Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing-L Digest, Vol 217, Issue 1 re eating together during covid

[Muriel Kranowski (murielk]

 I'd say that all aspects of community life are somewhat on pause now. Some
folks are still coming out for our 5 pm Friday Happy Hour which is always
held outdoors, bundled up in their winter coats, but they're not staying
very long. Happy Hour usually goes into Winter hibernation but as no indoor
activities are taking its place this year, a couple of stalwarts have kept
it going.

We had only one common meal in January, which a couple of volunteer cooks
did as a takeout meal for the rest of us - a really lovely thing to do! At
least we got to briefly say hi to them and to each other as we filled our
takeout containers, wearing our masks. Aside from that, participation in
meals was quite reduced when we resumed doing it in 2021, between April and
December - there were fewer cooked meals and fewer people eating.

Some committees/teams have been meeting in person, outdoors when possible
on someone's porch or the CH porch, but most seem to be on Zoom. I know
some people are trying to plan fun activities for later in the spring.

Things that still happen that make me happy to be in cohousing: emails
asking if anyone has a (fill in the blank) that they need, with a follow-up
email soon after saying "Got it now, thanks!", and other emails offering
giveaway items followed by "Claimed!" Also: seeing kids playing on the
central Green or the playset. Getting to say hello to a few neighbors
almost every time I go out for a walk. The coho special sauce is still
there, even if its expression is attenuated.

   Muriel at Shadowlake Village, Blacksburg VA