Today, more than ever before there is a growing trend within the female ‘baby-boomer’ generation. These are people who were born during the “baby-boom’ between years 1946 and 1964 after WWII. Meaning when the boys came home, they made up for lost time by starting families right away. They didn’t know that in their golden years they would have to cut corners. They also didn’t bank on having to double up at home with a roommate just to save money. Yes, it’s true that most widowed or divorced women in that age-group were looking forward to their husband’s pensions and Social Security. Because many were housewives and paid very little into Social Security they are now struggling to make their way. Had they not decided to share a common domicile with another female they would have had to possibly make a decision between medicine and groceries.
There are many other reasons why this arrangement is common and it’s not all bad
Remember that this is the 60’s hippie generation, you wouldn’t think to look at them now but this was a free flowing, peace-loving empowered generation of women. In this way they are reverting right back to that old communal style living. So when the going gets tough they get together. According to an analysis done by AARP in 2010 they found that at least 480,000 women lived with another woman that was not a blood relation or a relation by marriage.
There are more and more “Home-Share” programs that are assisting those who want to share a home since the economy turned for the worse. Some lost their homes and couldn’t afford to rent an apartment because of the rental market taking advantage of the economic situation. Rents are set to rise another 4.6% this year according to the National Association of Realtors. These programs help connect those that are compatible to share a home.This business will boom as more baby-boomer females get together to save money.
So why not get together with a man?
This is interesting because whenever you hear a baby-boomer female talk about ‘shaking up’ with a man instead, several factors come into play. Here is what happens in this case. Some women in that generation are still against living together without marriage. This is mostly because their children and grandchildren are not so hot on the idea. If they marry, they stand to lose any benefit as a widow that they may be getting from their deceased husbands. There are also an inordinate number of occurrences of fraud between romantic alignments in this generation. Everything from insurance fraud to bank account fraud seems to have turned off this generation of women. Not to say that it doesn’t happen in any trusted alliance but for now it is still happening much more among male and female alliances of this nature than any other.
What are then the main reasons why women share with women?
For the most part other than money, it is the bonding that women share with other women. It is the cherishing of those emotional ties that they know will last through all the changes in their marriages and divorces and they feel protected and safe in fostering that camaraderie. Then there is the health-issue; these ladies are healthier and living longer but they come with issues nonetheless and no one wants to be alone and sick or in an emergency. This is really the top reason among most over the age of 65. It is comforting to know someone is there that can reach out in time of need.
What are cohousing projects?
This type of arrangement is not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, there is an expansion of this arrangement that began in Denmark and it has caught on quickly stateside. This arrangement is called cohousing and it entails a group of women per household that have their own bedroom and sometimes bathroom and share the common areas like kitchen and living room and they also share cooking and cleaning chores as well. There is an actual model in Colorado that is expanding into San Diego and other big cities.
In conclusion, money, companionship and a sense of well-being and happiness without romantic obligation and red-tape is the crux of the situation. This generation began changing the way we live and think and now this is still their accomplishment. It is what they leave the world with. It is the same sense of strength and survival they always had. Give them a problem and a solution shall be found in unity.
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