The Real Work of Living in Community (and Why It’s Worth It)

Cohousing is often described in glowing terms—and for good reason. Shared meals, supportive neighbors, walkable design and a deep sense of belonging are powerful antidotes to isolation, burnout and disconnection. For many people, cohousing represents not just a housing choice, but a hopeful reimagining of how we live together in a complex world.

But community, like anything meaningful, isn’t built on ideals alone. It’s built through real people navigating real relationships, differences and responsibilities over time. Living in close connection brings joy and resilience—but it also brings challenges that require intention, humility and skill. Ignoring those challenges doesn’t make them disappear; naming them honestly is what allows communities to thrive.

This series, The Real Work of Living in Community (and Why It’s Worth It), is an invitation into that honest conversation. Rather than focusing only on the benefits of cohousing, these posts explore the common tensions that can arise—and, more importantly, how intentional communities are designed to address them. These are not cautionary tales meant to scare people away. They are reflections meant to build trust, understanding and confidence.

Each post in this series will take one aspect of community life that can feel challenging—leadership dynamics, decision-making fatigue, uneven participation, affordability tensions, personal boundaries or social pressure—and examine it with care. We’ll look at why these issues emerge, how they can impact a community if left unaddressed and what thoughtful structures, governance and culture can do to support healthier outcomes.

The truth is, cohousing doesn’t work because people are perfect. It works because systems are designed to support imperfect humans doing their best together. When challenges are anticipated rather than avoided, communities become more resilient, more inclusive and more capable of lasting beyond their founding moment.

If you’ve ever wondered whether community living is “too idealistic,” “too complicated” or “too much work,” this series is for you. Because yes—living in community is real work. And for many of us, it’s work that leads to deeper connection, shared purpose and a way of living that feels profoundly worth it.

This first post begins with a foundational topic: Preventing Founder’s Syndrome—designing communities that are strong enough to outlast their founders.