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Nick and Laura are excited to join 4th Corner Commons, drawn by the chance to live more intentionally, build strong relationships, and be part of a community where people genuinely support one another.
Nick spent his career as a database administrator, a role that suited his love of clarity, organization, and solving behind-the-scenes puzzles. Earlier in life he was an avid cyclist and racer, and he hopes to ease back into riding at a gentler pace. A lifelong sailor and instructor with San Juan Sailing in Bellingham, he feels most grounded on the water. He’s also a devoted reader with a particular interest in Stoic philosophy, especially Marcus Aurelius. With two grown children and an appreciation for collaborative decision-making, Nick is eager to explore sociocracy as a way communities can thrive.
Laura is an enthusiastic fly fisher who feels most at home in the natural world—wading into rivers, hiking Northwest trails, or sailing with Nick. She has a deep love of the outdoors and the sense of connection it offers. A former speech therapist, she brings warmth, thoughtfulness, and genuine curiosity about others to every interaction. She is the mother of one and grandmother of two, and family remains a joyful center in her life.
What drew them to cohousing is simple: community. Nick and Laura believe life is richer when lived alongside others—sharing meals, conversation, work, and laughter. They’re eager to contribute their skills, support their neighbors, and help build a caring, resilient home at 4th Corner Commons.

Suze, a Washington native, first came to Bellingham in 1983 to attend Western Washington University. After some bike travel, meeting Don, and a few years in New Jersey, her favorite education turned out to be a vegetarian culinary school in NYC. She spent two decades in the restaurant industry before shifting to bookkeeping for local nonprofits and the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship.
Suze loves knitting, yoga, crafting, gardening, and any other project that lets her work with her hands. Though cooking solo isn’t quite as fun as it once was, she still enjoys cooking with others.
Don grew up in Brooklyn, where community meant everything—neighbors chatting, kids playing in the streets. After teaching high school math and science for many years, he retired and now shares his love of music, leading song circles and bringing music to elder care homes. He also enjoys hiking, biking, reading, and meaningful conversations.
Don and Suze met at a youth hostel in Florida in the late '80s, traveled some together, married in 1993, and welcomed their son Jamie in 1995. They’ve been creating strong community ties ever since—and are excited to continue that journey with 4th Corner Commons!

Carol and Vicki currently live in a nearly 100 year old home just six blocks from their future home at 4th Corner Commons. They’ve both lived in group houses in the past and look forward to living in cohousing where resources can be easily shared.
Carol has spent the last many years as a facilities planning coordinator for the Whatcom County Library System, where she handles space planning, furnishings, and renovations—natural extensions of her lifelong experience in building and construction. She’s also spent decades immersed in the arts, especially costumes, masks, and giant street puppets. Her superpower is connecting unlikely things—whether that’s people, ideas, or the perfect scrap of tinsel that suddenly becomes the missing sparkle.
Vicki’s life has been anything but linear: she left college at 19 to hitchhike through Europe and the Middle East and over the years attended six different colleges. She has taught gentle yoga, and spent nine years as a hospice nurse. She’s committed to living lightly on the planet—biking for errands, buying nothing new, and filling her free time with dance, outdoor swims, gardening, woodworking, crafting, book groups, and naturalist organizations.
Both Carol and Vicki are drawn to 4CC for the shared resources, the mutual support, and the chance to grow in community. They value kindness, communication, and the opportunity to soften the edges of life by learning from and caring for one another. As a couple with different needs, they’re excited by how a larger community can help everyone thrive.

Adventure, community, and service have guided our lives from the start. Kate left Maryland at 18, exploring college before finding her path in communal living, horticulture, and eventually nursing. Andy left West Virginia at 17 for the Air Force Academy, beginning a 22-year career before becoming a professor of engineering and physics at WVU Parkersburg.
We met in 1990 at a Unitarian Universalist Society in Marietta, Ohio. Friendship (and love) grew through shared service and community work, eventually blossoming into a life together full of adventures including building a thriving orchard in Ohio with 7,000 apple, 500 peach, and 200 cherry trees, a move to Portland OR, a later move back to the NE to be near family, and not most recently joining 4CC.
With five grown children across the U.S. and Canada, this next chapter in Bellingham feels like coming home. With a goal of paying our many blessings forward we look forward to sharing companionship, resilience, time and talents with others, especially our new 4CC community.

