Kim Bonner
Older boomer (70-80)
Female
Philadelphia, PA U.S.
Speed of commitment:
Fast: Open to a situation that takes everyone being all-in from the start (with contracts & clarity)
IC types I would live in or am forming:
Cohousing: private residences around shared space, Ecovillage or agrihood, Multi-family shared house, Retreat or event hosting as community, Senior cohousing or shared house
Food production:
Working toward a mix of producing our own food and buying groceries
IC seeker or founder/resident:
IC seeker: I’m seeking residence in an existing household or IC with a stable culture and/or established norms.
Service-based IC (population served):
Low income elderly, Physical disability
Service-based IC (services offered):
Permanent residence
Vulnerable population as a proportion of residents:
About half
Residential proximity:
House mates (separate bedrooms, shared kitchen), Separate units (separate apartments but some shared common areas with shared resources), Shared land (separate houses possibly with some shared buildings)
Ownership types:
Co-operative (collectively owned separate houses or apartments), Rent-to-own with shared housing or shared land, Rented with shared housing or shared land
Reasons for shared housing:
Friendship and sharing activities, Having a “chosen family” to share good times and support each other thru hard times, Having social interaction while limiting the amount of influence or interaction with society, Helping each other with childcare, Sharing meals and chores
Décor of shared areas:
Not important
Clutter level of shared living areas or work space:
Average level of "lived in" look
Cleanliness level (germs & crumbs):
All food counters & tables wiped down after each use, Dishes washed (or loaded into dishwasher) daily to not attract pests
Yard or landscaping:
Tidy and clutter-free outdoors with storage out of sight, Yard aesthetics are not a priority
Neighborhood or scenery:
Scenery is not high on the list of property characteristics that's worth paying extra for
Current city, town, or county:
Philadelphia
Nation(s) of current residence:
U.S.
Preferred regions:
U.S. northeast region, U.S. southeast region
Population density:
Small town, Suburban or exurban
State, province, or region:
Pennsylvania (PA)
Resource sharing:
Car share, Joint business (share work and profits), Meal preparation
My socioeconomic status:
Low income
Leisure and lifestyle:
Leisure time is a high priority, but not necessarily expensive
Leadership availability:
I'm willing to join as part of a core leadership team
Roles and responsibilities:
Flexible responsibilities are often best, which aren't assigned or micromanaged, In a reciprocal relationship you give about as much as you get, but it happens without keeping track, In a small family-like group, the saying applies, “to each according to their need, from each according to their abilities"
Common practical skills:
Bookkeeping, Childcare, Cooking for groups, Grant-writing, Group facilitation, Organizing & labeling
Experience or schooling:
Bookkeeping/accounting, Business management, Certification for teaching children, Experience teaching adults, Finance, economics, timebanking, Marketing, Ordained minister or religious scholar, Social dance, Travel, Website design, Writing
Years lived in an IC:
Lived with roommate(s) or housemate(s)
Experience in community:
College dorms, apartments
Generation:
Older boomer (70-80)
Generations intended in IC:
Gen A (born 2013 – 2024), Gen X (born 1965 – 1980), Gen Z (born 1997 – 2012), Millennial (born 1981 – 1996), Pre-boomer (born before 1946), Younger boomer (born 1955 – 1964)
Number of working adults:
1
Alcohol (tolerable rules):
Should be regulated by group decision only if it becomes problematic
Tobacco smoking (tolerable rules):
Should be allowed in designated indoor areas
Cannabis (tolerable rules):
Should be allowed in designated areas only
Psychedelics (tolerable rules):
Legal psychedellics are okay if not disrupting to others
Illegal recreational drugs (tolerable rules):
Should be dealt with by group decision in a manner to support non-use, Should be grounds for expulsion from the community, Should not be allowed on the premises
Overnite guests (tolerable rules):
Should be permitted in limited circumstances as decided by the governance process
Daytime visitor access (tolerable rules):
Should be restricted to guest areas or residence of host
Nudity (tolerable rules):
