Flying Solo or Landing in Community? -by Lynette Reiling
I have lived alone for about 30 years. According to an AARP article, I am in good company—I am one of 21 percent of U.S. adults age 50 and older who live alone, with no one else under the same roof. And that number is steadily increasing.
Ten years ago, I began hatching a plan for aging well and aging in place. Why not buy a large home and create a community with four other women who could live with me? We would help one another, share expenses as needed, and grow older together—sort of like The Golden Girls. I even bought a great book, Your Quest for Home by Marianne Kilkenny, to help me think through the process of creating such a community.
A move to Loveland, Colorado, set the plan in motion—until I hit my first hurdle: a local regulation that did not allow more than three unrelated people to live together. Fortunately, that rule is changing in municipalities around the country as communities make room for more home-sharing opportunities.
Plan B
I eventually landed in a 1,757-square-foot townhome, flirting with the idea of manifesting my original plan on a smaller scale. That was five years ago. Today, I am working on making it a reality.
Like many others, I have felt the financial squeeze of rising housing costs. My HOA dues have reached roughly 63 percent of my monthly housing payment, with insurance costs playing a significant role in the increases. Add all the other rising costs affecting so many of us—and then throw in a job loss last April—and I am more motivated than ever to explore this option.
In the process, I discovered two great resources right here in Colorado. Sunshine Home Share, located in the Denver metro area, supports homeowners and home seekers throughout the region. Another option is Neighbor 2 Neighbor, which serves residents of Larimer County.
Both organizations work to create compatible matches based on a variety of factors, considering the needs and preferences of both homeowners and those looking to rent a room or shared space. They also provide background and credit checks to help ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.
There is also a National Shared Housing Resource Center, which provides information and connects people with home-sharing programs across the country. Currently, there are approximately 60 home-share organizations in the United States.
Why Consider Home Sharing?
For a homeowner, home sharing can provide additional income and, depending on the arrangement, help with household chores in exchange for reduced rent.
For someone seeking housing, sharing a home can offer a more affordable alternative in an increasingly expensive housing market.
For me, however, it is about more than money.
I still have my sights set on a mini–Golden Girls opportunity. Yes, sharing my home could ease some of the financial pressure. But I am also looking forward to having another person under my roof—to share a meal, exchange a laugh, lend a hand, or simply know that someone else is there.
After 30 years of flying solo, perhaps it is time to land in community.
And maybe, just maybe, growing older together can be the rule of the day.
Lynette Reiling is an author, speaker, life coach, and advocate for purposeful living in life’s second half. She is the creator of the book Your Encore Life: Take Center Stage for Life’s Second Half, where she inspires older adults to design meaningful next life chapters. Through her writing, workshops, and outreach, Lynette empowers individuals to embrace transition, lifelong learning, and personal growth as pathways to fulfillment. She is passionate about helping people turn experience into impact and live their “encore” years with intention and joy.
Learn more about Lynette at www.yourencorelifecoach.com
