Audrey (13) and Luke (9)
Denise: I was born and raised in Belfast, where my family has lived for generations. After college in Maryland and grad school in St. Louis, where I got an MFA in Writing, I moved to Portland, Maine, teaching and then working in a variety of nonprofit organizations reflecting my love for books, writing and the arts. I now work as director of the Born to Read program at the Maine Humanities Council, helping Maine’s youngest children experience the power and pleasure of language used creatively and meaningfully, through books, storytelling, and conversation. My enthusiasms include enjoying the great outdoors with John, Audrey and Luke—skating, skiing, gardening, sailing….
John: I too was born in Belfast but my father was a Foreign Service officer so I moved around a good bit as a child. I went to college in New Hampshire and then spent most of the next decade working as a river guide. I went back to school and got an MS in Computer Science and have been working as a software engineer for the past fifteen years. Denise and I moved to Belfast from Portland, ME two years ago. We try balancing parenthood, work and pursuit of our own passions. Mine include sailing, skiing and river running.
Audrey is 13 years old (born 1996) and about to start middle school. She is an avid reader, loves bicycling, participating in the local children’s theatre and is excited to be moving next door to the horse barn where she takes lessons. She looks forward to being a short bike ride or even walking distance to Troy Howard Middle School and hopes other kids in her age group are joining the cohousing community.
Luke is 9 years old (born 2000) and loves all activities that involve balls, balance and speed. This includes soccer, baseball, skateboarding, snowboarding and climbing trees. He attends the nearby CASS public elementary school.
Enriching our family life are a few pets: a yellow lab who is even-tempered and devoted to family, a large lion like cat and a 47 year old African Grey parrot
We moved back to Belfast several years ago after 15 years in a family friendly South Portland neighborhood many described as “the way neighborhoods used to be.” We enjoyed the closely knit community but wanted to be more in the country, closer to some family, and to sailing. We are now living in the old farmhouse that Denise grew up in. In joining the Belfast cohousing community we are seeking some of the amenities of neighborhood life and country life.