Should be permitted within designated areas of the IC (e.g., a gated hot tub)
Required disclosures:
On sex offender registry, Past felony conviction
Religious or spiritual practice-based IC:
No mandate of adherence to shared religious beliefs and practices
My religious beliefs or practices:
Spiritual but not religious
Practices welcome in IC:
Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Spiritual but not religious
Ecological preservation ethics:
Commitment to reduce, re-use, recycle, Composting toilet, Gray water recycling where permitted, Local food commitment for low carbon footprint, Use of alternative power such as solar or wind
Size of community:
11 to 20, 6 to 10, Under 6
Sense of togetherness:
I do not want obligatory group work where we are expected to help resolve disputes, I do not want to be required or pressured to share feelings in a group setting, Relationships should develop naturally, not thru team building exercises or mandated group circles
Gender + number:
Female
Genders welcome in IC:
Female, Male, Non-binary, Trans AFAB, Trans AMAB
My current couple situation:
It's complicated
Couple situations welcome in IC:
Committed closed partnership(s) (e.g., married monogamous couples), Not applicable, Single (not in a committed closed partnership)
My sexual orientation:
Not necessary for others to know, Straight
Sexual identities welcome in IC:
Heterosexual (straight)
Sex & intimacy norms in IC:
Primarily left to the individual to determine, with the understanding that personal choices can impact community culture
Physical affection:
I am a big hugger; I’m affectionate even with people I don't know well
My availability for physical intimacy:
Never would I ever be interested in casual sex, Not currently open to a new relationship
Mobility accommodations:
Scooter for long distances
Children in IC:
Children are welcome but not a necessity (not a dealbreaker issue)
Children present in household:
No dependent children
Other people’s children:
I am open to sharing child-care responsibilities such as carpooling or swapping child-care, I want to be in a setting in which all feel a responsibility for well-being of children in the community, Parents shouldn't be so untrusting that they consider all adults a potential child abuser
Behavior correction:
Parents shouldn't allow their child(ren) to be loud and disruptive in group settings, Parents shouldn't be offended if other adults respectfully question their child(ren)'s behavior
Screen time (acceptable rules):
No screen time or content limits
Dogs:
Indoor dog(s) okay if non-shedding, Indoor dog(s) okay if some rooms are off limits, Outdoor dog(s) okay
Cats:
Indoor cat(s) okay, Outdoor cat(s) okay
Plant-based or not:
Conventional meat products okay
Organic:
All food choices are accepted
Shared meals (acceptable norms):
Prefer shared meals daily, Shared meals are necessary for efficiency and low cost
Medical risk bubbles:
I can commit to taking extra precautions for others in a high-risk category
Pandemic norms:
Keep good health practices for good immune function, Masks only when in public and mandated, Sanitize hands frequently in public, Sanitize hands frequently in the IC, Whatever results from group decision-making process
Noise level:
Different noise tolerance can be managed by having designated times for noise and quiet, One space should be available for those who like to have videos or games on frequently
Comfort & convenience:
I can participate with others who do not tolerate rugged life or extreme temperatures, I cannot participate in a rugged life and hard physical work, I cannot tolerate extreme temperatures
Tech savvy:
I'm about average with tech use
Internet connection & phone signal:
We have reliable wifi
Off-grid:
Is a workable favored option, Is not the plan if it doesn't work for others I want to be in community with, Is okay but not so important
Leisure time:
Read, wifi
Films, books, music, podcasts, shows:
Baseball
Political orientation:
Establishment liberals
Extroversion (under 50% means more introverted than average):
75
Emotional even keel (under 50% means more ups & downs than average):
50
Agreeableness (under 50% means less compliant or more contrary than average):
75
Conscientiousness (under 50% means more easygoing than average):
50
Open to new experiences / imagination (under 50% means more traditional than average, sticks with "tried and true"):
90
Dealbreakers:
Chain smoking indoors
Dealmakers:
Clean common areas