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Children feel safe and supported in community-oriented neighborhoods Mission Peak Village members look over site plans for their cohousing neighborhood. Rewarding resolutions that won't require a major time commitment LGI Homes from page 1 In addition to ex- traordinary community amenities, homebuyers are sure to love the stun- ning new-construction homes offered here. LGI Homes is constructing a variety of floor plans that have been care- fully crafted to meet the needs and desires of the active adult buyer. Homes in this commu- nity range in size from 1,446 square feet to just over 2,300 square feet with a variety of two- and three-bedroom plans available. Residents will love the attentive details built into every new home such as open layouts, chef-ready kitchens, wide door- ways, walk-in showers, covered front porches and back patios, as well as an abundance of windows making every room feel airy and bright. Space to host during the holidays will never be a problem again. Inside every new home at Summit at Liberty is a host of de- signer-selected features and finishes included at no additional cost. Showcasing an excep- tional interior package by LGI Homes, homes in this community come outfitted with sprawl- ing granite countertops, oversize wood cabinetry with crown molding, a full suite of energy- efficient, stainless steel Whirlpool kitchen appliances, 2-inch faux-wood blinds in- stalled on all operable windows, luxurious vinyl-plank flooring and more. Homebuy- ers will also appreciate the included energy- efficient features such as double-pane Low-E vinyl windows, a pro- grammable thermostat, LED flush-mount En- ergy Star lighting and included solar panels. With home prices starting in the $370,000s and quick-move-in op- portunities available, there has never been a better time to purchase a new home at Summit at Liberty. To learn more or schedule a tour, please call (877) 899-1091, Ext. 84, or visit Summit AtLiberty.com. Content provided by LGI Homes Finding a new home is more than a real es- tate transaction; it is a choice that affects a family's quality of life. The house itself should meet the family's require- ments, of course, but the surrounding environ- ment greatly impacts well-being. Homebuyers already know to look for good schools, proximity to employment centers, readily accessible parks, nearby retail services and entertainment, but the neighborhood often falls to the wayside. It's hard to know if neighbors will be friendly or if the kids will feel safe until the boxes are unpacked. Members of Mission Peak Village are build- ing a safe community for their children, where everyone knows and looks out for one another. The group adopted an intentional community model called cohousing to address their mod- ern concerns. Cohous- ing was introduced to North America in 1988 by architects Kathryn McCamant and Chuck Durrett, with their semi- nal book "Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves," based upon a popular Danish model. Denmark has earned a reputation for greater happiness and commu- nity connection than most Americans experience in their automobile-cen- tered housing develop- ments. In cohousing, each household maintains a personal residence, but the development layout encourages neighbors to create opportunities for human interaction. Chil- dren have a ready supply of playmates and a sup- portive and caring group of adults to draw upon for support. Jessie McCamant- Durrett grew up in Doyle Street Cohousing in Em- eryville and Nevada City Cohousing in the Sierra foothills. "Both of them were phenomenal experiences. I had my own parents, but they weren't the only ones raising me. Kids don't always have that many adults in their lives as friends, but I got exposure to the many pathways life can take," McCamant-Durrett said. "Being with other kids of all ages is good too. I had a bunch of younger kids who I taught to swim, and they grew up to be really good water polo players." McCamant-Durrett went on to describe the immense pride she derived from her men- tees' athletic success. Cohousing kept at least one only child from feel- ing alone in their neigh- borhood. "I too was raised in community," says Mission Peak Village member Evelyn LaTorre. "Every- one looked out for the kids — and could tell our parents if they thought we'd stepped out of line. People pretty much trusted one another. For example, we knew that the homemade popcorn balls or cookies given out at Halloween were safe to eat." It takes a village to raise a child, the old adage says. Alexander McCall Smith takes the thought a step further in "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency": "Ev- erybody in a village had a role to play in bring- ing up a child — and cherishing it — and in return that child would in due course feel re- sponsible for everybody in that village. That is what makes life in soci- ety possible." Mission Peak Village holds monthly informa- tion sessions and walking tours of their neighbor- hood and Fremont site. More information is available on the Mission Peak Village website. Content provided by Mission Peak Village LLC BY METRO Much like money, time does not grow on trees. That reality is all too familiar to busy adults juggling multiple respon- sibilities at work, at home and other places where they spend their time. A time crunch can make it hard to commit to a New Year's resolu- tion. But resolutions, which are often focused on self-improvement, can be worthwhile endeavors. So what are busy adults to do? Perhaps the best ap- proach is to choose resolu- tions that don't necessarily require much time. Exercise more A commitment to getting fit and being more physically active is a popular New Year's resolution. Though choosing such a path may seem like it requires a signifi- cant time commitment, the Physical Activity Guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that adults perform at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate- intensity aerobic activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aero- bic activity each week. That might seem like a lot, but it can be com- bined with other leisure activities you already engage in. For example, a sports fan can watch the big game while on a treadmill or elliptical, while readers can swap the couch with an exercise bike as their go-to reading spot. Doing so for as little as a half- hour per day can help you get the recommended amount of daily exercise without taking up a large chunk of your time. Read more Adults across the globe lament a lack of time to curl up with a good book. But some brief reading before bed each night can help adults achieve this goal and can even improve their quality of sleep. In fact, a 2021 study published in the peer- reviewed medical journal Trials found that read- ing in bed before going to sleep improved sleep quality compared to not reading a book in bed. Journaling Journaling is another worthy resolution that won't take up much time. Individuals can take 15 minutes out of their day to write down their thoughts and feel- ings and reflect on the day's comings and go- ings. That simple activity can produce profound results, as the University of Rochester Medical Center notes that journal- ing helps people prioritize their problems, fears and concerns; reduce stress; cope with depression; and identify negative thoughts and behaviors. Become more organized This resolution won't take up much of your time. In fact, becoming more organized should free up time. A lack of organization can make it harder to meet work deadlines, keep a house clean, tackle every- day tasks and keep a clear mind. By taking steps to be more organized, whether that is through using a daily organizer, avoiding procrastination in regard to cleaning up around the house or other means, individuals will gradually discover they have more free time to use as they see fit. New Year's resolutions need not take much time. Busy individuals can keep that in mind as they look for ways to improve their lives in the year ahead. H2 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 001 Homes | Advertising Section

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