pat-- I moved to Yulupa Cohousing when I had sold my house with the intention of down-scaling and simplifying my life, and had long been intrigued by the idea of co-housing. I love knowing the people who live here, working with them to achieve consensus, to respect one another, to share things and work that is best done together. I enjoy working with others and getting to know them that way, and I like being part of a community that challenges me to live more respectfully of the environment and of others.

     I’ve recently retired from parish ministry. Now I have new opportunities to explore different ways to live my life faithfully. And, I’m enjoying more time spent with my family, my sons and their families, and, especially with my grandchildren. I wake up grateful every morning and go to bed on the same note.

kai  & nick--As a single parent, I became involved in Yulupa to provide a community of support and growth for myself and my son, an extended family.  From working with collectives before, I also liked the idea of learning to live with others, and the challenges that that brings.  I work long hours as a family medicine doctor, so the home-cooked meals 3 times a week are a delicious blessing.  I hopped a freight train when I was younger and helped start a women’s health center in Santa Cruz.  Spare time involves tutoring at my kid’s school, art projects, movies, trying to exercise, and spending time with my son.  I recommend The Kite Runner--book and movie--by Khalil Kasani. 

[Kitchen, Parents, Coordinating Committees].

michael-- I am the viticulturist at a vineyard in Rutherford where we have incorporated biodynamic farming.  Maria-Jesus and I lived in Spain for 8 years prior to this, working in wineries, and making organic wines.  Although I grew up in San Jose, California, I feel more attached to the pueblo (small village) in Spain where we lived.  It felt like home, as the neighbors all knew each other and helped each other.  I hope that Yulupa Cohousing can become a pueblo.  [Garden, Legal Committees]

maria-jesus--I am fron Madrid, Spain where most of my family still lives.  I came to California to work as a bilingual kindergarten teacher in Compton.  I then moved to Davis for a degree in Enology and Viticulture and met Michael there.  We lived in Spain for awhile before returning to Yulupa.  We have practiced Tai-Chi, painting, ceramics, weaving, traveling, and winemaking together.  [Kitchen-Common House, Parents Committees]

Francisco is bilingual, and home-schooled.  He loves music, drumming, and playing with the other kids here.

thea--Living in community has meant different things at different times in my life. As a child New York, my family belonged to a Danish beach club.  We shared food, aquavit, language, and multi-generational celebrations.  Politics, folk dancing and women’s groups in the 70’s and 80’s introduced me to consensus, diversity, personal exploration and recycling.  When I lived in Oakland in the 70’s, everyone on the block knew each other by name.  We had block parties and neighborhood watches, and the kids played together.  My lifetime career in sales is winding down.  My daughter has finished college and is out on her own.  I enjoy cooking for lots of people and a book club.  [Legal, Kitchen-Common House, Tasks, Facilities, Coordinating Committees]

alexandrA --  Michael and I were part of the design and development team that guided Yulupa Cohousing into existence.  Cohousing provides a really important social function by providing personal contact with neighbors and a sense of sharing and caring for one another.  I am a fiber artist (weaving, embroidery, clothing design) and enjoy reading and going to hot springs.  I recommend Shasha Biges does dance about costume design and creation.  I’d like to see us have more space for growing our own food and more space for the kids to play in.  [Heart Team, Facilitation]

marguerite-- Cohousing is instant neighborhood! Surprisingly, there are quite a few self-confessed “introverts” living here--I am one of them.  I love my private space, but I also really like getting to know my neighbors and their children. Both of these things are possible here. I like that we are willing to work things out when there are problems.  In the past I have scripted, produced and directed a TV commercial, a video documentary and two training videos for local businesses. I am now adjusting to retirement, doing art, journaling, grandparenting, and going to the movies.  I recommend “The Movies that Changed Us" by Nick Clooney (George's dad) and “The Man Who Talked to Horses”, Monty Roberts, the original horse whisperer, who still tours giving demos of non-violent training of horses.  I enjoy doing QiGong in the Common House.

jonatha--I came to co-housing as a renter in Forty Oaks, a community near Petaluma. It felt like home and my experiences there taught me a great many things about the rewards and challenges of living in a cohousing community.  My career has spanned teaching art, being a children’s book buyer for a local bookstore, and now teaching developmentally disabled adults at Becoming Independent (BI).  BI recently opened an art gallery featuring art work done by BI clients.  I love gardening, kayaking, cooking, dancing and almost any creative project I can get my hands on (ceramics, knitting, felting, and tiling being the “favs”). I’ve lived in Chicago, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and New York.  Both my kids live in the Bay Area and I love still being referred to as the “cool” mom.

