Winter NICA Gathering Reflections @ Songaia Cohousing
It’s been almost 6 weeks since NICA’s 2025 Winter Gathering, and I almost can’t believe how profoundly the impact is still reverberating in my life. (I say “almost” because it certainly doesn’t surprise me the way an aligned, connected community can change lives!) This winter, the Northwest Intentional Community Association (NICA) most certainly hit their stride.
This past week, I followed up on two connections I made at the winter gathering, sewed up loose ends at the NICA board meeting, and made significant progress on TWO real estate deals, both for myself and a co-buying client! Spring is certainly around the corner! Exactly one week away, to be exact.
Alas, I can’t let any more time pass without reflecting on the purpose, impact, and story of the Winter Gathering for the Northwest Intentional Communities Association this year. It is with great excitement and momentum I tell the story of this winter’s gathering…
Friday, January 31st. I left Spokane on a cold, rainy day. Traffic and weather delayed my arrival at the airport, only to have my flight delayed twice. I arrive in Seattle and take the Light Rail for the first time, from SeaTac to Bellevue, and absolutely fell in love! One of my favorite public transportation experiences so far - it parallels my joy while in the DC subways or London ferry system. My social media post about my travels was seen by a childhood friend of mine, whom I called Shorty, over a decade ago in Bates City, MO. We worked our first jobs together as teenagers at Bates City BBQ - we hadn’t seen each other since then. She sent me a message saying she was in Seattle for the weekend doing work for the Army and that we should meet up! So, with some help, we enjoyed dinner together! Over curry and naan, we reminisced about the farm towns of our childhoods, growing up in rural Missouri, and the people we grew into. After returning to my host community, Songaia Cohousing, I finalized plans for the next day with my fellow board members, Thomas and Reuben. Both are residents of Songaia and bring professional social work and facilitation skills to the table, so we went to bed feeling “ready enough” for the mystery of the gathering to come - the table was set.
Saturday, February 1st. The NICA board agreed to meet in the kitchen at 7 am, so I started cutting fruit while Reuben did the coffee run. I cut muffins while Thomas set things up, and then we rolled into registration and a rolling breakfast.
That night, after everyone had left, the room got silent as I stood alone. I wanted to cherish the day, honestly, and found myself grieving it was over, almost clinging onto its sweetness, even the grief. I grabbed a broom and started to sweep. The kitchen, dining room, hallway, etc. I cried and swept and cried and swept, and swept until I stumbled upon a resident, who offered me marionberry pie and vanilla ice cream. We became quick friends through conversation about Scotland, refurbishing vehicles into homes, and participating in a place like Songaia. It’s true; something in me deeply desires to live here. They need a roommate in one of the houses - and I wonder about it! But like I alluded to before, Justin and I have other real estate plans here in eastern Washington.
I fell asleep feeling like I’d come home, almost like a childhood home or fond, deep memory. Being welcomed in the guest suite, thanks to the residents, and touring the common house, gardens, cluster homes, and courtyards, I learned a lot about their systems during the group tour.
Group photo before lunch! And this doesn’t capture the group near the kitchen ;)