Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: What Creates Community?

[Buzz Burrell (72253.2101]

Thanks for the good responses on this important question.

However, my original posting on this must have been very long-winded, because it
appears certain people didn't read past the first paragraph.  So I want to again
quickly summarize why this question interests me so much:

1. I don't think we always know "What Creates Community".  I'm don't know
myself, but I do suspect that we have made assumptions without clearly examining
this question, and since community is why we are doing all this work, knowing
exactly what makes it for us would be a very important goal to remember in all
of our dealings.  If we don't really know what creates it, we are shooting in
the dark during our processes.

2. We should examine this question publically as we are forming our groups and
before we make major decisions.

3. We should acknowledge that what creates community for some of us, does not
matter to others, and understand our respective places of understanding.


I gave "eating dinner together" as a possibly 'assumed' community value;  whew!
Not only did people jump all over this statement, but they tossed in some apple
pie and mom at the same time!  Apparantly this is an important and common
bonding practice for many people.  I really appreciate that after reading the
responses.  Should I also presume that if eating together is not important for
other people, will thier notion be equally appreciated by the 'dinner together'
people?


** I'de like to see the subscribers of this list do what Mike just did - submit
a quick and simple list of:  WHAT CREATES COMMUNITY - for you.  Not in theory,
but for each individual.  A staw poll of how people feel about this fundemental
issue.  

Everyone is a legitimate expert on their own feelings, so if you've been
lurking, now is a good chance to contribute (mouth off) like the rest of us, all
for a good cause. 

Buzz Burrell
Boulder