dave grew up in the burbs around Vancouver, BC. He was always a math, science, and engineering kind of guy. He took it a bit to the extreme, studying physics and staying in school for a long (OK, too long) time. As a reward, he gets to do science and engineering every day, and get paid for it! Dave loves cycling and telling jokes (some of them are actually funny!). He’ll do math for fun, loves chess, and will talk about physics until your eyes glaze over. Overall, Dave is a nerd.  [Finance, Parents Committees]

lori was a pastor’s kid who lived all across North America growing up.  She started in Chicago, moved to Vancouver, BC and then to Lexington, KY.  She ultimately returned to Canada to attend Trinity Western University where she studied English and History leading to a degree in Education. She loves music and drama and is often found in the presence of many children.  She carries her love of children into her work life where she is a primary school teacher.  [Parents Committees]

Dave & Lori met while counsellors at a church children’s camp. Sometimes it feels like they haven’t stopped living that camp counselor role. They love having fun with everyone in the community and also enjoy being active in their local church.

emma loves art, music and hanging out with her friends.  She enjoys playing the piano and the flute and is learning guitar.  If she has free time she will often be found with her nose in a book.  Emma has a great sense of humor and loves to tease or play jokes on people.  As the first born, she likes to be the leader or ‘boss’ of her brothers.

isaac loves to play slam ball, football, and baseball.  He is learning to play piano and wants to play the violin and he loves to dance.  Isaac loves to write, he has a good memory and math is his best subject.  Isaac especially loves to play board games and wrestle with his brother or dad.  He also has a good sense of humor and loves to tell a good joke and he is very silly.

nicolas loves to do ‘homework’ like his big brother and sister and is always trying to do everything they can do.  He loves to read and enjoys playing games with Emma, Isaac, and other community kids.  Nicolas also likes to joke around and wants to be the center of attention.  He may be the third child, but he is no pushover.  He is very assertive and will make his presence known in most situations.

constance--Estoy aprendiendo español para ir a España en seis meses! Me incanta flamenco! Todo la communidad van a aprender flamenco cuando regreso.  I went to Argentina 3 times in 1 year to dance the tango.  Work at an urgent care clinic and doing house calls, along with dancing keeps me busy.  I recommend Sicko by Michael Moore which has some good points about the health care system despite being Michael Moore.  I’d like to see a monthly Milonga, a tango party, at YCH.      [Membership, Garden, Green Team]

eloise, lindsey, kirsten:  I was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, the “Berkeley of the Midwest”.  I recall the student demonstrations of the 1960’s and arguments about Nixon’s involvement in Watergate.  As a middle child of six, I learned how to live in community, which is what I like about cohousing.  I’ve done human resource management (community mediation/conflict resolution, international leadership development, and now helping families find placement in assisted living.  I have 2 adult daughters, one on her way to veterinary school in Scotland.  I am also a peace activist and founding member of Code Pink Women for Peace in Marin-Sonoma counties.  I love outdoor photography, sports, and am on a masters’ synchronized swim team.   [Membership Committee, Heart Team]

blair--Music is a big part of my life.  I love rock, jazz, and classical, and play guitar--mostly self taught.  I love cats especially and volunteer at the Humane Society.  I graduated from Skyline Junior College, and am finishing studies in graphic arts at SR Junior COllege where they have an excellent department for learning disabilities.  I enjoy lifting weights, running and hiking, especially in nearby Annadel State Park.  I have a 2nd degree black belt in Karate and am currently training in Aikido.  I have some dysphasia – difficulty processing receptive and expressive language – as a result of Aspberger’s (high functioning autism).  Because of this, it also takes me longer to establish relationships. Therefore, I like making new friends and living in a bigger immediate community group. I participate in committees and meetings to the best of my ability--I just need more time to pick up on the information.

Ed:  I like the social interaction, that the community prevents isolation.  I’m a retired accountant who likes traveling and watching my young grandson.  I went to Woodstock in 1969 and to the March on the Pentagon in 1967.  I volunteer at the food pantry, am in Vets for Peace, and am on the Sonoma County grand jury.  My wife and I have been Quakers for many years.  I recommend Men with Guns.  I would like to see more sharing of community responsibilities.  [Finance, Facilitation, Coordinating Council].

