One thing I love about the Korean culture is the respect & honesty re:personal property. I’ve mentioned this hear before, but it’s very shocking compared to the US. You can leave your purse, your phone, your jacket, anything on a table, even a bag of shopping outside the door of a café, and no one will take it. Seriously i am not kidding And I see it all the time. I was eating at a small restaurant yesterday, sitting at a counter along the window. A woman dining alone like me was sitting next to me. She got up and left everything sitting right there, Probably to go to the restroom. Of course it was all there when she returned. No one considers the idea of taking it!!
I can remember a time when WE had that same sense of value. Sadly, our society seems to have devolved into almost chaos. Which is why I think the idea of shared community is an important concept for us, as a society of human beings, to begin considering seriously. Korea has a LOT of problems, and while I feel for them, I LIVE HERE. While it really DOES help to learn from other cultures, we have to fit what we learn from others into OUR OWN culture, HERE, you know? Our population is growing older. We're healthier and stronger, at much older ages, than ever before in recorded history. I think you have a good idea in looking at how other people do things---but those other cultures will have to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling! WE, over here, have to look at what WE are working with!!
I've been alive in a time where we didn't have to bother locking our doors--- because we all knew, and looked out for, each other. If I were to ever find myself single, again, I'd be looking to rebuild that sense of community... We can't fix anything for Korea, but those of us here, who are aging, could learn from their sense of communal trust and responsibility, while building new-old ways of interacting!
I don't know about anyone else, but this consumerist culture has left me possessed by my possessions! Not that I'd invite anyone in to steal them, but my possessions are the least of my own worries, as I age, and I can't help thinking that there are others who might feel the same. What I have, I can get more of. What I might WISH to have, I have to go searching for. I would wish to have fellowship, community, shared goals, a shared vision for the future; I'd hope to check on my neighbors, and have them check on me. I'd want to be valued for more than my belongings--- and I'd want to value my community members for more than theirs. Being fully engaged, connected, fulfilled, and USEFUL, as we age, would matter FAR MORE in a community of people who shared a vision than material possessions, I would think...
Our increasingly aging population will have to face the realities that our society is moving into. I, personally--- even with a spouse--- would ENJOY the idea of having a group of people who WANTED to be interactive with us, as we aged in place!! They can keep their possessions.. Hell, I've got waaaay more than I need, anyway, thanks to the consumerist mindset instilled by our society! lol
Some people may be surprised or not able to understand because of never having been here, but I feel much safer here in Seoul than I will in the US. But again I can only speak for my personal experience. And my knowledge of this country & culture. My family here works in media and politics. Maybe the most important factor for me in choosing my next home is safety. More than amount of space. So that aligns with the idea and concerns of living with others.
Safety is a concern, @g_w_t_w , for many of us who are growing older. I hear you on that one. And while I am genuinely glad that you've found a sense of safety in Seoul, my focus in posting this particular thread was to present a workable solution for those of us who find ourselves living in the U.S.
There are some TERRIFYING videos, on youtube, that point up some very valid reasons for us to be primarily concerned with safety, these days, as an aging population. But safety and social engagement are two of the biggest benefits to be gained from communal, shared community living. This thread, frankly, wasn't created to discuss the issue of Seoul--- I'm interested in the people who live here, close to home, in our culture, who might see the value in coming together to share wisdom, connection, skills, and space.
It can be difficult, for some, to face the inevitability of aging. I understand that. Its just that choosing a place to land seems like a more reasonable plan than winging it, into our collective older ages. Co-housing seems to be a viable option for some--- not all--- and I'd hoped to hear many different perspectives on this concept that seems to be a real solution for aging in place IN AMERICA...