The Modern Village: Twin Sisters Create Shared Family Compound in California

A Dream Realized Through Proximity

For 39-year-old twins Amelia and Sydney Stoker, the dream of raising their children together in the same city once felt like a distant possibility. Having grown up wishing for the experience of having cousins nearby, the sisters—both orthodontists—initially believed their professional paths would lead them to different parts of the country. However, a unique real estate opportunity in the Bay Area allowed them to turn that childhood aspiration into a reality.

The transition began when Amelia’s husband, Adam Fagin, retained his childhood home in the Bay Area after his parents moved just down the street. In July 2022, the property immediately next door to Fagin’s family home hit the market. Recognizing the potential to create a multigenerational living space, the sisters and their spouses decided to take the leap. Despite initial hesitation regarding the high cost of living in the region and the potential intensity of living next door to family, the group moved forward, bolstered by the encouragement of Fagin, who urged them to view the opportunity as a unique experiment.

Designing the Compound

Once the purchase was finalized, the families began physically and logistically integrating their lives. They removed the fence separating their backyards, effectively merging their lots into a single, expansive outdoor space where the children—who currently range from newborns to four-year-olds—can move freely between homes.

The infrastructure of the compound is designed for high-functioning support. Both properties feature accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the back. These spaces are currently utilized to house two au pairs who assist with childcare, as well as the sisters’ mother and mother-in-law, who rotate through the spaces during visits. The families have even begun converting one garage into a permanent residence for a grandmother, further cementing the multigenerational nature of their living arrangement.

The Mechanics of Shared Living

Operating a household with seven adults and five children requires significant coordination. The families have established a structured routine to manage daily needs, including a shared family credit card used for collective expenses like groceries and household supplies. Weekly dinner duties are divided among the adults, with each household and the retired grandmother taking turns preparing meals on specific nights.

Despite the high level of integration, the sisters emphasize that boundaries remain important. Amelia noted that while the days are spent in a state of shared activity, there is a collective understanding that each family returns to their own home by the evening, typically by 7:30 p.m., to maintain their individual household privacy.

A ‘Beautifully Chaotic’ Support System

The primary motivation for the arrangement remains the well-being of the children. Both couples work full-time, and they credit the compound for making the demands of modern parenting significantly more manageable. By pooling resources, they have created a “built-in village” that provides constant support and companionship for the children.

The spouses have also embraced the shift. Adam Fagin, an only child, described the experience as a “beautifully chaotic” departure from his quiet upbringing, noting that the arrangement has provided him with a sense of sibling-like connection with his wife’s twin and her husband. For Paden Roder, Sydney’s husband, the greatest reward is watching the cousins develop deep, lifelong bonds. While the sisters remain uncertain about whether they will maintain the compound once their children are grown, they agree that for this stage of life, the support and community provided by their shared living arrangement are invaluable.

Source: businessinsider.com