Adrienne:  I really, really like living here!  The best part is the kids, and the second best, all of you.  Then the third best is the gardens (which I get to dig in), and the fourth best is the various meetings and committees that all participate in, and which keep the place running, and the fifth best is no one seems overly burdened and sixth best is that no one is the BIG BOSS, which can and does happen when someone has "control issues". We all function and work together very nicely, I think.  Ed and I moved here last year; we had previously been living in Sebastopol, plus a few other places like San Jose, where we met as we were both working with delayed children, he as a teacher and me as a school nurse.  I keep active now, by volunteering with various agencies, and am on a several local and state-wide committees, and I paint with watercolor every day. We enjoy Josh, our 4 yr old grandson who lives in town; our two other grandsons live in Santa Cruz.  I was born and went through college in San Diego, where I still have family.  [Garden Committee]

ellen & david--We like living in an energy efficient home in a community of great neighbors, investing in a sustainable and healthy living option. We met at University of Wisconsin, Madison, and are big Green Bay Packer fans.  Dave is a semi-retired CPA, and Ellen just retired from managing Rehabilitation Services at one of the local hospitals.  Previously they worked for the Institute of Cultural Affairs in community development projects around the world. The Institute uses the Technology of Participation facilitation planning methods to provide leadership training for communities and organizations.  We have lived in Holland, Singapore, Jamaica.  In addition to traveling, we enjoy gardening, book clubs, classical and jazz music, gardening, and entertaining.  Dave is our fountain maven.

[Kitchen-Common House, Membership, Coordinating Committees]  [Legal, Facilities, Finance, Coordinating Committees, Facilitation Team]

David--I was in college when I met Jessica for the first time. While it was love at first sight neither of us was looking at the time so we both missed it. About two years later our paths crossed once again and I asked her on a date. Smartest thing I ever did; I have been basking in the afterglow ever sense. We found each other and a mutual desire to move away. We came to Sonoma in ‘95 and started our lives together. First it was just us...then the animals...new jobs...then the kids...we seem to attract life as our capacity to cope with it deepens.

Life until now has led my family toward a place, a goal we felt strongly about. We will now involve our family in Co-Housing at Yulupa. The sharing of space and time as a community in a village is a days gone by way of living. I cherish this opportunity and forward to the shared experiences for my family.  [Facilitation Team]

JESSICA:  My family joined YCH to know and support your neighbors in everyday life, how it’s supposed to be. I did not always see this in neighborhoods that I grew up in or visited.  I wanted more of a guarantee that my family could find this.

     I love to hike and hang out surrounded by hills and trees.  I am an aspiring hoop dancer and love to dance to most music with a good beat. Our family likes to camp, swim, hike and go to theme fairs like the Renaissance and the Dickens faires.  We also enjoy sci-fi and fantasy books and shows.  My neighbors and their experiences and skills enrich mine and my family’s life.  I love that my children can interact with multigenerational people and learn from their passions.  I love how the community values and supports my children and their path to adulthood.  My favorite events here are our winter celebrations and the Variety/Talent show.

julie--TBA

allan--TBA  http://www.sourceintegralis.org/

rita, chris, phil, Caitlin, aaron--After years of living in places where we never met our neighbors (our fault as much as theirs, we decided we wanted to live in a different way.  As committed Unitarian Universalists, we believe in the transformative power of intentional community, and we also strongly appreciated the  the collective effort to live with as little environmental impact as possible.

We’re originally from Cleveland, Ohio, where most of our families still remain.  Rita teaches psychology at Sonoma State University and at SR Junior College.  Chris is the ordained minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Santa Rosa.  Our daughter Cait is attends Hampshire College in Massachusetts.  Aaron is an excellent skateboard, and available for lessons.  Rita’s brother Phil is living with us now. 

[Task Team, Parents-Kids Committee]

hilary--I like having a lot of friends who feel like family, and cooking and eating meals together.  I don’t mind cleaning up when I have someone to talk to. I love to spend time with the children and help facilitate the Kids’ Meeting.   I love visiting my new grandchild in Los Angeles, and seeing my sister in San Francisco.  I enjoying fiction, concerts, drawing, collage, and jewelry making.  My passion is teaching young children which I have done for 30 years. Currently, I substitute teach elementary school, and teach ESL. I try to see a movie every week.  I recommend “The Tortilla Curtain” for book club.  I enjoy traveling--I’ve been to Mexico many times, as well as Thailand.    [Heart, Facilitation, and Green Teams]

diane--YCH is like a large family--you’re not isolated.  I like the architecture, with the courtyard in the middle--it encourages closeness.  I enjoy walking, reading, creative vegetarian cooking, and people.  I love opera.  My adult children, 3 cats, housekeeping, and the community keep my busy.  After many years working as a nurse, I went to art school and majored in painting. Now I am passionate about ceramic sculpture which I have done for the last 12 years.  I recommend the Met Opera at the local movie theatre.  I would like to use all of the available spaces this year for vegetable gardening so that we could grow food for ourselves plus extra for the poor. 

