Golden Girls & Guys: Modern Co-Living for Community and Independence
Elizabeth White
Founder | Entrepreneur | Advocate| Author | Keynote Speaker
Share a home, keep your freedom: explore modern co-living models – and how to make them work.
Lately you’ve been thinking a lot about what you want your future living situation to look like.
Maybe you’re living alone in the house you’ve had for decades, and you enjoy your life for the most part, but are wondering if there’s a better option that offers more community, belonging, and freedom for the decades ahead.
Or maybe you’ve just gone through some form of upheaval – a divorce or loss that has changed your living situation – and you need to find another option sooner as opposed to later.
Maybe money isn't an issue for you... or you’ve realized you don't want to drain your savings into a house built for a family that moved out years ago.
Either way, there’s one thing you know for sure: the traditional “senior living” models built for your parents’ generation don’t appeal to you at all.
Listen to Chip and Elizabeth White on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:
The New Way Women Over 50 Are Choosing to Live | Elizabeth White
The good news is, shared living options designed for our generation are now available to us
From shared houses to “tiny homes” communities, these modern ways of co-living are designed to give you community and connection without costing you your independence.
For some people the best fit is a fully shared home, like the one in which the “Golden Girls” lived in the popular TV show. Others want a place of their own along with shared communal spaces – people a few steps away when they want them, and a door they can close when they need some private time.
The people around you could be women, men, couples, longtime friends, or people you have yet to meet. The larger question is how to create a living arrangement that offers the right balance of companionship, privacy, support, and autonomy for you.
Golden Girls & Guys lets you explore what modern shared living could look like in the decades ahead.
Elizabeth White has spent years helping people think through shared living as it actually plays out, not as a nice idea over dinner. She's an age solutions advocate, the founder of NUUage coliving, and the author of 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal – a Harvard MBA and former C-suite executive who writes and speaks about aging, money, and independence from the inside.
She will help you work out which model actually fits the way you want to live, and how to set it up – the agreements, the costs, the hard conversations – so it holds up over the years, not just the first few months.
Maybe you find yourself wondering:
These are the kinds of questions you will explore during your three days with Elizabeth in Santa Fe. Please note this workshop is open to both women and men who are interested in exploring co-living as an open for their next chapter.
Create your vision for the living situation that works for you
Community, privacy, and independence are easy to want and hard to balance, especially on your own past a certain age. Get the mix right, though, and daily life starts to look something like this:
Elizabeth will help you get from "that sounds nice" to a concrete plan you can act on.
The small daily stuff is what makes or breaks a shared home.
Live alone for twenty years and you run the place. The thermostat sits where you like it. The fridge holds your food. The pillows go where you put them.
Share a home and you hand some of that over. The real question is how much – and where your hard limits are.
This is Elizabeth White's territory. She's been helping people think through shared living for years, and she drops you into the real-life situations that can blow shared houses apart...
You’ll get clear on how you want to handle these tricky situations and more – what you really want, what you'll never put up with, and what kind of setup actually fits the life you've got.
What you'll do over three days with Elizabeth in Santa Fe
Find the co-living model that fits you
Compare a shared house, parallel living, tiny-home communities and other options, and see which one suits how you want to live.
Find your dealbreakers before they find you
Get clear on your hard limits before you're living with the consequences of skipping them.
Create house rules and agreements that actually work
Learn how to set the framework and non-negotiables, based on the shared households Elizabeth has seen succeed and fail.
Understand the financial considerations
From splitting costs to shared upkeep to what happens when someone wants out – including the parts people overlook.
Get clear on who you'd prefer to live with – and how
Do you want to share your space with friends, family, or strangers? People your age or young people who can bring vibrant energy into the space? Here's where you begin to figure that out.
This workshop
is for you if…
Meet your faculty
Elizabeth White
Founder | Entrepreneur | Advocate| Author | Keynote Speaker
Elizabeth White is an age solutions advocate and the founder of NUUage coliving, a thought-leadership initiative championing shared living for older adults. She’s also the author of 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal.
When Elizabeth couldn't find a book that met her needs during a bout of long-term unemployment, she wrote it herself. She wrote it as a 62-year-old Black woman who lived the story, and as a Harvard MBA and former C-suite executive who never expected to land there. Her candid TEDx Talk, "An Honest Look at the Personal Finance Crisis," has over 2 million views, and her work has appeared in Forbes, The Washington Post, and on PBS NewsHour.
As the lead facilitator for this weekend, Elizabeth doesn't deal in hypotheticals. She navigates the hard realities of aging, money, and independence with audiences she describes as "the toughest crowd" – sovereign, determined people who don't want to be talked down to.
"The conversation around shared living usually stops at 'wouldn't that be great?' My work is taking people past the romantic idea of kitchen-table banter and helping them figure out what kind of living arrangement they actually want, what they require in a housemate, and whether they’re ready to do it."~ Elizabeth White
Supported By the MEA Team
Darby Rose
Experience Facilitator
Darby Rose Hillman is a multidisciplinary artist, experience facilitator, event organizer, cook, actor, and animal lover. Her work and life are rooted in creativity, service, and a deep appreciation for human connection. Whether through thoughtfully guided experiences, artistic practice, or performance, she ...
View BioWhat you'll gain
Clarity on compatibility – the make-or-break factor
Through facilitated conversations with people who are considering similar questions, you’ll learn which personalities, habits, expectations, and living styles are compatible with your own.
