Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: shared work agreements in cohousing communities

[Rachael Shapiro (rachael]

Thanks so much! Next question is : what do you do about the folks who 
do not even do a minimum? Rachael




> Hi,
>
> Rob wrote:
> > I would add this question to the mix: Are
> you happy and content with your contributions to the community?
>
> Rob is wise as usual--or at least i agree with him!
>
> When my community first started we were fortunate enough to stumble 
> upon a basic set of principles for work that have served us 
> extremely well over the years in my opinion.
>
> #1: We expect people will do different amounts of work.  Expecting 
> everyone to do the same amount is unrealistic, it's just not how 
> humyns operate.  Acknowledging this openly has saved us loads of 
> upset and resentment.
> #2: Everyone does at least a minimum.
> #3: If you are doing more than you want to, do less.
>
> As long as all the important work gets covered and everyone is 
> content, we do not worry about differences in contribution level.
>
> Somehow the main stuff we need gets done.  Sometimes things do fall 
> through the cracks (read: get done more slowly than i personally 
> would prefer, or don't get done even though i wish someone would do 
> it), but that's life no matter what system you set up.
>
> Recently i committed to limiting my hours of community work to less 
> than 10 per week.  I'd say our average here is about 8 hours/week, 
> and the lowest contributor probably does about 5.  (I live in a 
> 9-person urban group house where we share 5 dinners per week, it's 
> not cohousing.)  Previously i'd been doing more like 15 hours/week, 
> and i got burned out.  My community-mates have been supportive of my 
> new commitment.  The one thing they insisted on is that i continue 
> to attend our weekly house meetings, which for me as a process 
> junkie was a great affirmation that i am living in the right place!
>
> Cheers,
>
> --Tree
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------
>
> Tree Bressen
> 1680 Walnut St.
> Eugene, OR 97403
> (541) 484-1156
> tree [at] ic.org
> http://www.treegroup.info
>
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