The Secret to a Happy Retirement? Living with Other Women
The Secret to a Happy Retirement? Living with Other Women
Maybe the Barbies and the Golden Girls have it right — women are at their best in the company of other women. Women’s communities, which in America have their roots in the womyn’s land movement of the ’60s, are seeing a resurgence as retirees seek safe, affordable homes with female camaraderie.
Many of these groups are still in the process of acquiring land or building housing. We’ll explore some of these communities around the world and share how you can create your own.
La Maison des Babayagas: Paris, France
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French activist Thérèse Clerc developed this intergenerational community of 25 housing units in eastern Paris, named cheekily after a Slavic word for witch.
➤ Learn more about moving to France
Hibiscus Commons: San Francisco, California
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Five Bay Area women joined together to begin building this intentional community that’s built on the values of housing security and environmental sustainability.
WINCCohousing: Castlemaine, Australia
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Thirty-five women outside Melbourne are building this community of 30+ units on five acres.
➤ Learn more about moving to Australia
Village of Al Samaha, Egypt
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Divorced or widowed women in Egypt can move to this town with their children, where men, married women, and never-married women are not allowed. Resources are scarce, but the women receive land to farm.
New Ground: London, United Kingdom
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A group of women over 50 built this block of flats in northern London. There are currently 26 residents who enjoy meals and hobbies together.
➤ Learn more about moving to the United Kingdom
Sharing With Friends: Queensland, Australia
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This group in northeastern Australia has designed a housing complex of five studios with a common house and outdoor space and hopes to build them for women who want or need them.
Village of Umoja Uaso, Kenya
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Umoja is a village for Samburu women in Africa, many of whom have been subject to forced marriages, FGM, or violence against women. The women run a school and support themselves with tourism and jewelry making.
Baba Yaga Place: Toronto, Canada
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Inspired by the French home, a group in Toronto hopes to build a project there. Toronto is one of the priciest housing markets in the world.
➤ Learn more about moving to Canada
Kulana Goddess Sanctuary: Volcano, Hawaii
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This legacy intentional community is now more focused on retreats and interactions with nature.
Older Women’s Housing Project: Melbourne, Australia
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Women in southeastern Australia have the opportunity to invest in housing for AU$150,000 (about $96,000). A median home in Melbourne costs AU$918,350, while a median apartment costs AU$554,306.
Village of Jinwar, Syria
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The name of this town means “woman land,” and it was built during the Syrian Civil War, opening in 2018. Jinwar is a self-sufficient community where women learn self-defense and farming skills.
WHIM Housing Co-Op: Winnipeg, Canada
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Women over 50 can live in this intentional community in Manitoba. The home is across from a park and offers amenities like a hot tub and garden space.
Start Your Own
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Many of these communities are just getting underway, and most are inaccessible to Americans because the countries they’re based in don’t offer retirement visas. Use these tools to start your own:
- Women Living in Community Resources
- Co-housing Development Consultants
- Foundation for Intentional Community
Jen Barnett is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that's helped thousands of Americans on their moving abroad journeys. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She lives in Mérida, Yucatán, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and two rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?
