Who lives at the Friends House?

This article from the Fall 2013 newsletter provides a snapshot of some of the 21 residents at Beacon Hill Friends House.

The newest residents of BHFH arrived by varied paths. But ask them about their experience living in the house so far and a lot of common ground appears.

“I really appreciate the opportunity to see so many sides of my housemates,” says Myles Louis Dakan, who joined BHFH as kitchen manager in April. “By living together and interacting in so many different ways, we can arrive at very full understandings of each other.”

Myles, 25, grew up near Stroudsburg, Pa., went to college in Swarthmore, Pa. and lived in Takoma Park, Md. for a year

before moving to Boston.

Carol and Bill Mitchell also lived in Takoma Park — about 30 years before Myles — and moved into BHFH just a few months after he did.

Carol Mitchell, 65, knew nothing about BHFH before a friend tipped her off to a couple of openings in the house earlier this year. Asked what she’s found rewarding about her first several months in the house, she says: “All the interesting, wonderful people who live here.” She adds: “The simpler life.”

Carol, who grew up in Louisville, Ky., moved to Boston from St. Petersburg, Fl. In addition to Takoma Park, the Mitchells’ previous homes included South Bend, Detroit, Fremont, Ca. and Vienna, Austria.

Shannon Fuller, 35, also points to people, one in particular, when asked what prompted her to apply for residency: “I fell in love with one housie and then became very fond of all the rest. It’s really amazing to have so many great people around the interact with.”

Born in Jacksonville, Fl., Shannon moved a lot as a child and has continued the tradition as an adult.

Ben Sachs-Hamilton, 26, says he was drawn to BHFH by the opportunity to “exist in a community where people live together by choice, rather than by chance.”

Ben, who grew up in Burlington, Vt. and was recently hired as the BHFH residency manager, offers a quite specific response to the question of rewards-of-residency: “Going down to the kitchen at night and discovering fresh baked goods left out on the table.”

The kitchen comes up a lot in conversations about life in the house.

Bill Mitchell, 65, describes returning from a trip to a big welcome in the kitchen as a reflection of what he’s found especially rewarding at BHFH: “Living with interesting, supportive friends.”

Bill was born in Boston, a half dozen miles from BHFH, but moved away as a child and says he’s excited to experience the city as an almost grown-up.

Lucas Braun, 23, was the youngest of the house’s current residents when the newsletter was published (a younger resident has since joined us). Lucas says he enjoys “living with and getting to know such an age- and faith-diverse group, learning to clerk house meetings and coming home to a house full of friends every day.”

Lucas, who was born in San Jose, Costa Rica, moved to Boston earlier this year after finishing college in Vermont.

Clarissa Westney sums up what she likes about BHFH in a single word: “Everything.”

Clarissa, who moved to Boston from Schenectady, N.Y., reflected a similar economy of words when asked what she finds challenging about life at BHFH: “Nothing.”

The other new housies managed to come up with a few challenges (just in case you’re thinking about joining us as a new resident):

• “Finding places for private conversations, sleep differences” (Carol)

• “Living and working at the house can mean that alone time or ‘breaks’ from being in community can be hard to come by” (Myles)

• “Not being able to always host guests comfortably, living in a neighborhood lacking diversity and vibrancy, and reconciling my idea of a loving community with the reality of the house” (Lucas)

• “Learning to eat healthier; reading, typing in the middle of the night in ways that don’t wake up Carol; slow Internet access (we’re working on that)” (Bill)

• “Finding time for chores; achieving an acceptable water temperature in the shower (it runs so hot!) (Shannon)

• “I have 20 other people relying on me (though on the flip side, I have twenty people to rely on)” (Ben)

We also asked the new housies for advice they’d offer anyone considering applying for residency:

• “If you like the idea of an intentional, mutually supportive community, and are willing to put in the real work that it takes to make that idea a reality, then this is the place for you.” (Ben)

• “If you are moving to Boston for the first time like I was, this is an excellent place to start off. A community to support you, a house full of wonders, an ideal location to explore anywhere in the city. What more could you ask for?” (Lucas)

• “If you love nice people and living in community and have a good sense of humor, do it!” (Shannon)

• “Living in this community is a continually rewarding experience. Be ready to build deep connections with your housemates.” (Myles)

• “Spend a few days in one of our guestrooms and immerse yourself as much as possible in the life of the house. As sold as I am on the place, it’s obviously not for everyone.” (Bill)