Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Introduction

[Rob Sandelin (robsan]

Kaye L. Brubaker  klbrubak [at] MIT.EDU  wrote:

>(1) Who's active in cohousing in the Boston/Greater New
>England area?

Check the Cohousing Center
103 Morse St.
Watertown MA 02172
617-923-1300

They are working with a couple groups in the Area you describe.


>(2) American life tends to be very mobile.  How much stability does
>successful cohousing require?  I have the impression that c.h.
>works in Europe because Europeans tend to be more rooted than
>Americans.

Good Question. Ask again in about three years when we have groups which 
are old enough to have experienced this.  Currently the only info I 
know of comes from Winslow (Bainbridge Island, WA)who had some early 
turnover as they completed their project.  One interesting question is 
how are relationships different between people who worked through the 
development of the project versus those who just moved into completed 
units? Will the people who moved in to the already finished units have 
the same commitment, cooperation and communication skills and values as 
those who spent so much of their life energy to create the project?

One of the questions which haunts me is: "Will my great great 
grandchildren have the same sense of community that I enjoy now, or 
will that change over the coming generations?  As a co-creator of 
Sharingwood I want it to last for eternity, but I know of no way to 
ensure this.  The sustainability of communities has been an on-going 
experiment since the 60"s communes.  A few have survived, most have 
folded.  What makes a community last?

I think one key is having a clear, well documented vision, which 
incoming members subscribe to.  If your vision is clear and can be 
transmitted to future residents, then perhaps the community can be sustained.

=====================================================================
Kaye L. Brubaker   klbrubak [at] mit.edu | "I think I can, I think I can,
Dept. of Civil & Env. Engineering   |  I think I can, I think I can."
MIT 48-320 Cambridge, MA 02139      |          -- W. Piper