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Seeking Peaceful Sanctuary Home in Berkeley or Oakland (berkeley)
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About Me:
- My parents are Russian-Speaking Jewish (RSJ) immigrants from the former Soviet Union. I grew up in diverse majority-BIPOC immigrant communities in and around NYC.
- I have a degree in Urban Sustainability from a top liberal arts college and used to work in the environmental justice non-profit sector.
- I currently run a successful private practice as an erotic healer, offering Surrogate Partner Therapy and Somatic Sex Education (see my website: surrogatepartnersage.com).
- I am queer, kinky, and polyamorous. I occasionally help organize and teach workshops at play parties.
- I hold decolonial, leftist, & anti-Zionist values and also have a fair bit of hesitation around communities that share my politics yet do a lot of internal policing. I’m much more interested in building webs of community care, practicing radical accountability, and continually unlearning harmful beliefs than I am in judging myself or others for shopping at Amazon or getting on a plane.
- Most of my friends are healers, therapists, bodyworkers, artists, community organizers, event planners, academics, land-tenders, SWers, and/or self-employed entrepreneurs. Some of them work in tech, and I love them all the same.
- I’m a mix of artsy, outdoorsy, and nerdy. I love reading, pole dance, ceramics, yoga, hiking, playing video games, attending workshops / classes / retreats / festivals / trainings / cleverly-themed parties / immersive art experiences, connecting to the more than human world, moving my body, learning new things just for fun, and making things with my hands.
- I have land-based spiritual practices, regularly see energy healers, and consider myself to be a witch. I'm fine with keeping this part of my life largely to myself, as long as I am not judged too harshly for it. On the other hand, living with other folks who share these proclivities would be more than welcome.
What I’m Looking For:
- More than anything, I’m looking for a home that feels like a lovingly-curated peaceful sanctuary, yet one that doesn't take itself too seriously and still leaves room for play, adaptability, and the full spectrum of human experience. (A bustling "party house" is not the right fit for me.)
- I dream of hardwood / non-carpeted floors, natural light, a semi-private outdoor space with at least one big tree, a place to grow veggies & herbs, and room for movement practice. I can also make do without all of these things.
- A mix of community (shared meals, genuine emotional connection, doing favors for one another, potentially attending events or doing activities together, etc.) and independence (plenty of solo time, having my own friends and hobbies, making travel plans without first consulting others, etc.)
- Roomies who are open, warm, embrace nuance, and are skilled at negotiating rupture & repair. Regularly scheduled house meetings to discuss logistics / needs / desires / preferences and a clearly defined chore system are big plusses for me. I'm open to either communal or separate food arrangements, and have no strict dietary restrictions but do try my best to eat healthy (lots of fruit & veggies, minimal sugar & processed foods).
- A body-positive, sex-positive, & queer-friendly environment that is accepting of my erotic healing work and play party attendance. (Living with other queer and/or trans folks would be my ideal. A house that primarily consists of cisgender men is not the right fit for me.)
What It’s Like To Live With Me:
- My professional life is a split between seeing clients out of an external studio space and doing computer work from home. In addition to the time I spend working in a traditional sense, I also dedicate ample time to tending to my own well-being and ongoing embodied healing so that I can hold healing space for others with a full heart.
- I typically start winding down by 9pm and am asleep between 10 & 11pm. I will occasionally get home much later from an event and sleep in the following morning. I’d strongly prefer a home with dedicated quiet hours / consideration of noise levels late on weekday evenings.
- In terms of mind-altering substances, I personally don't use alcohol, nicotine, or white powders, but do occasionally use cannabis and psychedelics.
- I value having the option of cooking meat in the house and occasionally having respectful guests stay with me overnight.
Misc Logistics:
- My ideal spot would be in Oakland or Berkeley and within a 15 minute walk to BART. I'm looking to pay no more than ~$1,300 a month for rent before utilities. (I’d potentially be willing to compromise on both location and price for just the right place, but it's unlikely.)
- My move in date is fairly flexible, but sooner rather than later with at least 30 days notice would be ideal. Ultimately, the most important thing for me is finding the right spot that I can stay in long-term, even if that means navigating less-than-ideal timelines.
- Because of the nature of my work, verifiable income can be a bit tricky, but I have excellent credit, savings, and have never been late on a rent payment before. This will be my 7th communal living situation.
- I’m open to living with well-behaved pets and/or considerate couples.
- I am interested in long-term housing, not temporary sublets.
** I thought this went without saying, but apparently not. I'm looking for HOUSING. This is NOT a dating ad. If you send me romantic propositions of any sort, I will not respond. I do not care how tall you are or how much money you make. I am NOT interested. **