Summer 2024, Virginia
My children used to argue over who got to sit in the “crack” of our couch. We have a couch with two cushions, which means right in the middle you can sit and tuck your feet in the crack. It is, I have to agree, a quite cozy feel.
Couches and their cozy character exude magnetism. We all are drawn to them as a place to plop down to read a book, snuggle our pup, or munch popcorn and watch a favorite show. We used to sit on our couches and talk to the people around us more often than we do these days, but fear not, the couch is making a stellar comeback in this regard!
Camerados, based in the United Kingdom, is leading the way with planting public living rooms all over the world.
In an effort to create comfortable spaces for individuals to connect and get to know each other as well as be introduced, if desired, to the TimeBank, we signed up with Camerados. They sent us a “kit” with pretty much everything we needed to get started. For free!
Public living rooms are exactly what they sound like – a living room where anyone can sit, visit, have a cup of tea and a “biscuit” or better known as a cookie here in the United States.
There is no agenda.
There is no fixing people, just being alongside of folks.
We mix with people who aren’t like us.
We agree and disagree – respectfully.
It’s okay to be both silly and a bit “rubbish” in the public living room.
In other words, all are welcome in whatever way they show up! In fact, if someone is struggling and we see that, then we jump in and ask THEM to help us! Yeah, sounds crazy and counter-intuitive and it works wonders!
Because our timebank does not have a permanent space, we do our public living rooms as pop-up events. We just did our fourth event at a public park and our town waived the rental fee. Same with the one before that at the local farmers’ market. We got a grant to buy furniture that is lightweight and now our timebankers – of any physical ability – can help set up and break down and move our living room. Hello time credits and human connection!
What have we learned so far? A lot!
People ask, “what is this?” When we tell them and invite them to sit, surprisingly they do! One event was standing room only!
People share their names and history. They exchange contact information to meet up later for their toddlers to have a play date. A man expresses some concern over a job loss and other guests offer advice and leads. More names and contact information changes hands.
Every guest signs the guestbook – no names required – and every note says things like “great idea, great people, I love it!”
We need a place where we can tuck our bare feet under us and settle in to meet a stranger who transforms into a camerado – someone between a stranger and a friend. We say goodbye at the close and walk in the world feeling a little less isolated, a little less lonely and a little more optimistic.
Note: The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of TimeBanks.Org, TimeBanks, or Timebank members.
