Golden Girls, Santa Fe Style: Shared Homes, Shared Futures & a New Way to Live
Chip Conley
MEA Founder, Hotelier + Hospitality Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author
What if you didn't have to age alone – or in an institution?
Lately your home has been feeling too big, too quiet, and too expensive. But the idea of moving to an apartment or senior living institution feels even worse.
Some days the loneliness of living on your own is hard to shake. You have friends, sure – but they're not there when you need someone to talk to at 10 pm, or when you're sick, or when something funny happens and you just want to share it with someone in the next room.
Other days it's the financial stress of maintaining a place you don't really need anymore that eats at you. Maintenance, utilities, property taxes – it all adds up. You're house-rich but cash-poor, and every time something breaks, you feel it.
Meanwhile, your friends are in the same boat, all of you spending too much to live too alone.
You look around and wonder: Is this it? Is this how you'll spend the next 20 or 30 years?
You didn't retire to be lonely. You didn't work this hard to end up isolated. You imagined laughter, adventure, companionship – not rattling around in empty rooms wondering what to do with yourself.
There's another way – and it's been hiding in plain sight
Remember The Golden Girls? Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia weren't just sitcom characters. They were showing us a blueprint for how to age well: live with friends, share a beautiful home, split the costs, and actually enjoy your life.
That's not fiction anymore. It's real, it's happening, and it's coming to Santa Fe.
When Chip Conley wrote about Golden Girls housing recently, hundreds of people responded to his survey. The results were stunning: 84% said they'd consider this model of shared living.
Their reasons? Companionship, shared costs, and mutual support – exactly what you've been craving.
But the survey respondents also voiced real concerns:
Those are exactly the questions Chip’s weekend retreat this January 15-18 is designed to help you answer – by experiencing this kind of community-driven lifestyle firsthand, whether you want to live in an MEA Golden Girls home in Santa Fe or create your own elsewhere.
The living situation you’re looking for
You want more than just a roof over your head. You want:
And here's what matters most: you want to know it will actually work before you commit to anything.
That's exactly what this weekend is designed to help you discover
Chip Conley didn't just write about Golden Girls housing — he's making it real.
As the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality and former Head of Global Hospitality at Airbnb, Chip has spent his career revolutionizing how we think about belonging and home. But when his blog post on Golden Girls housing went viral and 10,000+ people reacted to the post, he knew this wasn't just an idea – it was a movement waiting to happen.
So Chip put his money where his vision is. He has purchased two stunning homes near MEA's Rising Circle Ranch specifically for shared living, with plans to expand to 6-8 homes over the next few years. These aren't theoretical concepts – they're real homes, fully furnished, ready for the right people, with all kinds of unique amenities.
But here's the thing: finding those "right people" is everything
Chip's survey revealed that compatibility and conflict resolution were people's biggest concerns. That's why he's not just offering homes – he's creating a curated community of MEA alumni and friends who already share core values around personal growth, wisdom, and conscious living.
And that's why this weekend exists: to let you experience what Golden Girls living could actually feel like while connecting with other like-minded people and getting clear on whether this is right for you – all before making any commitments.
Whether you’re interested in Chip’s Santa Fe shared houses or considering doing something similar somewhere else, this weekend gives you frameworks for success, clarity on what you're looking for, and connections with people who share your vision.
During your three days with Chip, you will...
Address the #1 concern head-on: compatibility – spending meaningful time with like-minded individuals serious about shared living and learn more about the kind of people you click with and who might become your chosen family
Learn proven frameworks for conflict resolution – disagreements will happen, and knowing how to navigate them with grace is what makes shared living sustainable
Tour two real Golden Girls homes (not yet fully-furnished) – in Lamy and Eldorado, just minutes from the Ranch, so you can envision yourself living there or in a similar situation elsewhere
Understand the financial model that makes it possible – from cost-sharing structures to maintenance responsibilities to what happens when someone wants to leave
Explore how to preserve privacy while building intimacy – discovering the delicate balance that makes Golden Girls housing work
Get honest about your non-negotiables – through guided reflection, you'll clarify what you truly need in housemates, home environment, and lifestyle
Create house rules and agreements that actually work – learning from Chip's research and other successful shared living models
Experience both the Ranch and Santa Fe - since so many of the extra amenities and benefits are on the Ranch, you’ll get to explore the hidden treasures of the 2,566-acre campus as well as travel to Ten Thousands Waves spa and Canyon Road galleries during the weekend
Leave with clarity and next steps – whether that's forming a household, joining a waitlist, or knowing this isn't your path (which is valuable too)
This Workshop
Is For You If…
Meet Your Faculty
What if we could create intentional communities where people who share values and interests could age together – not in isolation, not in institutions, but in friendship?
