Meet Yulupa Cohousing Members
Linda & AlanWe were drawn to cohousing as a way to live more sustainably in a community where we know our neighbors. After the Army, Alan spent his career in hospital/health care planning, marketing, research and disaster preparation. Linda retired from a career in human services, training and career counseling. She is a founder of the Southeast Greenway Campaign to create an urban Greenway on open space formerly slated for freeway construction. We are members of City Zen and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa.
|
Alfonso & Erika
We've been in Sonoma County since 2021, moving for Erika's soil scientist job. Alfonso is a small animal vet. We live with our 2-year-old husky-mix, Inu, and 11-year foster lab-mix, Wilson. Alfonso is from Perú and Erika from Portland, Oregon. He likes sailing, hiking and gathering with friends. She loves gardening, skiing, biking, drawing, rock climbing, running, camping, dancing and generally being outside as much as possible. We are excited to live in community with others to put our values into practice. Alfonso is on the Facilities Committee. Erika is on Community Life. |
TheaI retired from selling Wrangler Jeans after 37 years and have lived here since 2005. I am involved in the Southeast Greenway, which will create one of the largest urban parks in the County. I've been involved in the County Bicycle Coalition and a women's philanthropic organization, IMPACT 100 Redwood Circle. I love to cook, walk, hike, travel and see movies. I chair the Kitchen-Common House Committee and am a member of the Facilities Committee.
|
Bojana, Jon, Harben & Ani
Bojana was born in Bulgaria and grew up in the Bronx. She moved west and lived at Mt Madonna Center, a yoga intentional community, where she realized how great living in community is, especially for children. She has worked as a field botanist in Alaska. Jon grew up in North Carolina, did Peace Corps in Paraguay and has played music for much of his life. He manages natural resources for California State Parks and has a background in habitat restoration. They moved to YCH with their children, Harben (7) and Ani (1), because they felt that raising them in community would be a wonderful way for them to grow up. Bojana is on the Membership Committee.
|
Mirabai
After living between Italy and California, I chose Yulupa as my new home in 2013. I am deeply interested in living in a community where we unite as a group and collaborate together, while individuality and diversity are respected and valued. I follow the Bhakti path (path of the heart), do yoga and meditation, am an initiate of the Sufi International Ruhaniat and a member of a sweat lodge community. I am a SoulCollage® Facilitator and Trainer. I also have an accounting business. I am on the Facilities Committee. |
Jessica & David
Originally from Orange County, David (aka Chip) and Jessica escaped north to Sonoma County. They and their now adult children were one of the first to move into Yulupa Cohousing in 2005. Jessica administers a veterinary hospital. She hikes, hangs out at the pool and camps. She visits local farmers markets, hangs out with her animals and attends church. David enjoys comic books, video games and sci-fi/fantasy fiction and cooking. Jessica is on the Membership Committee and David is on Facilities.
Originally from Orange County, David (aka Chip) and Jessica escaped north to Sonoma County. They and their now adult children were one of the first to move into Yulupa Cohousing in 2005. Jessica administers a veterinary hospital. She hikes, hangs out at the pool and camps. She visits local farmers markets, hangs out with her animals and attends church. David enjoys comic books, video games and sci-fi/fantasy fiction and cooking. Jessica is on the Membership Committee and David is on Facilities.
Audra
I moved in to Yulupa Cohousing in 2022. I grew up in Southern California and moved to Northern California about 20 years ago. I’m a family physician and love my work training future family doctors, especially in Labor and Delivery. I chose Yulupa because I treasure community. I am on the Gardenscape Committee. |
Constance
I joined Yulupa in 2007 and have lived in various intentional communities most of my adult life. Yulupa offers me my own private living space as well as knowing my neighbors. I am retired, an avid Argentine tango dancer, and dabble in art and languages. I was elected YCH HOA Treasurer in 2023 and chair the Finance Committee. |
Marie
I joined Yulupa a year before our move-in in July 2005. I live with my dog, Whisper, who adopted me after a long search for the perfect match! I am a semi-retired psychotherapist in private practice. I keep close connections with my mom, 5 sibs, 2 daughters and their SOs, and 3 fabulous grandkids. I love being in nature, writing, traveling and having a spiritual practice (sometimes these all happen at once!). It's a full and rich life! I am a member of the Heart Team.
