15 essays on found family, "hacking adulthood," and other things communal living can teach us about the future of housing in America
Featuring Kristen Arnett, Rhaina Cohen, Kim Stanley Robinson, and more
At 29 years old, when she made an unexpected move back home, Samantha Paige Rosen was surprised to find how much she enjoyed living with her parents again. Inspired and curious, she began searching for others who had happily redefined what "home" meant to them.
The essays and Q&As in Living, Together are about carving out spaces of communal life and joy in our 3-bed, 2-bath starter home culture. And though they recount life at different times and in different places, these writers showcase the many vibrant, life-giving shapes "home"can take. Across sections on family, community, and what lies beyond housing, readers will hear from voices like
• Kristen Arnett, whose found family kept her afloat, from weddings to hurricane season and everything in between
• Kim Stanley Robinson, who describes the magic of regular gatherings with people who self-organize to accomplish tasks
• Sarah Thankam Mathews, who cofounded a pandemic mutual aid group and discovered, like so many of us, how essential connection and care are during times of crisis
• Rodney M. Bordeaux, who explores how strength and unity are inextricably tied to life on First Nations reservations
Communal living isn't just for cults or millennials with a pipe dream. Living, Together opens a window into how people in the US, amidst climate uncertainties and rising mortgage rates, are thriving through collective care. It invites us to imagine what new joys and paths for connection exist when we push through the walls society has built for us. Samantha Paige Rosen's writing on identity, the arts, and culture has been published by outlets such as Slate, the Washington Post, Them, BOMB, and Literary Hub. In addition to creative and content writing, Sam tutors and coaches writing. While Living, Together is her first book, her nonfiction and poetry have been anthologized in My Body, My Words: A Collection of Bodies and Kiss Your Darlings: A Taylor Swift Anthology. She lives just outside of Philadelphia with her cats.
