Cohousing-L Mailing List: Thoughts

[MJWB (mjwyogini]

Hi folks!

    You know, this has been bothering me. Many (not all) of the Cohousing 
Communities

we have explored have this attitude of "we're too expensive for you, no 
apologies, or explanations, it 

is what it is" Hmmmm....that attitude bothers me on many levels because it 
doesn't always take into 

consideration active ways to correct the non-affordability of so many Cohousing 
Communities.

     Ok, for the sake of fairness, I won't name the community exactly, but one 
in New Hampshire
used to state on it's website something to the tune of "we realize our 
community is not affordable for
some people, and we haven't found a solution" (how hard did they try? It's 
frightfully expensive there, and 

New Hampshire taxes are sky high!)

     The attitude of some Cohousers, once they find that you really can't 
afford their units, is mainly aloof.
 I really don't like saying this but it's out now, it's something I've noticed 
at some places for
a long time, and it's not a welcoming or warm environment. 

Of course, there are also many where the people are warm and inviting. I guess 
we just haven't "felt the love" at others.

     I guess that maybe people who have many many inquires at some Cohousing 
get sort of "jaded"
and also feel hurt when it doesn't work out for people who can't afford because 
maybe their "heart strings" have
been pulled as well with involvement. But that doesn't preclude the fact that 
current Cohousing resident should DO something 

active to change the situation, unless they truly don't care about people who 
can't afford it and remain
exclusive instead.

    I really like this quote that was sent in the list serv:


It is 
possible that the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual.
The 
next Buddha may take the form of a community --
a community practicing 
understanding and loving kindness,
a community practicing mindful 
living.
This may be the most important thing we can do for the 
earth.
~Thich Nhat Hanh


And also this one: 


     "You never change things by fighting against the 
existing reality. To change something, 

build a new model that makes the existing 
model obsolete." - Buckminster Fuller

   


       So, Maybe I've been barking up the wrong tree. We do, I think, need to 
build a new 

model and make the existing model obsolete! Inspiring..............






     


________________________________