We two met in an elementary school orchestra, but did not become an item until years later. As part of an extended courtship, we hitchhiked to Alaska and climbed in the Bugaboos and Yosemite. At one point we taught English – and got married – in Japan. On separate adventures we each made wine in France, and together we still make Washington wine each year with friends. In 1985 we moved from Berkeley to Seattle to earn Bill’s UW physics PhD, and happily settled down in the Pacific Northwest. Our occupations have always entailed working with teams – as a technical manager (Emily) or as a scientist (Bill). Through our individual and shared experiences, we discovered that true progress is rooted in collaboration.
Whenever possible, Emily likes volunteering, hiking, keeping up with book clubs, and traveling. Growing up in a household with 11 siblings, Emily’s immediate relatives are now scattered around the country and internationally, so she takes the opportunity to visit diverse locations. Bill engages in weekly Zoom discussions with an international collaboration proposing an experiment at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland to search for hypothesized long-lived particles, which could provide insight into the nature of Dark Matter.
Our daughter, who lives in Toronto, delighted us with a grandson this year, and we look forward to her family visits to Bellingham.

Jeanie has called Bellingham home for the past five years, though her journey has taken her to many places — from growing up on a farm in Colorado to living in Phoenix, Albuquerque, Suriname, and French Guiana. Along the way, she raised two children as a single mom, and today enjoys staying connected with her family, including her three grandsons and children living in Germany and Surrey, BC.
A lifelong learner and deeply caring person, Jeanie has spent her career supporting others as a teacher, school psychologist, and clinical psychologist in private practice. As she begins to wind down her psychotherapy work, she continues to offer energy healing when called to do so.
Jeanie’s late husband was a passionate environmentalist, and caring for the Earth remains close to her heart as well. She finds joy in travel, gardening, kayaking, hiking, meditation, working with herbs, reading, and spending time in nature and with loved ones. She also values service, healing work, and civic engagement when needed.
While Jeanie treasures her independence, she is equally inspired by the importance of connection and community as she enters this next chapter of life.

Vashon Island native Lynne has called many places home, but the Pacific Northwest has always been at the heart of her story. Growing up, she moved throughout Washington and lived abroad for a time. After completing her university studies in Germany, she began a career in Information Systems in Seattle, eventually working as a Systems Analyst for Group Health Cooperative.
Later, Lynne made a meaningful career shift into education, teaching middle school students in Bellingham. Over the years, she taught foreign languages, social studies, art, and mathematics, bringing curiosity and creativity into the classroom.
Now enjoying retirement, Lynne fills her days with reading, gardening, pickleball, swimming in Puget Sound, and traveling — especially to Italy, where she regularly studies Italian. She also volunteers with Planned Parenthood and the Pickford Film Center and is a member of the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL).
After years influenced by Europe’s walkable, transit-friendly culture, Lynne now happily lives car-free in Bellingham.
Lynne describes herself as a people person, but she also enjoys her time alone. She appreciates that 4CC will offer her both a community of interesting people and solitude when she needs it. She looks forward to thoughtful living with both connection and independence.

After 35 years in the Pacific Northwest, with earlier stops in the Midwest and East Coast, David and Kate have built a life centered on creativity, community, and connection. These days, they split time between Kingston and their Hansville studio/workshop, where they garden, keep bees, and work on creative projects.
David is a multi-media artist and landscape architect whose sculptures, paintings, and installations have been shown across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. He thrives on collaboration with musicians, writers, and performers, and has worked on everything from urban design to recreation planning for Washington’s forest lands.
Kate works with cities and nonprofits across North America to help revitalize downtowns and neighborhoods, bringing people together around shared goals and practical solutions.
Together, they are active volunteers, Master Gardeners, and stewards of the Buck Lake Native Plant Garden. When asked why they joined 4th Corner Commons, they shared this, “We believe cohousing is a two way street – receiving the benefits of living in a wonderful place with wonderful people and giving back and helping others. This is why we are drawn to 4th Corner Commons.”

Hi there! I’m a lifelong Nashvillian, born and raised right in the heart of Music City. Other than leaving for college and spending a short time working in Knoxville, Nashville has always been home. I grew up an only child of divorced parents, and aside from the occasional trip to Florida or the mountains, I didn’t travel much as a kid. That all changed after college—one visit to the Pacific Northwest in the mid-90s, and I was completely hooked. I knew someday I wanted to live there.
I studied civil engineering at Georgia Tech and later earned a graduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin. After a brief stint in engineering, I made a big career pivot and became a high school teacher. I spent 15 years at a public magnet school downtown and another 11 at a private school in the suburbs, mostly teaching Algebra 2, Calculus, and computer science. I loved working with teenagers, but after decades in the classroom, I was ready for a new chapter. I retired this past May and am enjoying a little breathing room while I figure out what’s next.
Outside of work, I’m happiest outdoors—hiking, biking, fly-fishing, kayaking, and playing pickleball. I also love good food with friends, great books, museums, Broadway shows, traveling, new tech, puzzles, and playing bridge. And I share my home with two “failed foster” cats, Axl and Stella.
A couple of years ago, I visited a friend living in a cohousing community, which opened my eyes to what intentional community can be. Discovering 4th Corner Commons in Bellingham felt like finding exactly the kind of supportive, sustainable community I hope to be part of next.

