Commons, but they will have folks to feed and care for them whenever we’re away.
Meet other members of Washington Commons HERE. |
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