Cohousing-L Mailing List: Where Everyone Knows Your Name [was The Declaration of Independence had to be a cohousing project!

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Jul 4, 2017, at 2:43 PM, Ann Zabaldo <zabaldo [at] earthlink.net> wrote:

> Such as building a neighborhood where everyone knows  your name …  completely 
> ridiculous idea 

I once did a tour of Takoma Village for a group of graduate students from the 
University of Maryland. They included architects, city planners. social 
workers, and other related subjects. After an hour to an hour and a half, we 
ended standing on the green looking back at the building which forms a big U 
shape from two to three stories. 43 units.

I mentioned something about where people worked and they asked me how many 
people I knew. I was a surprised they asked as they were that I knew everyone. 
Of the afternoon, that was the one thing that really amazed them. They looked 
around at all the windows and doors. One asked again, “All of them?”

I said, "I know all of them, where they are from, and where they work. I know 
many of their parents because they come to visit. And their friends who visit.”

They left sort of stunned. It was the last thing I would normally have thought 
to mention and it made the greatest impact.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org