By Jenny King
originally posted June 17, 2009
It seems that when I talk to friends outside of CAP, I'm often asked "What are the living conditions?" I think there's a misconception that I'm living way back in a "holler" on a dirt road with no cell phone service surrounded by mountains and forest. It takes hours to get to "civilization" and all the locals live in trailers.
Now, although some of these things are true for some volunteer houses and local communities, this is not completely accurate, especially as it relates to my experience. It's really not bad! So, to preface my experience, let me tell you where I "came from." I grew up in a small town in western Tennessee. (And no, that does not mean that I am "local," my hometown is over 6 hours away from where I live now with a culture that has similarities, but is definitely not the same). Then, after finishing school, I moved to the city of Charlotte, where I lived for 3 years. Each person from our house would describe our conditions differently because we all came from different areas. So this is totally my own perspective....

Let me also say that I live in the Rockcastle Volunteer House. I can tell you about the other houses, but I have only lived in one. They each feel a little different so I'll let someone else tell you about the others. Rockcastle is in a valley surrounded by other CAP programs (we have several residential programs in our county). It is in the town of Mt. Vernon, population around 5,000. One unique aspect is that we are directly off the interstate and close to a tourist attraction, Renfro Valley. We are also about 15 minutes from Berea, which is a quaint college town, also known for its local artisans. So, even though we're a good bit away from the city, we have easy access to get to any amenities we need. It is also beautiful country....many hills and great hiking areas within driving distance.

Within our house, we range from 5 to 12 people depending on time of year. We also have a wide range of ages...some retired, middle-aged, late 20's, and right out of college. Most of us have our own bedroom although a few have had to share, and we usually share a bathroom with 2-5 people. We eat and have devotion together four times a week if at all possible. In our house, we have had people who may work the late shift and miss out on dinner, but we try to be as consistent as possible. And don't worry, we have internet, cable, and plenty of food! We spend alot of time being "social"...whether that means hanging out with other volunteers at home or traveling to various events in Knoxville, Lexington, or Louisville....to even Chicago!

All that to say, I love our community! It's taught me so many valuable lessons and I'm blessed to be loved by these people, despite the transparency, conflict, and compromises that come with living with a large group of people.

Jenny King serves as a long-term volunteer in Family Advocacy. She lives in Rockcastle Volunteer House.