[Community Life, Pets committees].

bill--I’m a native of Toledo, Ohio – very flat, lots of thunderstorms, big lawns, conservative politics (excluding my own), ketchup on most everything.  As a retired english, journalism, and tennis teacher who still loves teaching, I look forward to sharing any of my skills – writing, chess, golf, table tennis and tennis, among others – with the Yulupa Cohousing community members of all ages.  I play golf at the local course about 3 times a week.  I read two or three books a week, mostly non-fiction, but also love Hemingway, Faulkner, Steinbeck, Thomas Wolfe, and Norman Mailer. I have seen many movies of the last 50 years and continue to be fascinated with them (although not with science fiction, car chases, and excessive violence).  I I love jazz – my father was a nightclub singer – and grew up during its heyday.  [Garden Committee]

arturo: I like that I can be connected with neighbors in a positive way, sharing morals and values.  I had thought that Americans were detached, but YCH is different.  I like to watch movies and football, talk to my friends, cook, and read the financial pages on the internet.  I know what it’s like to be hungry and homeless--I’m grateful for what I have now.  My work as a chef at Dierk’s Parkside Cafe and school to become a court interpreter keep me busy.  My passion is my wife, my friends, my family, and being a conscientious human being.  I recommend Ratatouille and The Art of the Deal (a good strategy book).  I’d like to see YCH grow into a bigger concept, and to share more community experiences with everyone.     [Kitchen-Common House Committee]

andrea:  I like the community meals.  I have a long commute and it’s great to walk into a home-cooked meal at the Common House instead of going out to eat.  I like running, growing tomatoes, and spending time with Arturo.  I read 3 newspapers daily.  Work managing the Napa Valley Visitor’s Center keeps me very busy.  My passions are my husband, friends, running, and Napa Valley.  I recommend Ratatouille.  I would like to see YCH create a unified strategy to obtain the open land next door as a green belt by building a coalition with the greater Santa Rosa Community. [Membership, Kitchen-Common House Committees]

marie--I love living in community, knowing my neighbors.  I feel supported in my day to day life and like knowing that someone cares and notices when I’m at home.  I enjoy writing, watercolors, hiking, kayaking, and am in the YCH book club.  I once played Ariel in The Tempest.  My work as a therapist, along with my 2 daughters, granddaughter, my 7 siblings, and a hot yoga keep me busy.  My passion is psychotherapy.  I recommend Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

[Heart and Green Teams, Facilitation Committee].

alan-- I like that cohousing is a social experiment most of the time, as we need a model to get back to community in this country.  We have lost connection to each other. I like that it can take 45 minutes to take out the garbage by talking with my neighbors. I enjoy gardening, chess, photography, and reading.  I am finding more connections with my past military service.  I work fulltime helping a health care organization do disaster preparedness.  My passion is that we as a species could get along better and decide how to get out of a war and take care of ourselves as a planet.  I recommend the second Pearl Harbor.  I would like see YCH create a way to helping young families get into cohousing, ie, a fund.  [Garden/Landscape, Coordinating Council].

linda--

frances--I became interested in community life when Lee and I lived at Findhorn, a international intentional living community in Scotland, for 3 months. The experience was so life supporting, it changed me from the inside out.  I am now retired from my private practice as an MFCC, and visit my children and grandchildren, work in varied artistic mediums, and like being in nature in the Sierra's and Hawaii. I also guide a Non-Violent Communication group here at Cohousing.  WARNING! I am also an accordionist. Each time I pick up "Stella" my big black and chrome accordion, my heart sings along to the ump-pa-pa. I hope yours will too.  [Heart Team]

lee--My family was a typical ’50’s nuclear family: Ozzie and Harriet outside, and not much connection outside.  I later lived in a community in nearby Forestville for 5 years which was much more fulfilling.  With our kids moving out of state, Frances and I realized we wanted more community in our lives again. I’ve worked as a carpenter and a chiropractor, and am now retired.  I have been with M.E.N. (Men Evolving Nonviolently) for 20 years, a group that works with domestic violence perpetrators.  It has been a very rich experience for me.  My current interests include writing, studying Spanish and traveling to Central America, gardening, hiking, and attending Buddhist meditation retreats.  Frances and I have done some traveling together and separately.  [Facilities Committee]

k3lly--I am the rose queen here with my four rose trees: two Double Delights, one Mr. Lincoln, and a small unidentified orange beauty reside here at my studio along with my beloved grey cat, Itchy. I used to work as a mechanic for United Airlines.  I now work in the entertainment, real estate and medical fields. I enjoy surfing at Doran or Salmon Creek, power-walking, singing, and playing bass. My folks and one of my brothers  also live at Yulupa. I love that I can see them just about any time I want and vice versa.  As for the community here, I can see how much we are all alike rather than different. Sharing meals, tasks and real life events has made life very special for me in many ways. My community improves the way I live and contribute to the world outside. I do believe I have more to offer since I have lived here. It is a nourishing way of life and I see this style of living as a way of the future in helping the environment and our future generations to take better care of our earth.    

[Community Life Committee]