Community Spotlight

Oakcreek Community in Stillwater, Oklahoma — the state’s first cohousing community — recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. Located about 50 miles north of Oklahoma City, the community is situated on 7.5 acres in town amid beautiful surroundings. On one side Oakcreek is bordered by woods with a stream coming from a large lake. It is close to recreation and shopping, and nearby Oklahoma State University provides many opportunities for sporting, cultural and educational events.

The community’s active adults — who range in age from 55 to over 90 — live in privately owned, “right-sized” homes clustered around a large common house they use every day as an extension of their homes. Residents see their neighbors and know them by name. They frequently share dinners in the common house and invite neighbors to “sit a spell” on their front porch with no traffic whizzing by.

Oakcreek residents believe they have a better chance for healthy aging in place by living in community. They respect one another’s needs for privacy yet encourage healthy activity and having as much fun as possible. They have many skills and tools to share, and the whole community benefits from each member doing what he or she likes best and collectively hiring out the rest.

Oakcreek’s strength is based on the involvement of all owners — everyone has something to contribute to the whole. Participation can include dinners (cooking as well as eating), games, music, working on tasks, or just meeting and chatting on the sidewalk. Residents want to know their neighbors and participate to the best of their abilities. Everyone agrees to join one or two teams that do the work of planning, managing, operating, maintaining and growing Oakcreek. Residents understand that if they want momentary happiness, they serve themselves, but if they want lasting fulfillment, they serve others.

Visit Oakcreek’s website at https://www.oakcreekstillwater.com/. To visit or learn more about membership, contact Pat Darlington at patdarlington@yahoo.com.