“The Abbey” is a shared (owner occupied) home located near the University of New Mexico. We are an inclusive community of introverts who value intergenerational and inter-faith community, creativity, and early bedtimes. Current residents of “The Abbey” include 3 youth (ages 11, 13 and 17) and 5 adults (scholars, artists, teachers, mental health professionals, and clergy) 3 small dogs (that live in the big house) and 2 cats (that live "cloistered" in the Casita.) "The Abbey" also includes several non-residential community members and friends who participate regularly with residents of the Abbey in shared meals, study, recreation, and work.
All Abbey residents/guests are expected to share in regular household chores, weekly meal prep, and monthly house meetings. All Abbey residents/guests make some financial contribution to help cover housing expenses, including laundry, food, and utilities. In addition, all Abbey residents/guests are required to abide by a basic Community Living Agreement, including a process for Dispute Resolution.
We will have two large upstairs rooms available to welcome additional resident/guests at the Abbey during the 2023-2024 School Year.
The North Room is a large room with great natural light, large north windows with a view of the mountains and a shared bathroom. Suitable for an individual, couple, or parent with baby. Suggested financial contribution for North Room residents is on a sliding scale, $800-$1200/month (includes meals). Becomes available in late June 2023.
The South Room is a large room with great natural light, both east and west facing windows, and a shared bathroom. Suitable for an individual, couple, or parent with baby. Suggested financial contribution for South Room residents is on a sliding scale $800-$1200/month (includes meals). Becomes available in late August 2023.
If/when any bedroom at the Abbey is not occupied by a long-term guest/resident, it may be available to welcome short-term guests. Suggested financial contribution for short-term guests is on a sliding scale, $25-$45/day or $125-$300/week.
For more information, to schedule a visit, or to apply to become a resident/guest at the Abbey, please contact Sylvia at sylvia.miller.mutia@gmail.com, or call/text 510-932-1315.
Take a Photo Tour of the Abbey
Get a feeling for the space and folks that make up "The Abbey" community by looking through the photos, below.
Make One Thing Better
As a community, residents and guests of the Abbey seek to cultivate an ethic of teamwork and mutual care. Quarterly "Abbey Work Days" are one way we embody this commitment. 4x a year we agree to set aside a half day to work together on yardwork, chores and projects (at the Abbey and beyond.)
Whatever work is before us---whether housework, or weeding, or dismantling racism, or promoting world peace--we know how easy it is to become discouraged and overwhelmed. As part of our first quarterly Abbey Work Day, we all pitched in to create this music video as a reminder that whatever work is before us, even when we feel tired or overwhelmed, we can always "make one thing better".
We hope our song encourages you in whatever work is before you today!
Make one thing better Oh I can make one thing better Though I cannot do it all, when I come and when I go Lord, help me make just one thing better.