Why would a resident of the beautiful Truckee-Donner community ever think of moving down the hill to Grass Valley? Perhaps the thought of all the snow shoveling this winter? Perhaps the thought of a friendly community with lots of cultural opportunities?
Perhaps the thought that, after all, one is not too far away from Lake Tahoe if one feels the urge to go skiing, hiking, or visit the grand beaches?
I myself love to spend time in the Lake Tahoe area. Nothing compares with the beauty of the lake any time of day. I have spent many happy hours camping at Emerald Bay State Park, hiking along the Tahoe Rim Trail, and others. The aspens in the fall took my breath away. One of my favorite hikes has always been the Rubicon Trail, where you wander above the lake for an hour, ending up at the grand Norwegian house, Vikingsholm.
I have a good friend who used to live in a gorgeous house close to Squaw Valley. It was built on massive rocks over a rushing stream, and when I visited there I was awed by the beautiful design. I thought she lived in paradise, especially since I visited her in the summer. But after a few years I heard her saying that she had enough of snow shoveling and of the steady stream of traffic on weekends, when she felt it was almost impossible to get to the lake. She finally sold her house and lives now in Grass Valley. She is looking forward to be part of Wolf Creek Lodge cohousing.
Wolf Creek Lodge for active adults will be the fifth adult co-housing residence in the country. It’s been designed and developed by Katie McCamant and Charles Durrett, who brought cohousing from Denmark to the U.S. 25 years ago. We have a 7.9-acre wooded site on the edge of town that is bordered by year-round Wolf Creek. Nearly half of the property will be preserved as natural habitat with woods, trails, and views, and is in walking distance to shopping, grocery stores, and restaurants. It meets all the needs of active adults who have taken the initiative in seeking a way to live and age in a supportive and vibrant community. The architects, together with the residents, have created a perfect balance of privacy and community.
All private homes will be energy efficient and built with nontoxic materials using ecologically sustainable practices. Careful consideration has been given to the local climate and optimal solar orientation. The lodge has underground parking and elevator access and will include generous common facilities with dining and other amenities such as workshops, guest rooms, and Jacuzzi.
All of us have lovely homes in the foothills or in Southern California, Washington State, North Carolina, or the Bay Area. But we decided that the upkeep of a large property loses its appeal when we get older, and yet we are not too old to travel, enjoy concerts and theater, or pursue our favorite sports. All this is easier when we have a small home and built-in friends. This is what we discovered during the time of planning for our new home. We have become close friends who enjoy each other’s company. We know we have much in common and will spend time together exchanging ideas and favorite stories, sharing occasional meals, and playing together without leaving home.
If you are interested in the idea of cohousing, and especially in Wolf Creek Lodge, check out our website, wolfcreeklodge.org.
Or better yet, take a trip down the mountain and attend one of our monthly meetings. We are still looking for new members.
What sells cohousing are the people, and the rest follows.
