Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re:"community" and site design

[Joaniblank (Joaniblank]

Rob, you said you don't see a lot of "community" developing in cohousing, and
that you think that "community" develops independently of site design. In my
mind you are seeing "community" much too narrowly. My guess is that in the
90s and beyond, most new cohousers will be those who have lived in single
family houses or apartments ever since they got married or otherwise coupled
(with or without children), or became slightly older single adults who wanted
a place of their own. In ther words, they will  probably have lived in
conventional american housing for 10, 20, 30, 40 or more years, before
finding cohousing. 

Even the most un-intimate and un-"intentional" cohousing community is going
to provide a whole lot of "community" to many of  these folks, perhaps more
than they ever dreamed of having. And y'know what? "These folks" is already,
in large measure, us! So let's be generous, instead of miserly in our
definition of community and let each individual and individual communities
build cohousing with what amount and kind of intentionality and "community"
works for them.