Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: JoycePlath (JoycePlath![]() |
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 09:43:01 -0600 (MDT) |
It is reassuring to read that others have a difficult time during the first year of a new CoHousing experience. For me, after eight years of planning and nurturing Marsh Commons it was painful to move in and discover that a substantial portion of my fellow co housers resented my efforts as project manager (fortunately everyone seems to really enjoy the built environment). The first year was a lot like a bad marriage with undercurrents of resentment that made even small negative exchanges intensely hurtful. At that time we had eight of our twelve homes completed. Six months ago the last four homes have been occupied, giving us a healthy twenty to thirty folks at dinner three times a week, and new energy to complete assorted projects. The center of gravity has shifted and suddenly it is a very special place to live. A month ago I had knee surgery and was amazingly well cared for by my community. There were flowers, meals, books, bottles of wine and help drinking it, trips to the bank, postoffice, and pharmacy, and the use of a bicycle delivery service for anything I needed during the first few weeks. During the time that I could not walk, it was comforting to know that with the phone next to my bed I could get help if needed it with in a couple of minutes from half a dozen neighbors. Recently there has been a casual group that goes to the movies on Tuesday night after dinner, Another group sings, with the help of two guitars one night a week. In a week or two our recreation room will be done and we will celebrate with a dance party for a couple who are both turning forty. This Sunday we will have our first egg hunt and brunch with many friends are planning to attend. We still have some healing to do from earlier experiences but gradually our level of trust is improving. I have gone from a position that I might well have to move out (that bad marriage feeling) to a sense that this indeed is growing into a neighborhood that is caring, supportive, spontaneous, and fun. It took two years of living here to begin to feel this way. Joyce Plath Marsh Commons, Arcata, California JoycePlath [at] aol.com _______________________________________________ Cohousing-L mailing list Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org Unsubscribe info: http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/cohousing-l
- Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live, (continued)
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Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live Racheli&John, April 11 2001
- Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live Sharon Villines, April 11 2001
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Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live Elizabeth Stevenson, April 11 2001
- Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live Denise Meier, April 11 2001
- Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live JoycePlath, April 12 2001
- Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live Sharon Villines, April 12 2001
- Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live Robyn Williams, April 12 2001
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Re: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live Racheli&John, April 11 2001
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RE: Cohousing as a rigorous way to live Lashbrook, Stephan, April 12 2001
- Project Coordination Sheila Braun, April 12 2001
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