A pocket neighborhood is a style of housing that promotes living as a tight community. The style preserves your need of privacy even if there is an increased level of contact with your neighbors since homes are usually in close proximity to each other. Seniors can live in a sharable community even if it is considered a small community.

Sharing open spaces such as a reclaimed valley, garden courtyard, joined backyard, mailboxes or Pedestrian Street is one characteristic of pocket neighborhoods. The styles could include contemporary, craftsman cottage, modern, Spanish or contemporary. Small towns, urban, rural and suburbs are prime spots where seniors can seek homes in pocket neighborhoods.

Features of a Pocket Neighborhood

More boomers are opting for pocket neighborhoods for a variety of reasons.

• Share common ground

Seniors who opt to live in pocket neighborhoods have the advantage of sharing gardens, buildings, mailboxes and parking among other amenities. Sharing the space with your neighbors can bring about a sense of togetherness. You can meet and interact with your neighbors easily. Living in pockets allows you to form relationships with neighbors.

• Security

As a senior, you may find it important to live in a shared neighborhood. You may experience a sense of security since you are living with dozen or so neighbors who take part in the care and oversight of the shared outdoor space. There are boundaries in the community and a sense of privacy can also be present.

• Identity

Pocket neighborhoods can give seniors a sense of identity. The style and design of the pockets allow your neighbors to know you well. You can have chats and casual conversations which can create an identity with your neighbors. Caring for the common space can also bring a sense of identity and purpose to the boomers.

• Privacy

Even if you share the common space outdoors, the pockets are built with privacy in mind. Fences, plantings, gates, railing and flower boxes are some aspects used to provide privacy between the front door and the commons. Since your home in such a neighborhood can be close to another, it can be designed to ensure that neighbors do not peer into your home. The open side of your home can face the closed side of the neighbor’s home. Privacy and shared space are balanced well without impacting on the experience of seniors living in such neighborhoods.