Our July Retreat — Cohousing Corner, August 2026
A Day of Connection, Creativity, and Conversation
One of the things that makes cohousing different from any other kind of neighborhood is that the community starts long before the homes are built. You don't need walls or a Common House to begin building real relationships. Through retreats, group activities, and intentional time spent together, bonds are being forged right now. Every moment of showing up for each other is shaping the future community we want to live in. By the time we move in, we won't be strangers figuring out how to be neighbors, we'll already be a village.
On July 18, Sunnyside Village members and explorers came together for an in-person retreat filled with bonding, laughter, and meaningful conversations about the community we're building together.
We kicked things off with activities designed to help us envision what we'll gain by living alongside neighbors who truly know and care about us. Post-it note exercises revealed just how much we already have in common with our future neighbors. As member Kyle put it, "Exchanging stories is a good way to get to know each other. We're developing trust with each other."
Then we tried something new: Land Art. We headed into the forest, collected natural materials like leaves, flowers, and rocks (with permission from the parks department!), and created art arrangements on the ground. The result was a "gallery" of beautiful pieces made entirely from nature, with zero environmental impact.
One of our members also gave a fascinating update on the environmental work happening across Snohomish County. It's inspiring to know that the county is taking a progressive approach to balancing the needs of people with the needs of nature.
Later in the day, we explored how introverts and extroverts experience community differently. Fun fact: cohousing attracts a much higher percentage of introverts than the general population. It turns out that the structure of cohousing actually makes it easier for introverts to build friendships and find social connection naturally.
That led to a great discussion about everyday communication in community. How do you signal that you're up for a chat on the pathway versus needing to keep moving? How do you let neighbors know you're open for a drop-in visit versus needing some quiet time? These are the kinds of conversations that make cohousing so intentional, and so special.
We'll let our members have the last word:
"Every time I leave a Sunnyside retreat, I'm reminded that we're not just building a place to live, we're building relationships with the people who will become our neighbors." — Norm
"It's fun to get together with everyone. My favorite part was the goofy questions we asked each other in our dyads!"— Sarah
"It was nice to get to know some people better. For me it was well worth the hour drive it took me to get there!" — Linda H
"It was our best retreat ever! The content was well planned and well suited for the stage of development we are in. Good people, interesting, attentive. I really enjoyed the day." — Dean
"I really appreciate the time and effort it takes to pull off a day like this. We learned a lot, laughed a lot, and ate a lot. I'm excited that I get to be neighbors to all of these amazing people." — Jennie