Doris Beckman Turns Her People First Plan Into Shared Housing Reality

A Chat With Doris Beckman of Home Sharing Golden Girls Style

We posted an article about a gardening housemate to Doris's Facebook group, Home Sharing Golden Girls Style.  She responded her housemate likes to garden. And that she was open to talking about her home sharing experience. 

So on May 24, 2023 we sat down for a visit. 

Since 2016 Doris has shared her four bedroom home with a gardener and other vetted housemates. The home sharing lifestyle has given Doris financial stability, companionship, help around the house and the security of having someone close at hand. Her family agrees. 

Having been involved with Monterey County's Home Match program Doris saw many benefits that home sharing had for local seniors. Her role as a placement specialist with Home Match coupled with die-hard Golden Girls fandom equaled an advocate inspired by the lifestyle of the four housemate in the sitcom.

In daydreams, Doris pictured herself living with friends. She hadn't really planned for the possibility.

Things Change

During our chat Doris talks about her path to sharing, working with lifestyle differences, her family's blessing and the benefits she sees in sharing a home. We discuss it's personal impact and how she visions the way forward for others considering a shared housing lifestyle.

Shared Housing Mentor

Meet Annamarie Pluhar

She's Doris's inspiration. Annamarie authored Sharing Housing: A Guidebook For Finding And Keeping Good Housemates, is a workshop presenter and legislative advocate for shared housing in her home state. Doris is working to bring Annamarie's home sharing program to Monterey County and we hope she succeeds. 

Doris walks the walk using Annamarie's program and advocates for sharing, a lifestyle choice that holds many benefits.

Haven't been introduced to Annamarie yet? The Share's founder Zoe Morrison interviewed Annamarie about her work and her book in 2012. 

You can find Zoe's interview with Annamarie about shared housing and the expertise she offers to help others make successful shared housing decisions.

Annamarie, Doris and many many others bring a positive approach to sharing a home. They inspire shared housing as one alternative to aging in place. 

Don't you agree, it's good to have options as we navigate our way forward.