The Vibe began in a season of heartbreak. My family went through a tragedy that forced us to face something we already knew deep down. There are not enough safe and peaceful places for people who are trying to get sober or rebuild their lives. Too many folks are pushed into environments that make them feel judged, unsafe, or alone. Some are expected to change their entire life in a few weeks with no support once they walk out the door.
I understood that pain because I lived through it. My kids lived through it too.
One day it became clear that I had a choice. I could stay angry at systems that were never built for people like us. Or I could create something different. Something grounded in real care and real community.
We decided to build it ourselves.
With the help of a handful of new friends in recovery, as well as my family, we launched The Vibe
Today The Vibe Recovery Co-op is a real community space in San Marcos created by my family, our friends, and people who believe in second chances. It is twenty units of stability, honesty, and dignity. It is a place where people can recover without shame and rebuild their lives at a pace that makes sense for them.
We do not focus on perfection. We focus on showing up, telling the truth, and supporting one another.
The Vibe has grown into a home where people garden, cook together, attend meetings, play music on the porch, help with rides, talk through the hard days, and learn what it feels like to be part of something steady. It is also where I make my own living amends by being the kind of support I once searched for.
This co-op is not fancy and it is not polished. It is real, it is working, and it is giving people their lives back one quiet day at a time.