Many children fantasize about growing up and living in a great big house with all their best friends. As we mature, realities of life come into play and those dreams get modified. But reality has been kind to a group of friends who decided to live their childhood dreams and retire to a house they share with their best friends.

Meet the McNeils (Ken and Beth), the Steinbachs (Ron and Warece) and the Burns (Norville and Carolyn).  Ranging in age from 70 to 80, all were teachers at Grenville Christian College, a residential private school in Maitland, a small community east of Brockville, Ont.  When retirement time rolled around each couple had to find a suitable home, as their careers at Grenville provided them with living quarters that they would have to vacate upon retirement.

Each couple searched long and hard to find a house that suited their needs, but there was always something lacking.

“We wanted a home that suited our needs over the long term,” Ken recalls.  “But there weren’t a lot of suitable properties for sale.” Most were either too big, too small or had too many stairs to accommodate older people, so in the end it was clear that the best bet was to build. During this time, the Steinbachs’ son, a builder in the Brockville area, made them aware of an intimate cul-de-sac development where a lot could be purchased at an attractive price.

“Since we’d all been good friends for more than 30 years the idea came to us to build a home where we ALL could live,” recalls Warece.
And a dream was born.

Together they purchased a 1.3-acre lot and starting with a blank sheet of paper. Beth began outlining a floor plan of a house that could suit the three couples. “We wanted to ensure that each couple had plenty of privacy, so all three of our bedrooms have ensuite baths and a sitting area,” says Norville.  The plans were carefully drawn to ensure that the home had enough space to accommodate all their needs and wishes.

The result is a 4,500 sq. ft. five-bedroom house on two levels, shared by the three couples, an aging parent, two dogs and a cat.  What’s so remarkable about this house is that it’s virtually barrier-free allowing for wheelchair access to every room, even the shower stalls.

The stairs leading to the upper level are a straight run that can easily accommodate a mechanical lift, should one be required in the future. The house has a number of common spaces and rooms that are capable of accommodating up to 14 people for dinner, as well as a smaller dining room, in case one couple receives visitors that call for privacy.

The kitchen, dining room and living rooms are a huge open concept with lots of windows and patio doors that allow an abundance of light. Off the dining area there is a covered patio with a roof that allows for light to penetrate, but keeps the full force of the sun at bay and protects from the rain. The living room has an alcove built under the stairs to the second floor, just large enough to accommodate a well used upright piano.  Off the living area is a sunroom facing south that serves as a private dining room and games room, depending on the mood.

“We share equally in all the work and we trust each other implicitly,” Beth says.  “We all take turns with cooking, cleaning and things like caring for the grounds and shopping for groceries. Of course there are some things that some of us are better at than others.”

For instance, Ron, who taught business courses at Grenville does all the bookkeeping for the home and makes sure that bills get paid on time and that the finances are on a sound footing. Carolyn, an avid gardener, has taken on the role of landscaper in chief, planting a profusion of verdant flowers and tending a carefully planted vegetable garden.

The group enjoys significant savings in their common expenses, which they share equally. “This arrangement allows us to save a fair amount on things like food expenses, laundry and utilities,” says Carolyn.  “If each of us lived in a separate house, it would virtually triple the cost.”

To secure each couple’s contribution in building this home, the group has devised a legal agreement whereby each is registered on title to the degree to which the couple invested.

“We wanted to make sure that our heirs and successors were protected, in the event of our passing away,” says Ken.

Getting along with each other was never really an issue.  “We have conflicts, just like any other family, but we work them out,” says Ron.

 “Absolutely!” Warece agrees.  “I think it’s our common faith that enables us to satisfactorily work out our differences.  We look upon this as if it were like a marriage and we do pray together,” she adds.

These three couples have created an environment wherein the childhood dreams of living with friends has come true.  Theirs could be a template for many similar homes wherein friends can look after and nurture each other without the necessity of moving into a long term care facility.