Daily Archives: February 7, 2017

London - Picture the scene: its a glorious sunny morning, you stroll out onto the balcony of your self-contained, all mod-cons flat, to have a coffee in the sunshine. Your best friend, whos moved in next door, is out on her balcony so you have a bit of a catch up.

The two of you wave to some friends who are walking across the communal landscaped gardens below, on their way to a morning yoga class.

Popping downstairs to the concierge to pick up your post, you bump into another good friend who suggests you join her at the on-site private members club that evening and, as youre heading back to your flat, you encounter yet another friend who tells you shes off to the shops and asks if she pick up anything for you.

It might sound like utopia something many of us have fantasised about over a drink with friends but in a few parts of the UK its becoming a reality. Groups of 50-something empty nesters or singletons looking to downsize arent just hoping theyll get on with the neighbours, theyre moving in en masse, creating what have been dubbed "intentional communities".

Think of it as a university hall of residence only for grown-ups. You have your own space, but theres a community of people you already know living on the doorstep, and often a whole load of shopping and entertaining facilities besides.

Sian Sutherland, 55, is an entrepreneur who co-founded Mio Skincare and Mama Mio, a skincare company. She and her husband have bought a property within the redeveloped Television Centre, the BBCs former HQ in White City, West London, and she has convinced her brother, Nick, and three other friends and their families to buy flats in the scheme. When complete, the development, which opens in December, will include 950 homes, cafes, restaurants, a cinema, hotel and even a branch of swanky members club, Soho House.

"Were nowhere near retiring, but we do see this as the last home we will buy in London," she says. "It gives us the opportunity to be living in a vibrant area, where we can enjoy everything that the city has to offer, but within a real community of people you know and love. I love the buzz of living in a city but the anonymity can sometimes be very isolating. Now, Ive got the opportunity to create a close community of interesting, fun, creative people.

"I love the idea of being so close to friends, you can pop in for a G&T during the week."

For her and her friends, the community aspect is very important. She has been in discussions with the developers about a coffee shop run by and for the residents that her brother, Nick, will open as a bar in the evenings.

"I think weve become used to curating our social communities online, seeking out like-minded groups of friends on Facebook and other social media, and I dont see any reason that shouldnt translate to real life. Loneliness is a huge problem in society these days and I think thats partly because we dont have enough real human interaction. So, for me, living near to the people you want to interact with makes perfect sense."

While Sian and her friends are buying into existing developments, thats just one approach.

Across the country, older people are devising new ways to create their own communities, whether as has happened in a suburb of Cardiff by notifying their friends when properties close to their own come up for sale, or starting from scratch and commissioning architects to build dedicated housing and gathering other like-minded people along the way, an approach that is known as "cohousing".

Melanie Nock, 53, works for a charity and lives in a three-bedroom house within Laughton Lodge, Lewes, East Sussex, a converted hospital building set in 22 acres of land with a village hall complete with kitchen for communal meals once a week.

Melanie says: "Cohousing keeps me young. I have made friends Ill have for ever and love the fact that I can socialise with them at the drop of a hat. If I want a companion to walk the dog with or join me for a swim, I just have to knock next door no forward planning, no mobile phones required. This means I never get lonely, or bored if my husband is busy.

"I am still only in my 50s, you never know how things are going to turn out, so it is important to build a strong support network now for the future. I know that if I ever have to face a crisis later on in life for example, if anything happened to me or my husband there would always be someone to help here.

"You cant look to your neighbours to be your carers as you get older, but they will be there to give you a lift to town, take you to the doctor, buy you a pint of milk or simply for a much-needed chat."

Indeed, communal living is being hailed as a solution to the alienation and isolation many experience today, and its for this reason its become such an appealing prospect for so many people looking to grow old surrounded by the people they know and love.

"In Holland, in the 1990s they saw senior cohousing as a way of keeping older people happier, healthier and more independent for longer," explains Maria Brenton, UKCNs Ambassador for Senior Cohousing. "They introduced policies that would assist that and there are now between 200 and 300 senior cohousing communities over there.'

Daily Mail

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Want a happy old age? Get your friends to be your neighbours - Independent Online

The Sheldon Theatre was named the 2016 Arts & Entertainment, Lodging, Recreation & Tourism Business of the Year by Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce members at the Jan. 30 annual meeting and awards banquet.

Sheldon Theatre Executive Director Bonnie Schock said the business award was extra-meaningful for a nonprofit arts organization.

"If you look purely at the economic impact that arts organizations have in their communities, it's extraordinary," Schock said. "It's really nice to have the business community recognize that the role that we play here is one that is fostering the broader success of Red Wing."

Schock, along with the Sheldon's administrative team of Jennifer Staley, Natalie Olson and Russell Johnson, spoke to their efforts of being more present in the community.

"On all fronts, with marketing, education, outreach and programming, we've really tried to be present and establish a lot of different entry points for people," Schock said.

The Sheldon's timeline is dotted with different phases; the original theater, a movie house, the fabled roof explosion and, much to the community's delight, a major renovation back to an intricate jewel box theater.

Greg Nixon and Helene Olson-Reed, veterans of the Sheldon stage and supporters of the arts community, both began their relationships with the Sheldon in the 1970s.

"The support from people at the theater working behind the scenes, and the support from the entire community attending shows and events, is something a community of this size should be incredibly proud of," Nixon said. "The theater itself is a community within the community."

Olson-Reed has attended weddings, funerals, and just about anything in between at the theater, she said.

"The Sheldon has been at the center of our community. I see it as the center of our community," Olson-Reed said. "It is truly iconic."

Lacy Schumann, a newer face in the Red Wing community and part of the staff at the Red Wing Arts Association, said her young family has fully embraced the Sheldon and its variety of performances. Schumann moved to the area in 2016.

"It's poking at people's curiosity," Schumann said of the Sheldon's programming. "The shows are appealing to so many people, it feels almost impossible to resist it."

Schumann said within her family's first few months in Red Wing, her 5-year-old son has already taken to the Sheldon stage.

"The accessibility of the things like the children's theater program is incredible," she said. "My son would have never gotten that anywhere else. It is not overpriced, and they are subjects that he can grasp and open his little mind to new things."

Nixon applauded the Sheldon's recent programming and outreach efforts.

"They are reaching the whole spectrum of the community," he said.

Olson-Reed admitted on her own accord that she could carry on about the Sheldon much longer than one would like to entertain.

"This is great community for arts, it's our identity. The Sheldon is the icing on top," she said.

Schumann's fresh observations of the historic theater are perhaps the most poignant.

"Attending and being part of community experiences at the Sheldon showed me what this community is capable of of being welcoming and open," Schumann said.

The Sheldon team members said they are honored with the recognition and the positive feedback on new programming approaches.

"This was very intentional programming for different tastes and aesthetics. Not every show will be for everyone, but there will be a show that everyone will enjoy," Schock said. "It is a purposeful approach to have something that everyone can relate to."

Visit http://www.sheldontheatre.org for event listings and more information on the season's upcoming performances.

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Take a bow, Sheldon Theatre - Republican Eagle