What brings me here is a hope to find people who value mutual respect, shared effort, and the kind of daily connection that makes life feel a little less isolated. I grew up an only child and spent plenty of time on my own—it never bothered me much. But after a few major life chapters—a move, a divorce, two wonderful kids now grown—I’ve realized that solitude has lost some of its charm. The idea of cohousing suddenly felt… really appealing.
Friends have teased me: “So you want to move in with a bunch of boomers?” or “What if you don’t get along—how do you break up with a community?” Fair questions! But my dog, Soleil, gave me a look that clearly said, “Mom, I can’t be your whole social life.” So here I am.
As a therapist, I’m well aware that loneliness can be as harmful as smoking a pack a day. Maybe this is my attempt to practice what I preach—choosing connection for my own well-being and for the health of a future community.
I’ve lived in a handful of places around the world, love cooking and traveling, and hope to try Survivor someday. Until then, you’ll find me hiking, mushroom foraging, reading anything except technical manuals, or watching Nordic noir.
If you’d like to share a bit of orbit with me—through meals, conversations, chores, or laughter—I’d love that. Cohousing feels like the perfect place to build something real, warm, and a little beautifully messy life together.

Michael and Ann have called Bellingham home since 1984. They have three grown kids, all with wonderful partners, and two adorable grandkids—Gemmie (19 months), who lives just two blocks away, and brand-new baby Jules in San Francisco. (Michael insists both grandkids are far cuter than their grandpa!)
Ann grew up in Washington’s Tri-Cities before heading to Syracuse University, where she first got interested in cooperative housing—and met Michael while organizing a rally. She spent her career teaching early childhood and special education, with a lifelong passion for social justice.
Michael grew up in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara before moving east for grad school in special education. After working in Philly and Syracuse (and falling for Ann), he eventually found his way with Ann to Bellingham.
Both retired—Ann from kindergarten teaching and Michael from managing special education programs—they’ve poured their energy into community work. Ann focuses on immigrant and refugee support, choirs, and helping unhoused neighbors. Michael’s been deep in local activism, animal rescue work, and political organizing.
They love Bellingham’s spirit and are excited about building even more community through cohousing.

I grew up in Bellingham and just moved back last year and I love it here! I have lived in several places, but they were all missing something.
Hiking at Mt Baker is my happy place. More often, I walk in the wonderful parks and trails around town. Occasionally I cross-country ski, kayak, or bike. I love reading and book groups, including one at Village Books, our fabulous local bookstore. I enjoy exploring Bellingham and trying out new things. Art walks and contra dance are some recent favorites. People often move to Bellingham when they fall in love with the beautiful setting, fun community, and great quality of life. There are many groups for meeting new people, exploring the outdoors, or finding interesting events happening in and around Bellingham.
I have been interested in cohousing for years. During the pandemic, I realized how important community is for me and decided I wanted to live in cohousing. I have explored a couple of other cohousing groups elsewhere, but decided that living in Bellingham was equally important to me. I was happy to learn about 4th Corner Commons and to join this new cohousing community in the hometown that I so love.

Susan and John first met in a friend’s kitchen in San Francisco back in 1973—and they’ve been friends and adventurers ever since. They married ten years later and built lives full of curiosity, creativity, and community.
Susan started as a freelance editor for publishers like Harper & Row before joining the University of California Natural Reserve System, coordinating publications for over 40 protected lands. John moved from social work into electronics, eventually managing purchases for microcontrollers that monitored the power grid. After decades of work, they retired and dove into the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, bringing history to life—Susan as Scottish painter Jemima Blackburn, John as Admiral William Acland Hood.
In 2019, a vacation to the San Juan Islands turned into an impulse move to Bellingham, Washington—a long-held dream for Susan and a promise John was excited to keep. The pandemic made for quiet beginnings, with walks in Whatcom Falls Park and new friendships slowly growing. Susan launched Friends With Ukes, connecting local musicians and fostering community.
Both are passionate about music—ukulele, banjolele, cajon, and chorus—and share interests in painting, writing (Susan’s novel WHY YOU MUST), dancing, gardening, and travel. After decades exploring the world and history together, they are now embracing a new adventure: living fully in community in with 4CC.

