Retirement Alternatives: The Power of Community Care

The New York Times recently profiled The Bird’s Nest, capturing what daily life looks like inside this women-only community. It’s not a perfect utopia, but it offers a powerful glimpse of how care and companionship can fill the gaps that money alone can’t.

Instead of going it alone, these women:

• Cook and share meals together.

• Drive each other to doctor’s appointments.

• Watch each other’s dogs (their “babies”).

• Provide the kind of emotional support that makes aging less lonely.

It’s not always easy—there’s been drama over cats, turkeys, and recycling—but it works. And the research backs it up: women with stronger social ties live 10% longer and are 41% more likely to reach age 85 than those who are isolated.

Beyond The Bird’s Nest

Not everyone will move to a tiny-house village, but the lessons apply anywhere:

• Golden Girls–style house shares with friends.

• Co-housing communities that pool resources.

• Home care cooperatives to manage support costs.

• Faith or nonprofit-based programs that organize rotating care.

At the heart of each model is the same principle: when we pool our resources and show up for one another, retirement becomes less about scarcity and more about possibility.

Together, these stories remind us that while the challenges are real, so are the solutions. Retirement doesn’t have to mean isolation or scarcity—when we build new models of care, we also build new possibilities.

As someone who adores my own pup, I loved how central dogs are at The Bird’s Nest. It’s a reminder that retirement planning isn’t just about dollars—it’s about joy, connection, and creating the kind of life you want to live.

Resource Corner

📌 National Shared Housing Resource Center – a hub for house-share opportunities
📌 Cohousing Association of the U.S. – learn about intentional communities
📌 The New York Times: 11 Women, 9 Dogs, Not Much Drama (and No Guys)

Curious to hear from you:
Would you ever consider retiring in a community like this—or do you already have your own version of this plan?