Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: site selection musings

[Kay Argyle (argyle]

> Ah, but you see, when we selected our lots we didn't think about whether
> it was a serene or child-centered location.   

We did!  for all the good it did us.

We initially chose a unit because it would have the most private backyard
of any of the units still available.  It adjoined the little "wild area,"
which was supposed to be a quiet, meditation area.  The windows of the
front bedroom faced onto the spot planned for a gathering node, and we were
looking forward to evenings on the patio.

Then at a discussion about kids, noise, etc., somebody asked whether a
nightworker really ought to be living right next to the gathering node,
between two families with five-year-olds (making it clear he thought it was
her problem).  We spent several evneings talking about it between ourselves
and then switched our reservation to the only remaining unit of the same
size, leapfrogging away from the gathering node to the other side of one of
the kids (we'd have preferred to be further, not to get away from the kid,
who is okay, but from her unwelcoming parent).  The houses are tighter
together, the backyard has much less privacy, the garden is further away,
and the assigned parking spot is on the far side of the property.

So having made location sacrifices to get out of the middle of a kid zone,
what happens?  The gathering node turns out to be an adult hang-out.  The
kids were allowed to build a fort in the wild area, and our living room
window looks out on the lawn of the house that is the preferred location
for tag, kickball, screaming, etc.  When the unit on the other side of us
finally sold, it was to a family with a baby.  

Because of the way the buildings are arranged, the gathering node patio
feels like it "belongs" to the units in the buildings facing it, and coming
from a unit further along the path I feel awkward using it (this has
nothing to do with the attitude of the people living in those units, who
are happy to see us there, and everything to do with the effect physical
layout has on usage patterns).

Fortunately, my room-mate moved up enough in seniority to change to a day
schedule, and isn't coming home and going to bed at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday
mornings.

Kay
Wasatch Commons