Why Community Matters: A Regenerative Response to the “Anti‑Social Century”
As social gatherings decline in the U.S., Shift Esperanza offers a bold alternative: a regenerative community in Nosara, Costa Rica, where connection, celebration, and nature are built into everyday life.
In his July 9 essay, The Death of Partying in the U.S.A.—and Why It Matters, Derek Thompson points to a striking shift: young Americans are gathering 70% less than they did two decades ago. Parties, casual dinners, even spontaneous nights out are fading.
It’s not just about fewer events—it’s about fewer connections. Social calendars are thinning, and screens are replacing the in‑person rituals that once shaped our lives.
At Shift Esperanza, we see this not just as a cultural problem, but as a call to action. Our regenerative community in Nosara, Costa Rica is designed to restore what’s been lost: meaningful connection, shared experiences, and spaces where community feels natural.
Shift Esperanza: A Living Response to the “Anti‑Social Century”
Spaces that Invite Gathering
Our neighborhoods are designed to bring people together naturally. Plazas become places to pause. Trails turn morning walks into conversations. Communal kitchens, event lawns, and shaded meeting areas transform from design features into the heart of daily life.
Celebration as a Way of Life
At the center of the community, our 8‑acre permaculture farm is more than a source of food—it’s a reason to gather. From planting days to harvest celebrations, food becomes culture, and meals become connection.
A Community with Shared Values
We intentionally cultivate a diverse, intergenerational community bound by shared values. Here, it’s easy to know your neighbors, to collaborate on projects, to share childcare, and to enjoy life alongside others who believe in living well.
This isn’t a return to the party culture of the past—it’s something better: a new kind of community that turns everyday living into connection, belonging, and celebration.
From Data‑Driven Despair to Intentional Abundance
Thompson’s data paints a clear picture: in the “Anti‑Social Century,” we’re losing the art of being together. Shift Esperanza was created as a living response to this trend—a place where life is designed around connection, not isolation.
Here, mornings start with neighbors on the trails, afternoons bring shared meals from our permaculture farm, and evenings can turn into impromptu gatherings under the stars.
This isn’t nostalgia for the past—it’s a blueprint for the future. If our culture is rethinking what it means to connect, Shift Esperanza offers a bold, regenerative answer.
Discover what life can feel like in a community designed for connection.