A real-world preview of the homes and lifestyle
You'll tour two actual Golden Girls homes near the Ranch – fully furnished, move-in ready — so you can easily visualize what your daily life could look like sharing the same space with others.
Proven tools for navigating conflict and preserving relationships
Discover frameworks for handling the inevitable disagreements that come with cohabitation. You'll learn how to address issues early, create clear agreements, and protect both the relationships and your sanity.
Three days at the Ranch to think it through properly
Almost everyone leaves with one of three answers: I'm ready, I want to test it first, or I want community close by without sharing a roof. All three are useful. You'll know which one is yours and what to do about it in the months to come.
Our Agenda at a Glance
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
4:00 PM: Arrival / Check-In
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
9:00 PM: Free Time
Friday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
Saturday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
6:30 PM: Dinner, Dessert & Graduation
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Sunday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Checkout / Departure
*Please note all times are estimates. and that not all "classroom activities" take place in the actual classroom. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.
Step into transformation in the high desert
Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.
Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.
PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs
Explore the ranch
on horseback
Our Rising Circle Ranch spans 2,600 acres of New Mexico high desert, offering guided horseback riding for all experience levels through diverse terrains under the vast Southwest sky
You’ll experience highlights like:
Horseback riding is an optional add-on activity you can book once you arrive on the ranch. Whether you’re seasoned or brand new to horseback adventures, this guided experience lets you discover the ranch’s natural wonders alongside our gentle horses.
Your workshop includes:
Gain valuable clarity on how you want to live, and with whom – and how to make it work
Most of us don't want to live alone into our 70s and 80s. But knowing that doesn't answer the questions that matter: Who would I actually live with? How do we keep it from wrecking the friendship? What does it cost, and what am I signing up for?
This workshop is built around those questions. You’ll leave with:
Decide how you want to live while the choice is still fully yours to make.
Book your spot today
Golden Girls & Guys: Modern Co-Living for Community and Independence
The program was spectacular. It really surpassed my expectations. I was really surprised about how the course was curated. There was such a warm intensity and personal touch to it.
MEA is for anyone who wants to live with greater purpose and gratitude.I’ve banished the anxiety of being a cancer victim
I experienced MEA as a newly diagnosed multiple myeloma cancer patient, and as a result of the things I've learned - I've banished the anxiety of being a cancer victim, am in remission, and living with a newfound energy and purpose.
Eternally grateful for everyone and everything MEA!!.
Just know how grateful I am for the joy fuel you all put in my rocket ship. When I want to feel loved or just need a good smile I can think of my time at MEA, which came at the perfect time to encourage me on my journey. Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an MEA alum to attend?
No. You don’t need to be an MEA alum.
While MEA’s current Santa Fe homes are built as women-only residences, this weekend is for anyone exploring the co-living model. You just need to be ready to have honest, practical conversations about how you want to live as you age. When everyone in the room is taking the idea seriously, it makes figuring out compatibility and boundaries a lot easier.
Do I need to commit to moving to Santa Fe to attend?
Not at all. This weekend is about exploration, not commitment. Many participants are considering creating Golden Girls housing in their current city or hometown. Others are exploring Santa Fe. Come with curiosity. You’ll leave with clarity about whether shared living is right for you and the tools to make it work wherever you choose to do it.
What if I don't find compatible housemates this weekend?
That is completely fine. Forming a household by Sunday is not the expectation. The real value of the weekend is leaving with a clear set of dealbreakers, a firm grasp on the financial realities, and a deep understanding of what you require in a living situation. If you happen to meet someone you want to live with, great. If you leave knowing exactly what you are looking for, the weekend was a success.
What kind of people attend this workshop?
You will be in the room with discerning, experienced adults who are asking the same questions you are. Some are newly single and looking for a next step. Others have full lives but want to plan for their 70s and 80s while they still have energy and choice. The common denominator is that they are done being vague about shared living and are ready to look at the daily realities.
What will I see during the home tours?
You will walk through the real homes Chip Conley is shaping for shared living near the Ranch. This includes a look at the classic model — a single shared home with private rooms and common gathering spaces. You will also see how the parallel-living concept is taking form, offering private units connected to a shared hub. Seeing both up close helps you evaluate which balance of privacy and connection fits your temperament.
What’s included in the workshop tuition?
Your tuition covers three nights of accommodations at the Rising Circle Ranch, all chef-prepared meals, MEA home tours, and all workshop programming. Your only separate expenses are your travel to Santa Fe and personal incidentals.
I’m not sure I want housemates. Is this still for me?
Yes. Many people arrive feeling exactly that way. Elizabeth’s goal is to help you reach one of three definitive answers: Yes, I am ready, Yes, but I need to test it first, or I want community, but I do not want cohabitation. Learning that you prefer your own space – but want to be intentional about building community nearby – is an incredibly valuable outcome. You will leave with the clarity to stop wondering and start planning
Is this workshop open to both women and men?
Yes. This November session is open to women and men who want to explore modern co-living, shared housing, and community-based living as they age. MEA’s current Santa Fe homes are women-only residences, but the principles you’ll explore can be used to create single-gender, mixed-gender, or other shared-living communities in Santa Fe or elsewhere.
Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors
Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.
Daniel Booz
Lucas Erie
Leslie Bartlett