|
Mary Ann
I was born in Indiana and lived in California since 1975 and in Santa Rosa since 1989. I am happily married to Lori, my partner of more than 30 years. I retired from a career as an elementary school counselor. I spend time gardening, hiking, playing with our cat and practicing Zen meditation. I play bassoon and contra bassoon with local community orchestras. I am a member of the YCH Gardenscape Committee and the Heart Team. |
Susan BMy family is important to me; I am a proud mother and grandmother. I'm a former Registered Nurse and have a master's in organizational development. My favorite jobs were working in labor and delivery and as leader of the nurses' union at Chicago's Cook County Hospital for 10 years. I'm a member of the Center for Spiritual Living and its local jail ministry. I chair the Membership Committee and am a member of the Heart Team.
|
Susan F
Susan began visiting Yulupa in 2007 when her daughter had a residency in Family Medicine in Santa Rosa. In 2011, she was invited to housesit for Yulupa residents. She packed her car and didn't look back. In 2013, she moved in permanently. A former Registered Nurse, she worked in fields from Home Births to Hospice. The greatest joys of her life, her grandsons, often visit. She is on the Community Life Committee. |
Blair
Music is a big part of my life. I love rock, jazz, and classical, and play guitar. I love cats especially and volunteer at the Humane Society. I study graphic arts, lift weights, run and hike. I have a 2nd degree black belt in Karate and training in Aikido. I have some dysphasia – difficulty processing receptive and expressive language – as a result of Asperger’s (high functioning autism). It takes me longer to establish relationships. I like making new friends and living in a community group. I participate to the best of my ability--I just need more time to pick up on information. |
Chris
I sold my home and lucked out finding this YCH rental. I’m a retired elementary schoolteacher. I enjoy volunteering in a local Kindergarten classroom. I have traveled extensively as a “military brat” and lived all over the U.S and Europe. I continue that love of travel with my three favorite people, my children, who reside in San Francisco. I enjoy biking, hiking, cooking, dancing, reading, pickleball and gardening, hence on Gardenscape Committee.
I sold my home and lucked out finding this YCH rental. I’m a retired elementary schoolteacher. I enjoy volunteering in a local Kindergarten classroom. I have traveled extensively as a “military brat” and lived all over the U.S and Europe. I continue that love of travel with my three favorite people, my children, who reside in San Francisco. I enjoy biking, hiking, cooking, dancing, reading, pickleball and gardening, hence on Gardenscape Committee.
Jim & Mary KayAfter living on the East Coast for most of our lives, we moved to be near our granddaughter in March 2019. We love our condo, the inviting, funky architecture, the beautiful landscaping and the bounty of fruits and vegetables. We like being closely connected to like-minded people who radiate joy, positive spirits and work to make this a better world. We are both retired: Mary Kay from real estate, and Jim from 42 years with IBM. Our interests include travel, tennis, bike riding, hiking, reading, art, theater and classical music. Mary Kay is on the Kitchen-Common House and Finance committees, and Jim is on Facilities and Community Life.
|
KaiI moved to YCH in 2005 as a family medicine doctor and single parent of a 10-year-old son. Now, my son lives in Petaluma, and I retired. I loved living at YCH for the community support and friendships! I have relished the “experiment” of how to self-govern with equity and inclusion. My interests are collage quilting, the YCH Diversity-Equity-Belonging Group, walking, hiking and shopping at the local Farmer’s Market. I love cooking and eating together as a community! I am Vice President of the YCH HOA, and a member of the Community Life and Facilitation committees.
|
Robin
After years of visiting Yulupa co-housing community and admiring the close connections to neighbors and the local community, I moved from Ashland, Oregon. By profession I’m a clinical psychologist, with a specialty in transpersonal and depth psychology, treatment of trauma and developmental issues over the lifespan. Eco-psychology and rites of passage are a special interest. I love reading, music, and time in nature; have lived in other cultures and love to travel. I am on the Heart Team and the Finance Committee.
|
KrisI moved to Sonoma County in the '80s and joined YCH in 2019. I’d been interested in co-housing for years and am excited to live in architect Michael Black’s imaginative creation! I spent my career in journalism and communications for non-profits, government and higher education. It’s wonderful to find a community that shares my values of care and service, environmental stewardship and green living. Travel, art, reading fiction, theater, music and enjoying Sonoma County's landscape all top my Favorites lists. I am on the Membership Committee.
|
LeeI'm a retired chiropractor/carpenter/builder. I've been a member of the Yulupa Cohousing community since 2003 (two years before we all moved in). I tried cohousing because I'd spent time in Scotland's Findhorn community. I volunteer with hospice, the YWCA (domestic violence-related) and a men's organization that leads groups for domestic violence perpetrators. I like to hike and swim, travel, write, and play chess and pickle ball. I work on YCH projects using my carpentry and other skills.
|