Vegetarian Boomers in Sarasota :: Communities Directory

Formed: 2010

This page last updated:3/7/2011

Vegetarian Boomers in Sarasota

Sarasota, Florida,

United States

(Vegetarian community for 50+)

Our vision is to have a committed group of vegetarians living in a health-conscious community in the Sarasota, Florida area, sharing meals, social activities, and moneymaking opportunities.

The vision comes from Dana and Mary Lou Keller. We’ve became vegetarians decades ago, when we decided to try to more fully align our values to our lifestyle. Kindness and compassion are our core values, and killing and eating animals just didn't fit, and still doesn’t. Neither of us plans to fully retire. As lifelong entrepreneurs, we plan to keep making money and doing good work until we're no longer able to do either. We're still in our 50s, so we have quite a few productive years left in us, and we enjoy coaching people in how to be successful in business.

For years, we have dreamed of a vegetarian community where someone else makes a nutritious main meal of the day, and everyone grows older together gracefully. Our dream includes a beautiful property with lots of trees and some separate homes, some duplexes, and a main building with apartments and community center with kitchen and dining room, a medical facility, fitness center, pool, and rooms for our profit centers and activities. We would like to add assisted-living facilities, but that may have to come later. For now, we are seeking people over age 50 to join us in building a vegetarian community in paradise – Sarasota. Younger vegetarians are also welcome to contact us, but we do plan to add assisted-living facilities so that we don't have to move out as we age.

Our first goal is to start an exploratory committee, and we'll see where that leads us.

Why Sarasota?

We have family in Sarasota, Florida, and we love this gem of a city on the southwest coast of the Sunshine State. Sarasota has amazing beaches, beautiful parks, tons of athletic and cultural activities, plentiful shopping, and world-class traditional and alternative medical care. We moved here partly because we were depressed in the winters up north, suffering from seasonal affective disorder or S.A.D., and living here has cured that ailment. It took us about ten minutes to love the subtropical weather and upbeat environment Sarasota offers. There are four major colleges and a variety of smaller educational institutions in town, including a world-class art school and the eclectic honors college of the state of Florida, so this is more than a quiet retirement community. Check out any of numerous websites on Sarasota.

Status: On hold for a few years. We are not ready to move yet.

Website: http://vegetarianboomers.com

Contact:

Mary Lou Keller
4250 Brackenwood Ct
Sarasota, Florida 34232 United States
Phone: 941-377-9815

Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses)

This page last updated:3/7/2011

Visitors Not Accepted

(No property yet)

Visitor Process: We do not have property yet and are not quite ready to start looking.

Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:

Our community fits the legal definition of "housing for older persons" * and thus we may restrict membership/residency to those of a certain age and may have limits on child membership/residency in accordance with the law. Our community does not discriminate based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or domestic abuse.

Population Members(adults and children): 2 Non-member Residents: 0 Open to new members: Yes (We are on hold until we are ready to move.)	Government Decision Making: By majority rule Identified Leader: Yes (Mary Lou and Dana Keller are founders, will gladly share leadership with others.) Leadership Core Group: Yes (The founders and other interested parties.)	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances (Members expected to purchase a housing unit and share in expenses) Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt: Yes (As long as member can purchase a house and commit to share common expenses.) Labor Contribution: (But there will be volunteer and pay-for-service opportunites) Join Fee: Yes (Purchase a housing unit, commit to share expenses.) Regular Fees: Yes (Probably like a homeowners association.)
Land and Buildings Suburban (Sarasota area, wherever we find property with proper zoning) Land Owned By: The community Cohousing: Yes (We want a variety of housing units available, but will see what the market brings.)	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: (A garden would be great) Share Community Meals: Nearly all dinners (At least dinner, and maybe more) Dietary Choice or Restrictions: We all share a common diet (Vegetarian/vegan) Dietary Practice: Primarily vegetarian (Vegetarian/vegan) Alcohol Use: Used Often (No restrictions here, as long as the community is not disrupted.) Tobacco Use: Seldom used (Not in public areas)	Social Factors Common Spiritual Practices: Yes (Kindness, compassion and respect) Which Spiritual Traditions(s): Eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions) (We are Unitarian Universalists, but we honor all faiths and non-faith traditions) Educational Style(s): Other

Cohousing Details

Cohousing Status:

Forming

Number of Units:

we're hoping for fifty

Become an Editor Current editor(s): mlkeller

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