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.

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

Landlord by accident and Loving it

Posted on June 30, 2022 by CJ

Some say that cohousing was a transformative experience for them. For me it was a personal workshop that I would’ve preferred to have done without. However, like everything, I did develop some new skills.   Since I ran away rather quickly … Continue reading →

Posted in moving in and out of cohousing, selling house, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The C word

Posted on June 26, 2022 by CJ

I’ve been traveling a lot the past few months.  I’ve seen old friends and made new ones.  I met up with a friend, Claire, who visited me a few years ago. She had remembered, but I had forgotten, that we … Continue reading →

Posted in bad behavior and bullies of any age, group think and cults, psychopathy, narcissicism, and personality disorders in cohousing, Uncategorized | 20 Comments

My cohousing timeline with a happy ending

Posted on June 22, 2022 by CJ

Now that I signed the papers yesterday to sell my house to some new owners, I thought I would put together a timeline of my life with cohousing. 2011 – A local group did a presentation at the library about … Continue reading →

Posted in beach life, marketing in cohousing, moving in and out of cohousing, selling house, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

False Promises but realistic expectation of cohousing

Posted on June 19, 2022 by CJ

The marketing makes lots of promises with cohousing but there is only one guarantee- you get a house. You buy it or rent it, but that’s the only thing for sure. Other things you will probably get: HOA membership/fees. They … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing in cohousing, moving in and out of cohousing, selling house, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Sweet Privacy

Posted on June 18, 2022 by CJ

I have some next door neighbors that love privacy. One is super shy so I respect his need for space. We’ve had a few short conversations and I know that he prefers to be alone (doesn’t even come to the … Continue reading →

Posted in bad behavior and bullies of any age, privacy, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

Scapegoat in the Family

Posted on June 1, 2022 by CJ

One of my pet peeves is when people in cohousing call it a family. It isn’t but if you want to go there you have to be honest. There are all types of families. Some are the Brady Bunch and … Continue reading →

Posted in bad behavior and bullies of any age, group think and cults, other blogs and websites, psychopathy, narcissicism, and personality disorders in cohousing, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Guest Blog Post – I’m not the only one!

Posted on May 28, 2022 by CJ

Whenever I think I just had a “bad experience” as two cohousers have told me, I think of my friend all the way across the country. She moved into a cohousing that is over 10 years old, so mine being … Continue reading →

Posted in bad behavior and bullies of any age, control and decision making in cohousing, diversity and cohousing, group think and cults, marriage and cohousing, moving in and out of cohousing, parenting, privacy, psychopathy, narcissicism, and personality disorders in cohousing, Uncategorized | 10 Comments