Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: CoHousing IS an intentional community

[Rob Sandelin (floriferous]

It was written:

Under the current definition, a "cohousing
> > community for people who want to live and work with people who have
> > disabilities" would not be cohousing at all, it would be an intentional
> > community.
>

Cohousing is a FORM of intentional Community. Just as a coop, or communes
are FORMS of intentional Commuity.  There are defining characteristics of
each form, and there are some blends as well. There is no Central Authority
whom defines these things, so it is left up to the partipants to do so.
Cohousers tend to see themselves in a certain way. So do Religous
Communards. In the past, currently, and I suspect continuing on in the
future, poeple from different forms of community will rank on the others.
This has gone on for the entire history of IC's, and I don't see it changing
any time soon. The income-sharing, eco-vigilant, city dwellers speak ill of
those rural, land destroying Christian eco-disasters, and on it goes.

I helped form the Northwest Intentional Communities Association in order to
create forums to get all these different folks together, to see that in
fact, they have things in common as well as their differences. It is a real
eye-opening experience for rookie cohousers to meet folks from the communal
farm that formed 30 years ago. The next gathering is April 10th at my place
at Sharingwood. Its always a good time and Ya'll are welcome.

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood Community