Currently living in Northern California, Karen is looking forward to moving to Bellingham when her 4th Corner Commons’ home is built.
Karen has lived in Holland, Ireland, England, and Germany, leading the building and integration of communications infrastructure projects. She was raised in Mississippi and knows/loves many southern food traditions. Karen really likes to cook and bring people together with hospitality. There are so many amazing ways to prepare food, and everyone has their food secrets!
An avid camper, hiker, and outdoorsy type, she doesn’t mind a bit of rain, snow and mud in the pursuit of a nice walk in the woods. Of course she drives a Subaru (but wants to car share!) Also a noted bookworm and introvert, there is nothing quite like a steaming cup of tea and an engaging story. Museums and ancient history fascinate her and she’s currently reading about military logistics.

Mark and Brigid have spent much of their lives on the move. Shaped by itinerant beginnings, Mark in a McDonald’s family and Brigid in an Air Force one, their paths first crossed in Missoula, Montana while volunteering for the International Wildlife Film Festival.
For years after meeting, their journeys took them both far and wide—sometimes together, sometimes apart. Mark traveled to places like Nepal and Borneo, building a creative career as a photographer, graphic designer, and illustrator. Brigid’s path included service in the Peace Corps and work with the U.S. Forest Service, the Idaho Conservation League, small businesses in North Carolina, and her own work as a proofreader and indexer.
They eventually put down roots in Missoula, where they raised their son, now an adult forging his own path in Michigan. In 2008, motivated by climate concerns and Brigid’s MS diagnosis, they relocated to Bellingham, seeking a place that aligned with their values and needs.
Now, as they look toward their next chapter at Fourth Corner Commons, Mark and Brigid are excited to once again embrace a sense of community. They look forward to connecting with neighbors from diverse backgrounds, sharing experiences, and continuing a lifelong journey of learning, growth, and adventure together with their new neighbors.

Originally from Seattle, Jane discovered her love of art while studying in Portland, later continuing her journey in Chicago. While there, a side project turned into a lasting commitment to animal welfare when she started a trap-neuter-return program for neighborhood cats. In 2000, she returned to the Pacific Northwest and settled in Bellingham to join her family’s business. She’s also a proud parent, with her kiddo graduating college this spring and heading back to the area. For more than 20 years, Jane has volunteered at the Whatcom Humane Society clinic. In her free time, she enjoys making art, planting trees, picking up trash, and occasionally racing in family triathlon relays.
Kevin grew up in the UK and came to the U.S. as an exchange student in Montana. After earning a degree in Psychology, he built a career in recruiting and founded his executive search firm in 1998. Since moving to Bellingham in 2000, he’s focused on connecting tech leaders with companies around the world. He also serves on the board of the Whatcom Humane Society and supports local animal welfare efforts.
Jane and Kevin share a love of the outdoors, music, and community. These days, Jane and Kevin are looking ahead to their next adventure: joining an intentional cohousing community, inspired by their love of Nordic culture and a shared vision of connected, community-focused living.

For the past 38 years, we’ve lived on 5 acres north east of Bellingham. Here, Mike farmed organic vegetables and poultry and we raised our three children, while Kim worked as a Med-Surge nurse at Peace Health hospital. Now two years retired, Mike “farms” a small plot for us and our kids, with the surplus donated to the food bank. He’s also plays guitar and keeps the bird feeders full. Kim has made a steady commitment to the League of Women Voters and perfecting her sourdough bread. And in the comfort of our new teardrop trailer, we are exploring our backyard of western North America, with recent trips to SE Oregon and B.C., Canada.
As much as we’ve loved our country home, we felt ready for change: to live in town, within easy reach, if not walking distance, of our kids, shopping, and the activities that we love in Bellingham. Then, in September 2025, we heard about 4th Corner Commons and were quickly won over by its fabulous location near the heart of Bellingham and the promise of vibrant and engaging community living.
Living in an intentional community devoted to shared activities and mutual support appeals to us, and as we’ve gotten to better know the other community members involved, we’ve grown quite excited by the opportunities and lifestyle of cohousing. We expect that life at 4th Corner Commons will be engaging, occasionally challenging, and richly rewarding, shared with thoughtful and responsible folks committed to the mutual success of the community. We’ll all be growing older, of course, but doing so in a rich and supportive community.

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