I've heard the sounds of Leo's clarinet before, because he was playing in the background the last time I visited Hermanhaven and it sounded fantastic. Today, I'm going to meet Leo again and hear much more about life in Hermanhaven and that clarinet that has followed him for the past 70 years.

I am greeted at the door with a big smile and welcomed inside. Leo's own paintings adorn every wall, and all the things that Leo treasured most from his previous home have been given a nice place in the apartment. In the music room, a clarinet and music stand are ready. Music has always been a big part of Leo's life, and the clarinet moved into Hermanhaven with Leo over a year ago.

On move-in day, Leo quickly became a familiar face:

"September 10, 2021 was the first night I stayed here in Hermanhaven. It was the same night that Hermanhaven had a harvest festival. And already there I became known, because I played for them. A girl came up to my apartment and said, we're going to the harvest festival, and then she grabbed me. I took the clarinet in my hand and that was that."

Leo was a little excited about moving in and his new life in the community. He thinks he got off to the best start he could have wished for: "You're always a bit excited, but I quickly made a lot of good friends. Every time I meet someone, they say hi Leo, and then we talk."

One of the many advantages of the community is that there is almost always someone to share common interests with. And Leo is not the only one who plays an instrument in Hermanhaven: "Svend plays the organ, for example, and we played together at the harvest festival."

"I was up at Svend's one evening and we were playing together. And then Sanne came and knocked on the door and asked if we could open the windows and doors, because the others sitting in the Atrium Garden wanted to hear what we were playing."

Many memories to say goodbye to

When Leo decided to sell his large house south of Næstved, he had to figure out where and what the next home should be. With the help of the children, several options were considered.

"The children asked me what I wanted to do, because I couldn't maintain the house anymore. It was almost 200 square meters on two levels. I could move to an apartment in Næstved, but as the kids said; you can run up and down the stairs 24 times without meeting a single person."

Leo agreed, but it wasn't easy to leave a home where he and his late wife Lene had lived for 56 years. Leo had built much of the house himself and poured every single tile in the 60 square meter courtyard.

"But then we got a look at Hermanhaven and it looked really nice. It was right up my alley. And when a notice had just come up for an apartment, I took it."

Always a friend nearby

In Hermanhaven you don't have to "hang on each other's necks", as Leo says. And the best thing about living here is the open community: "We have an agreement that if we're bored, we can knock on each other's door. And we're just as good friends if it doesn't work out that day."

There are plenty of activities to choose from, and you decide what you want to participate in.

"I'm not a member of any activity guilds, but I'm happy to participate in the various activities. And if I need to just be myself, that's fine too."

With many people gathered, there's always a chance that one or more of them will come up with a good idea to share. Not everything is planned, and the impulsive ideas often end up with some pleasant hours.

"A week ago there was a group sitting in the atrium garden and when I looked down from the first floor, they immediately said come down. It was a random gathering, so I went down there and had a glass of wine and a chat. It was very impulsive."

Come with an open mind

Moving into a cohousing community opens up new opportunities and friendships. You live closer than on the residential street or wherever else you come from. Some you quickly "click" with and others not at all. It's like that in all relationships in life. You have to contribute to the positive atmosphere, because that's what it takes to create a good community. And before you decide to move into a cohousing community, Leo's best advice is:

"You can be polite, decent and talk nicely to each other without loving each other. But you have to be open to the possibilities and want to get to know new people.

Leo and I quickly hit it off, and I was once again confirmed in the value of community and shared interests; whether you're into cooking, knitting, walking or music. And I look forward to the thought that the clarinet's tones will sound at the next many gatherings in Hermanhaven. The Christmas party in Hermanhaven is coming up soon, and I wonder if Leo and Svend will play a few songs again.