Author Archives: CJ

About CJ

I was a Spanish teacher for 5 years in the Public School system in 3 different states. I homeschooled and taught at a democratic free school. I heard about cohousing in 2010 and wanted to move in right away. I met a group building one in 2018 and got to move in the summer of 2019. It only took a year to want out.

We Need a Little Christmas Now, according to Cotsco

Posted on August 26, 2022 by CJ

I went to Cotsco yesterday and I haven’t been in awhile but there it was – a few Christmas items. Just a little. Some ribbons and a frosty tree decoration and a Disney village figurine of snow and all. Just … Continue reading →

Posted in death and mourning, grief and grieving, Holidays, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Why you shouldn’t tell someone to just move on

Posted on August 21, 2022 by CJ

I had never had narcissistic abuse until I moved into cohousing. There was a big one who controlled the whole narrative and changed the focus from her family’s appalling behavior to my attempt of helping them and the community. So, … Continue reading →

Posted in bad behavior and bullies of any age, grief and grieving, group think and cults, other blogs and websites, psychopathy, narcissicism, and personality disorders in cohousing, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

What do 3rd Rock from the Sun and Dirty Dancing have in common?

Posted on August 20, 2022 by CJ

(hint: it’s not Wayne Knight) I got caught. I was at the beach and a neighbor saw me on my phone instead of enjoying nature.  I know I think snide thoughts when I see others doing that but in my … Continue reading →

Posted in beach life, movies about neighbors or community, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Ways to meet your neighbors

Posted on August 18, 2022 by CJ

Who knew that my home insurance could have such an interesting blog? Here are tips for those of us in the real world on how to meet our neighbors. If we want to!!! Cohousing is not the only solution to … Continue reading →

Posted in other blogs and websites, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

The Anarchists on HBO and The Deep End on Hulu

Posted on August 16, 2022 by CJ

Sometimes shows can capture what life is like living in a forming community. HBO has a documentary called The Anarchists about a group of, you guessed it, anarchists organizing a conference and living in Acapulco, Mexico.  This show demonstrates exactly … Continue reading →

Posted in bad behavior and bullies of any age, group think and cults, living in community, movies about neighbors or community, psychopathy, narcissicism, and personality disorders in cohousing, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Summer travels and somethings stuck in the chimney and I don’t know what it is

Posted on August 12, 2022 by CJ

Summer is almost over. For me, and most kids, summer ends when school starts. So, I thought I’d tell the tale of our travels.  My son on the autism spectrum, age 17, decided he was only happy traveling and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

need for support during grief

Posted on July 24, 2022 by CJ

This article is interesting – how in this country we need more support for those who are grieving instead of putting it all on the person. I know I grieved a lot the loss of the dream of cohousing. Luckily … Continue reading →

Posted in grief and grieving, other blogs and websites, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Real humans

Posted on July 17, 2022 by CJ

I saw the above quote yesterday on Facebook. I cant’ stop thinking about it.  If 98% of a cohousing community ignores you what does that say about them?  I tried talking to each person about what happened and my choices … Continue reading →

Posted in bad behavior and bullies of any age, group think and cults, marketing in cohousing, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

My money pit or ours?

Posted on July 12, 2022 by CJ

I’m starting to regret selling my house in cohousing. It was a nice, new construction so my life as a landlord was easy. No repairs, nothing. Now I don’t’ even have renters in yet and the AC broke and I … Continue reading →

Posted in control and decision making in cohousing, selling house, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

I Don’t Speak IKEA

Posted on July 4, 2022 by CJ

I went into an IKEA for the first time ever yesterday.  It is a completely new world and experience. My brother loves it and says he and his young kids spend the whole day there.  I see there is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments