Pleasant Hill Cohousing
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Meet Our Members
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Elaine: My son, Isaac and I have lived here at Pleasant Hill Cohousing since it "opened" in October, 2001 and now, five years later, I can’t think of any place else I’d rather be. Before moving to PHCH, I had familiarized myself with cohousing by joining the cohousing.org e-list, and even starting a couple of coho groups in the Monterey Bay area. When it became clear that cohousing was not going to happen there, I searched for the "right" community to move in with. I knew that the cohousing concept was a fit for me, but that finding a community where at least most of the members "felt good" to me was equally important - considering the kind of communication it takes to successfully maintain a community built on consensus and, yes, even compromise. PHCH has been that community - a place where we may not all be best friends, but a place where we all strive to be best neighbors. Personally, I can’t ask for anything more! My experience here has been enriching and inspiring. The people at PHCH are our loving extended family - with all its implications!
After a 20 year teaching career, I now teach special education part-time in Lafayette. I also act and sing a little on the side. I’m a longtime member of the Landscape Committee and currently serving on the Executive Committee.
Isaac: Hi, my name is Isaac aka "Crazy Boy". I like living here at cohousing because at cohousing there are kids to play with, adults to chat with, and a swimming pool (with a hot tub)! I’m 11-1/2 years old. I go to Pleasant Hill Middle School and I’m into WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). The sports I play are wrestling, baseball, basketball, football, swimming, tennis and a little bit of soccer.
Sunshine and Whispers: Meow! Sometimes we don’t get along too great with each other, but we absolutely LOVE all the humans in this community (especially our human brother, Isaac)! They pet us and talk to us. They also take care of us and feed us when our pets, Elaine and Isaac, are gone on vacation. They even sit on our couch and watch TV with us. We love cohousing!
Jan & Ellen: We joined PHCH towards the end of 2007. We were among the founding members of Cobb Hill CoHousing in Hartland Vermont. Between our lives at Cobb Hill and our life at Pleasant Hill, we lived in San Diego, Sri Lanka and San Francisco.
For the bulk of the last 20 years, we lived in Vermont. Ellen's background is rather diverse... having worked as the Executive Director for the Center for a New American Dream, the Ben and Jerry's Foundation -- and before that as a psychotherapist. She has also worked with the Waitt Family Foundation in San Diego.
In 2003 we moved to Sri Lanka to work with the Nonviolent Peaceforce and lived there for 3 years. As we thought about our return to the USA, we felt (well, mostly Ellen) that it was time to leave VT. As one of our children (Serena) was finishing her degree at SFSU, we decided to "land" in the City while we regrouped about where in the USA we wanted to re-plant our roots, and then we found Pleasant Hill!
Jan's background prior to working with the Nonviolent Peaceforce is with the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, and the Conflict Transformation Across Cultures Programme. Prior to that Jan worked with perpetrators and survivors of trauma and violence.
Between us we have three grown kids: Rachel, 28, in Chicago, Serena, 24, living in San Francisco and Adam, 28, in Western MA. We have one 19 year-old cat (Fashion) who seems to enjoy a rather sedentary life.
Currently Ellen works for Give2Asia - (an offshoot of The Asia Foundation) in San Francisco, and Jan continues to work for the Nonviolent Peaceforce (working from home) in the Programme Department of NP.
Jan loves to sail, do yoga, and play racquetball and Frisbee. Ellen loves to paint, walk, and dance and practices Buddhism. We have a quarter share of a 10-meter boat on the Bay, and enjoy taking friends out to explore life on the water. More on Jan's website.
 Jannette & Jordan: My name is Jordan and I am 11 years old. I live with my mom in this really cool place where everyone knows each other and kids get to play outside by themselves. The other great part is that my mom gets to hang out with other moms (and dads) when I take a swim in the pool. She misses her family who all live in Holland, but living with lots of other families makes up for it. I love to take my boogie board and pretend I'm riding the waves in the ocean. I guess I can always use it as a floatie if I need to! Aside from swimming, I like to ride my bike, especially along the Iron Horse Trail with my friend Lucien who lives in cohousing too. I go to school in Oakland, which is kind of far, but I don't mind the drive because I get to go home to a wonderful place. Jean: I'm Jean, and I'm a newer neighbor. I moved in last Spring after literally 20 years of fantasizing about living in cohousing some day. Some day has finally come, and the actual experience, delightfully enough, is surprisingly similar to my fantasies. I'm a foodie and a baby hog and find many playmates with whom I can indulge both of these passions. It's thrilling to accompany little Maya, a neighbor baby, as she cuts new teeth, formulates first words, and climbs proudly up the slide -- just days after taking her first steps! All at once, she's busting loose! What a joy to be here to witness one another's milestones large and small. When I'm not cooking common meals, I'm deepening promising new friendships and serving on the Connection and Conflict Resolution Team -- always fulfilling, occasionally grueling. Maya's on the Conflict Resolution Team, too! Outside of PHCH, I'm an interfaith minister and end-of-life chaplain into yoga, writing, meditation, Interplay, hikin', campin', swimmin' & SoulCollage. |
Marian, Harry & Emily: We were the first family to move in - when the community was still under construction. Although leaving San Francisco was hard for all of us, we are glad to be here. Harry still commutes to the city for his job with the Mayor's Office of Community Development. Marian is a high school librarian in Orinda. We go back to the city to see friends, and we're glad the BART commute is so easy. We love the weather out here - sitting on the patio in the evening, seeing stars, fall leaves, and knowing all our neighbors. Harry and Marian enjoy the mix of community and privacy, spur-of-the-moment social interactions, and community "traditions" like the annual Disco Bingo party, and Mt. Diablo group camping trip. Emily, the oldest "child" at 17, loves her interactions with other children as well as with young mothers and retired folks. She is the gregarious one in the family, and loves to go out in the community and visit neighbors when she isn't studying or running. Harry serves on the Financial Advisory Team, or FAT, and likes to tackle special fix-it projects around the community. Marian is on the Facilitation and Decision Making (Fac-Dec) Committee, and, amazingly, has learned to cook meals for 40-50 people!  Jeff & Lynn Jeff: I have been interested in cohousing for many years and have now finally, recently, (we moved in in August of 2006) arrived! I enjoy playing with the kids, jumping in the pool and hot tub, and having unplanned moments. I work as a software engineer and systems manager at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory. Along with cohousing I love backpacking, music, and scuba diving (in warm waters!). |
John, Dana & Maya: John, Dana, and Maya moved to Pleasant Hill Cohousing in December 2005 when Maya was one month old. They love the day-to-day interactions that come with living in cohousing, as well as the opportunities for Maya to connect with other children and adults. John is a member of the Maintenance Committee and Dana is a member of the Connection and Conflict Resolution Team and the Social Committee. Maya is currently the youngest member of the community.
John grew up in nearby Walnut Creek and never really expected to move back to this part of the Bay Area. After working as a geologist for several years, John decided to go to law school. He graduated in 2005, spent a year as a clerk to a federal judge, and now works for a large firm in San Francisco. When he’s not working, John likes to play with Maya, read (particularly science and history nonfiction, and science fiction), hike, do carpentry projects, and watch movies.
Dana grew up in Palo Alto and went to UCSC as an undergrad. After spending several years working office jobs, as a preschool teacher, and as an SAT and GRE test-prep tutor, she decided that she wanted to be a psychologist. She completed her MA in Clinical Psychology in 2005, and plans to continue to finish her doctorate, but is taking a few years off in order to spend time with Maya. In her free time, Dana likes to read (particularly novels and books about psychological theory), hike, knit, and hang out with John, her cohousing neighbors, and her friends.
Maya is currently learning to walk. She loves to play outside, wave at people, spend time with the other kids in the community, and dance to rock music.
 Nancy, Warren, Kaila, Kiana & Lucien: We've been here since November 2001 and we love it. There is a wonderful sense of security and support here. People are always around to talk to and help each other out. It is so fulfilling to be part of a community. The kids always have other kids to play with; they're never bored. Most of the time they're in the kids room or outside playing or in neighbors' houses. They're happy at home so I don't feel pressured to take them out and entertain them anymore. We really look forward to staying home and relaxing during the weekends, something we never used to do. Kaila (age 14), who is very creative and fashionable, likes to read and go shopping in the City (SF). She likes to draw and play with makeup and dress up with Emily (17 year old neighbor). Kiana (age 11) loves to do arts and crafts. She likes to bake and sell her goodies to the community. Lucien (age 9) likes to bike ride, play soccer and go fishing. He enjoys playing outside with his buddy Jordan (10 year old neighbor).  Sharon: I'm the newest resident of Pleasant Hill Cohousing, having moved in April 2007. Although I've only been here a brief time, I love the easy friendliness and sense of being welcomed into a new community. I've been living for the last 18 years in Marin County, so I am spending time learning this area--and trying not to get lost every time I go looking for something! I'm still figuring out which committee(s) I want to be on, but I have offered some help at two common meals. The sense of pitching in feels good. I work in downtown San Francisco, so the access to BART is wonderful. I am the development director for the Pacific Region of the National Parks Conservation Association. NPCA is the only national organization working to protect and enhance America's National Parks for present and future generations. It's great, busy work, and I am proud to be part of the NPCA team advocating on behalf of our nation's treasures. I have two children--a son, Evan 28 and a daughter, Jordan age 22--both now grown and living in the Bay Area. They're interested to learn more about their Mom's new home. |
 Susan: Living in cohousing is pretty much what I expected. After 5 years, there have been a few surprises (some good, some hard) but I'm very happy here and I can't imagine living anywhere else. I get a lot of pleasure out of being part of a community; I feel that I am "known" in a way I've never experienced before. Especially wonderful are the close friendships I have with some of the children which for me, a non-parent, could only happen in this environment. I've been here since we found the site (2 years before move-in) and I'm very proud to be a part of this community. I have great respect for the way we've operated, even the struggles and mistakes. Lately I've been viewing my life here as a laboratory for figuring out how we can peacefully co-exist on a larger scale because really, if we can't figure it out here among 45 or so adults living in the United States, how are we ever going to figure it out globally across major national and cultural lines? On a more physical level, I love my cozy house with the clean quiet hydronic heating, the big windows that let in lots of light, the natural materials such as wool carpet and marmoleum flooring, the effective soundproofing so that I only rarely hear my neighbors. I am happily living without television because there are so many other things to occupy myself with. And, even though there are lots of activities going on, I like the sense of freedom to participate if I want to but knowing that if I don't, it doesn't mean others won't have a good time! I work at UC Berkeley where I take care of the Career Center website and manage other web-related projects. I like to dance (especially salsa!), watch movies, be outdoors, and hang out with my friends. I'm one of the assistant bookkeepers, a member of the Finance Advisory Team, the Outreach Committee, and the HomeBASE Committee. which, among other things, means I'm the contact person for outside inquiries, I lead our monthly tours, and I'm the webmistress for this website.  Sue: I'm retired now for 8 years and I am settling in nicely to what I thought would be a relaxed lifestyle. Of course, because I am who I am that is not the case. I am a potter and we have a small but very complete studio here at Lisa Lane Commons so I am there whenever I have time because that is what truly makes me happy. Because I have 2 children and 3 grown grandchildren who have varied and exciting lives, I take time often to interact with them as they all live close by. I am active here as an officer and active on a couple of committees. I enjoy the little ones, especially the babies, so I like to use a slice of time for them. I hike when I can and there are many places in the Bay Area to do that. I am lucky enough to have a little income from my pottery and so I can travel and I do often. We are so lucky to have a theater a couple of blocks from here that shows foreign and art films so I can frequently indulge my other favorite leisure activity.  Terri, Lucio & Aurora: Terri, Lucio and Aurora have been living at PHCH for five years now. Both kids have many playmates amongst the 25 children living in our community and Terri is active on the Social Ctte, Food Ctte and Pool Ctte. We enjoy impromptu meals with our neighbors, shared bike rides to parks along the Iron Horse trail, parties and holidays with our neighbors, and the pool and hot tub all year round. Terri works as a nurse practitioner for Kaiser in Oakland, and someday hopes to move her practice out here so she can bike to work everday. We still travel to SF and Oakland to see friends and go to favorite restaurants but we have made a good life for ourselves in cohousing, despite the fact that it is the burbs! |
Veena & Murthy: We have been living here since the fall of 2003, but involved with the group since early 1999. It was great to move into a place where we knew all the neighbors and their kids!
I (Veena) love that I get to spend time with the kids when I want to and have on occasion organized some craft projects for them, which can be so much fun. And being able to just knock on a neighbor's door to borrow anything (soymilk, onions, muffin tray are all recent examples) reminds me of my childhood growing up in India where this is a common occurence.
Murthy and I are vegans and enjoy cooking the occasional vegan common meal for the community. I am on the Landscape Committee (whose chair, Peter, has such a great sense of humor that our meetings are always fun) and the "Decision Log Committee" (responsible for maintaining a log of all the decisions the community makes).
Murthy is part of the Garden Committee where he enjoys growing veggies in the community Organic Garden patch along with fellow Garden Committee enthusiasts. He uses his technical skills as part of the Computer Connection Committee (the committee that maintains our ingeniously laid broadband community network).
We both enjoy going on hikes with neighbors, babysitting our neighbor's dog Jewel, and welcoming the community cats into our home when they want to visit.
Yehudit: I'm a professional violinist: classical (performing with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, Fremont Symphony, and other Bay Area groups) and jazz. I perform regularly as part of a violin/cello jazz duo called Different Strokes. I've recorded 3 jazz CDs. Other interests include hiking, vegetarian cooking, and the group-process aspect of community building.
I found out about cohousing about 15 years ago, and knew it was the way I wanted to live. I worked for several years with a group in Marin County (where I lived for 30 years), trying without success to create cohousing there. When the Pleasant Hill group found our site, I joined, realizing that it was my best chance to make my cohousing dreams real -- even though it meant relocating to a part of the Bay Area that was wholly new to me. I was one of the first people to move in when our homes were completed, and have lived here ever since.
I am an active member of our Financial Advisory Team, Facilitation and Decision-Making Committee, and Garden Committee. I also do the bookkeeping for our Homeowners' Association. I am a past member of our Connection and Conflict Resolution Team, and remain active in facilitating conflict resolution.
Over the years I have lived here, I have had some difficult moments, but no regrets. I like and respect all of my neighbors, and feel that I can be real with them. I love the spontaneous social activities that happen because we're all here. I am fascinated and challenged by the consensus decision-making process. I continue to hold to the vision of living in a creative, resourceful community where there is a commitment to resolve conflict peacefully, transcend differences, and create win-win solutions. As an older single woman, I also enjoy living in a multi-generational community that includes children.