Cohousing-L Mailing List: smoking rules for cohousing common houses and outside common areas

[Elizabeth Stevenson (tamgoddess]

>I have been asked to inquire about what
> smoking rules other communities have or have avoided having for cohousing
> common houses and outside common areas.

> Sylvie Kashdan


I just looked this up to be sure(side note: the only time I ever look in our
manual is to answer list questions!). The only restriction we have on
smoking as that it is not allowed in the common house at all. Guests are
free to smoke outside in any of the common areas. People make their own
rules at home and in their outside areas.

We also have no smokers, so it hasn't been an issue lately. We have had
smokers in the past, and they generally smoked only around their own homes,
since they knew it made some people uncomfortable.

We had considered stronger rules about outside areas, but the truth is there
are few smokers who visit, and when we do have visitors who are smokers,
it's generally someone we don't know very well and considere a one-shot deal
anyway. We can live with it.

We also have large overhangs on our common house, so even in "bad" weather
(we have no snow), there is ample room to smoke.

I would suggest that if you are still in planning stages, make sure there is
plenty of outside space that is as comfortable as possible, say with large
overhangs and seating, so that smokers can be banished without guilt from
the CH.

In general, the fewer actual rules you have, the better they will be
respected and followed, and the less resentment there will be. Trust and
open communication are better for building community than lots of esoteric
rules.

-- 
Liz Stevenson
Southside Park Cohousing
Sacramento California

http://members.home.net/southsideparkcohousing/
tamgoddess [at] home.com

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