"Base Model" Cohousing - Hold the Options, Please | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Dan Suchman (71756.2661compuserve.com) | |
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 1995 11:45:20 -0500 |
Thank you Elizabeth Basch and Rob Sandelin for your thoughtful and passionate responses to my invitation for dissent. I suspect that we are in agreement on ends, but differ on means. I also suspect that you might have misinterpreted some of what I had to say. [Who was it that said (I'm paraphrasing) "words are too poor a means of communication to be used carelessly"?] I offer the following as an attempt at clarification: Elizabeth: I did not say or mean to imply that "base model" cohousing is "morally superior" to any other form of cohousing, with or without the "optional equipment". I meant only to suggest that "base model" cohousing has plenty to offer our society, even without all of those "options". I DID mean to say that "base model" cohousing may have the practical advantages of being easier to achieve and having appeal to much broader market, thereby spreading the benefits of cohousing more widely and rapidly than cohousing which is encumbered by too many specialized and non-mainstream interests and values. My experience from living in cohousing, and meeting many others who live in or are creating cohousing, is that most of us are willing to give up our "dream homes" (be they "green", completely "non-toxic", "spiritual" or "owner-built") to have the benefits of simply living in a closer knit community. Naturally, there are exceptions. Rob: I hope that the foregoing response to Elizabeth answers some of your questions to me. If not, please try me again. I think you only reinforced my point when you stated that "people who are interested in cohousing choose it because they want the bonds of community, and will accept a great deal of other bullshit in order to have those bonds." I suspect that "bullshit" means different things to different people. Might it mean to some living in a community that lives by more or less mainstream values? If so, you and I are in agreement. I am most definitely NOT advocating that cohousing cease to evolve and develop different "flavors" once it becomes more widespread. I'm only suggesting that it first be given a chance to become more widespread. The several styles of cohousing in the Puget Sound area may seem like a broad array of choices to someone already inclined to live in cohousing. But I suspect that few, if any, of these communites would be selected by the vast majority of people currently living in suburbia. These are the very people who could most benefit from cohousing, but are discouraged from trying it because of all the non-mainstream dogma that they would have to buy into in order to live there. Some of these people might be GREAT cohousing neighbors and communitarians (I can think of many of my friends and family members, as examples), but are discouraged from trying it because they happen not to have an interest in (or tolerance for) consensus decision-making, vegetarian food, Sufi dancing, sharing circles or any of the other "non-essentials". So let there be "50 flavors" out there (I like moca chocolate chip, myself). But lets first be sure to have on hand a healthy stock of "vanilla", for the many who prefer it and could benefit by it. Dan Suchman Winslow Cohousing Bainbridge Island, WA
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"Base Model" Cohousing - Hold the Options, Please Dan Suchman, October 11 1995
- Re: "Base Model" Cohousing - Hold the Options, Please Monty Berman, October 11 1995
- Re: "Base Model" Cohousing - Hold the Options, Please Bruce Koller, October 11 1995
- Re: "Base Model" Cohousing - Hold the Options, Please Cbwhy, October 12 1995
- "Base Model" Cohousing - Hold the Options, Please Dan Suchman, October 14 1995
- Re: "Base Model" Cohousing - Hold the Options, Please Peter Alexander, October 17 1995
- Re: "Base Model" Cohousing - Hold the Options, Please Diane Q Simpson, October 17 1995
- "Base Model" Cohousing - Hold the Options, Please Dan Suchman, October 17 1995
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