~ Chip Conley ~
Chip Conley
Hospitality Pioneer | Modern Elder Academy Founder | Visionary Behind the Golden Girls Housing Movement
Chip Conley is the founder and CEO of Modern Elder Academy, the world's first midlife wisdom school. A hospitality entrepreneur and five-time best-selling author, Chip founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality at age 26 and grew it into the second-largest boutique hotel company in America. At age 52, he was recruited by Airbnb's young founders to help them scale the company, serving as Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy for four years.
Chip is a three-time TED speaker and the New York Times bestselling author of Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder and Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age.
In 2027 he co-founded MEA to help people in midlife find their own meaningful way to create fulfilling and exciting next chapters for themselves. Since then he has dedicated much of his life to reframing the concept of aging and helping people navigate midlife with renewed purpose and possibility.
What you'll gain
Clarity on compatibility – the make-or-break factor
Through facilitated conversations and organic time together, you'll discover the kind of people you naturally connect with and who might become more than just housemates.
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. No theory, no speculation, just the real thing.
Proven tools for navigating conflict and preserving relationships
Chip will share frameworks from successful shared living communities 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.
An immersive Santa Fe experience that helps you envision your future
From communal bathing at the legendary Ten Thousand Waves spa, to exploring Canyon Road's art galleries, to experiencing the Ranch's 2,566 acres of high-desert beauty, you'll discover what life can feel like in a creative, soulful community and gain helpful insight into where you want your next chapter to be located.
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. 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:
The community you've been dreaming of starts here
Hundreds of people have told Chip they're interested in this new vision of living together. And the question his survey revealed wasn't whether people want Golden Girls housing – it's whether they can find the right people to do it with and lay the groundwork for successful co-living.
That's the real challenge, and it's what this weekend solves.
Whether you're considering Chip's Santa Fe homes (two are ready now, with 6-8 more planned) or planning to create your own Golden Girls community elsewhere, you need compatible housemates who share your values – and you need to know what works and what doesn't.
This weekend brings together MEA alums and other like-hearted people who are serious about shared living – people who already share your commitment to personal growth, emotional intelligence, and intentional living. You'll see real homes set up for co-sharing, learn proven strategies for strong and healthy relationships, and possibly even meet people who could become your future housemates.
Whether you end up in Santa Fe, your hometown, or somewhere else entirely, knowing how to find the right people and lay the groundwork for long-term shared housing success is everything.
This weekend is where those connections begin.
Book your spot today
Golden Girls, Santa Fe Style: Shared Homes, Shared Futures & a New Way to Live
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.
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.
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, this workshop is open to anyone!
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’s perfectly normal. The goal isn’t to form a household by Sunday – it’s to understand the model, learn what to look for in housemates, experience what successful shared living requires, begin building relationships, and deeply consider the kind of household dynamic you’re looking for.
What makes MEA alums ideal for Golden Girls housing?
The survey revealed that compatibility and shared values are the #1 factors in successful shared living. MEA alums already share a foundation of emotional intelligence, personal growth mindset, and commitment to intentional living. You’ve done the inner work. You understand the importance of communication. You’re not afraid of vulnerability or honest conversations. That’s what makes this model work – and why this weekend brings together people who already speak the same language.
What will I see during the home tours?
You’ll tour two 3-6 bedroom homes near the Ranch that Chip has purchased for Golden Girls housing. These real-world examples help you understand layouts, shared vs. private spaces, and what to look for when evaluating properties – whether you’re considering these specific homes or planning to create something similar elsewhere.
What's included in the special workshop pricing?
Your tuition includes 3 nights of accommodations at the Ranch, all chef-prepared meals, the Ten Thousand Waves spa experience, a Canyon Road art wander, home tours, and all programming. The only additional costs are transportation to Santa Fe and personal incidentals. This is specially priced for January’s off-season.
I'm not sure I want roommates. Is this still for me?
Many participants feel the same way initially. That’s exactly why we created this experiential weekend – to help you discover whether shared living actually appeals to you when you see how it works in practice. You’ll learn what makes it successful, what the challenges are, and whether it aligns with how you want to live. Even if you decide it’s not for you, you’ll gain valuable clarity and enjoy a wonderful weekend with fellow MEA alums.
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