It is early evening when we meet for Charla’s porch chat in a tidy space complemented by two large flower beds packed with pansies, roses and perennials. Charla remarks that she loves to look out her window and see the flowers so much that she hopes to duplicate them in her new Heartwood Commons home. She will also enjoy looking across at her neighbors’ flowers as well. Charla likes to wait until the sun is lower in the sky so that she can sit in shade. She is looking forward to inviting neighbors over to her new front porch where shade will be a constant. One of her favorite porch activities is sitting in a reclining lawn chair with her iPad and listening to audio books. Tonight, she and her companion, David, sit with us in comfortable wicker chairs. Charla and David consider themselves to be life partners even though he maintains his own house. He is happy for Charla’s decision to move into Heartwood Commons as he sees the value in cohousing. Charla is happy that her new home will provide space for David to join her if he ever needs to. Till then he plans to be a frequent visitor and will enjoy social activities with other residents. As the sun lowers and the shade deepens, the couple seem to be content to chat about their future in Heartwood Commons.