Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Refrigerators/ovens in individuals' houses

[Evan A.C. Hunt (evanh]

> In reality they can be less than 
> ideal, especially for parents with small kids or kids who are picky 
> eaters, or elders, or people who have specific schedules or eating 
> habits.

..or people with diabetes, severe food allergies or other dietary
restrictions.  My wife can't eat gluten; it would be nearly
impossible for us to get by without a fairly large and well-
equipped private kitchen.

However, when our group is planning kitchens, if it turns out that
everyone else wants a dorm fridge and a hot plate, we'll probably
be willing to swallow the costs of building a custom kitchen.  No
reason to force more kitchen on the regular common-house diners than
they need.  Just so long as I don't _also_ have to pay for a dorm
fridge and a hot plate.

EcoVillage would probably be better off allowing for a range of
appliance sizes, I'd guess.  But if they can reach consensus on
one size, then more power to 'em (well, less power, actually, but
never mind)--presumably they don't have any people with special
dietary needs like my wife, or the issue wouldn't have come up
in the first place.

                                        eh