The Understory

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Forming
  • English
  • Spiritual
  • Suburban

What we do

We are a small household forming around a simple idea: that daily life and inner work belong in the same place. The house does not teach or prescribe one; it offers quiet, company, and rhythm for whatever a person already carries.

 

We are seeking adults who are grounded in their own lives, communicate with kindness and directness, and maintain a practice in any form.

 

Our Vision

A home that feels safe to come back to at the end of the day, because we trust we can tell each other things and that they’ll be received with care.

Our Mission

A home for people who come alive at the thought of living embodied, resourced, and of service to community, whether that’s meditation, journaling, art, movement, or anything else.

  • Purpose
  • Spiritual
  • Languages
  • English
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Coliving
  • Ecosystem
  • Temperate Forest
  • 4 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Not open to visitors
  • Not open to volunteers

How to join

Email me a quick intro describing yourself at ke*@*****en.life

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Decision-making process

  • Full Consensus

Everyone must agree before moving forward.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Vehicle accessibility

  • It would be difficult / impossible to live in this community without a car

Frequency of communal meals

  • 1-3 times per month

Nature of social activity

  • People in the community regularly socialize together

Community activities and engagement

Conscious movement, meditation, journaling, creating art

Educational and retreat offerings

Conscious movement, meditation, journaling, creating art

Local connectedness

  • We mostly keep to ourselves

Friendliness of people and local government

  • It’s a mix

Pet policy

  • No pets are allowed

Substance use culture

  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies
  • Substance use occurs in peripheral / discrete / only in personal or private spaces

Practiced relationship models

  • Monogamy
  • Celibacy
  • Spiritual Practices
  • Active Meditation
  • Dancing practices
  • Meditation
  • Mindfulness
  • Shamanic rituals
  • Yoga

Age demographics

  • Primarily mature adults (over 40)

Diversity representation

  • Neurodiverse (ex. autism, ADHD, sensory processing etc.)

Property status

  • Leased

Property owner

  • By a single individual, couple, or Family Trust

Ecosystem

  • Temperate Forest

Moderate climate with distinct seasonal changes
Includes deciduous and mixed forest types
Examples: Eastern North American Forests, European Broadleaf Forests

Setting

  • Suburban

Residential areas outside city centers but within metropolitan regions.

Community type

  • Cohousing

    Private homes with shared common facilities, designed for neighborly
    interaction while maintaining independence.

  • Coliving

    Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
    kitchens, dining, and social areas.

Guest Book

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Location

  • California, United States

The Understory

Needs and Offers

Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace

  • Promoted
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
1 month ago

3000sf House+Apartment, Rosewind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA

We are a retired couple who are downsizing, still living within the community. We are selling our large, flexible, comfortably rustic house, perfect for a multigenerational household, a family with kids or for 2 separate households. It’s 3000 square feet on 3 levels. The house is on a slope, with 2 main entrances. At one time it housed a large blended family. The current setup is a 2250 square foot, 2 bath main house with a 700 square foot rental apartment, also called an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU). There is a staircase between the main and lower floor, with a lockable door. If desired, the ADU kitchen can be removed. The main floor has a very large kitchen/dining area, large living room, two small bedrooms, a bathroom with 2 sinks and a shower, a laundry room and a large mudroom. The non-bearing wall between the 2 bedrooms can be removed to turn it back to a single primary bedroom. The top floor has two bedrooms, one of which is primary with a large bright sitting area, and a large open middle area between them (game room, TV room, kids sleeping area, etc.). There is a bathroom with a claw-foot tub, no shower. The lower floor is the ADU, a finished storage area and a stand-up “crawl space“ which is used as a second pantry and storage.Attached to the house there is also a 150 sq ft wood paneled office/hobby space with its own electric and propane lines. Features: – straw bale construction, which is energy-efficient, great sound insulation, and provides a warm, soft, feeling. -very large functional kitchen with a long granite countertop. The dining area fits 10 people. -natural construction, with solid maple floors in the middle and upper level, marmoleum floor in kitchen and oak floor in the lower level. The two small bedrooms have painted wood floors. The doors are all solid wood. -large, functional, low maintenance patio area. Room for a table for eight and an additional sitting area. Propane hook ups for grills and smokers.
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
8 months ago

Worktrade Opportunities on Big Island Hawaii

We are continuing our work-trade program at Bridge Hawaii for the right people on this beautiful 86-acre land located along the Hāmākua Coast. Ideally, we want to host those individuals who can help with the garden and who can support with build projects for up to a 3 month stay. This work-trade would include lodging, food staples, community kitchen, running hot water showers, off-grid electricity, and laundry. There is access to high speed wi-fi. We often have a car that can be reserved. We also have full bar signal strength with Verizon cellphone service. We have about 2 acres of permaculture garden that needs to be cared for including; weeding, planting, picking up mulch, some tree trimming, ect. We are currently in a building stage on the land. We have a few current grant projects we are working on and some build projects that are underway. We are an intentional community with about 8 permanent residents. There are rescue dairy cows, mini cows, mini donkeys, horses, a donkey, cats, dogs, and active bee hives. We are a drug and alcohol “free” space. A glass of wine or beer with dinner is fine, but absolutely no day drinking or parties. We have a meditation temple and many waterfall pools that are wonderful for swimming. Close to some of the nicest beaches on island. We have snorkeling gear and a kayak. Since this is an animal sanctuary, we limit the consumption of meat on the land. Fish, eggs, honey, and dairy are fine. Let me know if you’re interested by sending an email or text for our application. Maomi (801) 623-0738 ma***@*****************ii.com
  • Promoted
Offer

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Communities

A residential project: people live here as their primary home.

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An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).

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