Cohousing-L Mailing List: Spirit of Place

[PattyMara (PattyMara]

In a message dated 2/16/00 12:48:58 AM, RowenaHC [at] cs.com writes:

<< Do you suppose our former industrial site with broken 
 down warehouses alongside a railroad track called to us to build great sunny 
 units with veggie garden, pretty good lawn,  new trees and play areas? >>

Sounds like your site did a great job of calling you in.  

In the Pattern Language book, which we  (Tierra Nueva Coho, cen CA coast) 
studied and discussed and wrote volumes of documents about when we were 
stalled and had nothing else to do for a few years. . . . . there is a 
pattern called Site Repair.  One example of site repair involves a plot of 
land that has a beautiful hill with a stunning view, which slopes gently down 
to a sumpy, marshy, inhospitable place where old tires and trash have 
accumulated over the decades.  The first inclination of course is to build 
your house on the hill so you can enjoy the stunning view from your living 
room, deck, bedroom etc.  Site Repair suggests that you build your house on  
the most disgusting spot in order to clean up the damage that has been done 
over the years, and thus restore it to a beautiful attractive area.  The 
stunning view can still be enjoyed by taking a short walk up the hill 
anytime, and it will remain naturally beautiful, because you chose not to 
mess with it.  

Sounds like what your group did at Cambridge Coho was total site repair.  The 
spirit of your place must be giddy with gratitude.  Good juju for everyone 
who lives there.    

coheartedly, 
Patty Mara Gourley
Tierra Nueva Coho, cen CA coast