Potential residents continue to work together to vision and plan. Nine participants met on May 20 at the home of Carolyn and Steve Carter and we thank them for their hospitality! Time was given to sharing our visions, talking about our hopes and making small modifications to the ElderSpirit values statement and we are now ready to adopt the "Goodness of Fit" and Value statement, with thanks to ElderSpirit. Carolyn took some notes and we'll forward the documents to everyone soon.
Carolyn also gave a tour of her beautiful garden!
On May 24, a small group of us met with a small group of developers, builders and real estate folks who have been dreaming/talking amongst themselves for several years about affordable housing. It was a wonderful gathering, and the same group will convene again on June 1 to continue our brainstorming.
John Carney, Bob and Carole Hull, Marty Kaufman and Donna Bales are representing the potential residents at these meetings. Deb Cahoon and Richard Overby, visionary realtors, and Ted and Mark Farha, developer/builders who are interested in affordable and green housing are the others who are a part of this development group. It feels wonderful to find folks who have the skills and expertise we need and who have been thinking/talking about the same thing.
EVERYONE'S INPUT IS NEEDED AS DEVELOPMENTS PROCEED
Current Action Steps that all can help with:
1) Watch for land, or leads on lands. Group members have identified that we prefer aesthetically pleasing land (trees, water) that is not too far from services. So, please be watching and talking. If you see potential sites, let Donna know and Richard will find the details for us, as we'd like all of our "hunting" to go through him.
2) Think about and share feedback about house styles. All are invited (encouraged) to find pictures of architecture that they like, offer feedback on styles of housing you like and help us get ideas of what types of housing are most appealing to largest numbers of us.
When you find information on line, please post the URLs here so all can review.
UPDATE ON THE BLOG: If you would like to post (other than a comment) so that your comments come up just like mine, please email me and I'll send you the sign in information and you, too, will be a blog contributor. Come on now!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
New York Times Article 4-6-07
"Birds of a Feather" is an article that appeared in the 4/6/07 New York Times. The article explores groups like ours that have or are planning to create active communities where folks can live in late life in groups that provide mutual support.
For just a few more days, you can read the story, see slides and interact at http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/04/06/travel/escapes/06retire.html.
Please take a few moments to review the story and share any feedback through comments here. Note that one group mentioned in the article, from Florida, is one of the six groups that the LIFE Project is a part of, who are mentored by ElderSpirit.
It is interesting to see how very different and how very alike each of these groups is. We do, indeed, have a lot of company!
For just a few more days, you can read the story, see slides and interact at http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/04/06/travel/escapes/06retire.html.
Please take a few moments to review the story and share any feedback through comments here. Note that one group mentioned in the article, from Florida, is one of the six groups that the LIFE Project is a part of, who are mentored by ElderSpirit.
It is interesting to see how very different and how very alike each of these groups is. We do, indeed, have a lot of company!
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Welcome to the LIFE Center Blog
Growing old and dying in America is fundamentally different than it was in the previous century. The “tsunami of aging,” that is the wave of Baby Boomers turning age 65 between 2010 and 2030, will have a profound impact not only on the process, but also on the complexion of aging and dying in our country. The Baby Boomers, as no generation before, provide great opportunity, and need, for addressing the challenges of life’s end.
During the last decade the LIFE Project’s work is to support Kansans living with chronic illnesses and life-limiting conditions. These seniors seek to be empowered and when possible, care for themselves in independent settings. These elders can teach us how to age. We must create, along with them, new environments for living and life. They are resources, not burdens, and opportunities for learning abound.
Please read the monograph written by the LIFE Project, that describes some of our interests. You will find it by going to "Living and Learning Together: Mining the Treasure and Wisdom of Kansas Elders" A Design for Change (Issue 5) (PDF)
Creative and vital Kansans are working together to create a community of late-life spirituality and mutual support.
The LIFE Project has been engaged in pursing this vision for several years. We have been mentored by ElderSpirit, in Abingdon, Virginia, and have learned so much from then. Please visit their website at www.elderspirit.net/.
Their documents and work and demonstration of values, late-life spirituality, creation of community and creative living continue to impact us. Most importantly, the people of ElderSpirit are rich, real and open and sharing and we are nurtured by their being.
Below you will find links to various articles and website that describe more about ElderSpirit and other efforts to address these needs.
An article about ElderSpirit at: http://www.culturechangenow.com/stories/elderspirit.html
From Chicago Tribune at http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/over55/chi-0505150430may15,0,5672855.story?coll=chi-classifiedover55-hed
From ABC News at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/LivingLonger/story?id=1245134&page=2
Kiplinger’s at http://www.kiplinger.com/personalfinance/magazine/archives/2006/09/housing.html
In Wichita, we are currently looking for land to develop our physical community and we are spending time together to create living community. We welcome and invite others to join us in the journey.
Please feel free to share updates through the blog.
During the last decade the LIFE Project’s work is to support Kansans living with chronic illnesses and life-limiting conditions. These seniors seek to be empowered and when possible, care for themselves in independent settings. These elders can teach us how to age. We must create, along with them, new environments for living and life. They are resources, not burdens, and opportunities for learning abound.
Please read the monograph written by the LIFE Project, that describes some of our interests. You will find it by going to "Living and Learning Together: Mining the Treasure and Wisdom of Kansas Elders" A Design for Change (Issue 5) (PDF)
Creative and vital Kansans are working together to create a community of late-life spirituality and mutual support.
The LIFE Project has been engaged in pursing this vision for several years. We have been mentored by ElderSpirit, in Abingdon, Virginia, and have learned so much from then. Please visit their website at www.elderspirit.net/.
Their documents and work and demonstration of values, late-life spirituality, creation of community and creative living continue to impact us. Most importantly, the people of ElderSpirit are rich, real and open and sharing and we are nurtured by their being.
Below you will find links to various articles and website that describe more about ElderSpirit and other efforts to address these needs.
An article about ElderSpirit at: http://www.culturechangenow.com/stories/elderspirit.html
From Chicago Tribune at http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/over55/chi-0505150430may15,0,5672855.story?coll=chi-classifiedover55-hed
From ABC News at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/LivingLonger/story?id=1245134&page=2
Kiplinger’s at http://www.kiplinger.com/personalfinance/magazine/archives/2006/09/housing.html
In Wichita, we are currently looking for land to develop our physical community and we are spending time together to create living community. We welcome and invite others to join us in the journey.
Please feel free to share updates through the blog.
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