Cohousing-L Mailing List: Bio: Lurker

[T. Kolney (kolre001]

Michael Mariner said:
"Notice:  All you lurkers *must* do a bio or your community will forever be
virtual and exist only between the electrons in cyberspace!"


Name:   Tess Kolney
Age:  Older than my teeth and younger than I'm gonna be
Marital status:  Opposed
Family (children, pets, etc):  When unavoidable.  Oh, oh yeah, right.  1
feline companion, elderly.  Many friends, faithful.
Education (where, what): when unavoidable but preferably not on the carpeting
E-Mail:   kolre001 [at] maroon.tc.umn.edu
Home Address:    Minneapolis, MN
Community (if any):  exists only between the electrons in cyberspace
Desired Community: A community committed to being as low-negative-impact on
the Earth as possible; a community where it is possible to live without
having mainstream culture (including its media) forced down your throat; a
community where we were committed to learning about living with diversity
and not just giving lipservice to it (this would mean a lot of givens we
bring into living situations are not assumed to be what will happen and are
freely questioned by others, especially in the planning stages of the
community); a community which respect individuals and prefers consensus as a
way of including individual voices (not silencing or overwhelming them); a
community intentionally committed to creating an ecologically sane
alternative to mainstream America
Location:  Like Minnesota, but grew up in the South.  Prefer to stay here
but I guess I'm flexible.
Stage of Development:  Plane of consciousness at the moment
What I do for money:  Hospital administration, computer training, writing,
workshops

What I do for fun:  All the above, plus go to music festivals, cook, read,
write, walk, travel, spend time in nature, attend celebrations, make
homemade gifts and art, converse, dream, do social activist stuff, learn
more about the Earth and how She functions

Favorite thing about community:  People to talk to, not always having to
cook or do the dishes, being exposed to ideas I never woulda thunk up on my own

Worst thing about community:  1)Gossip.  2) Know-it-alls.  3) Lead weights
who drag everybody else down from their dreams and potentials. 

If I was in charge, I would:  Run in the other direction.  No, no, that's
too honest.  Okay, to steal from Starhawk, I would rebuild a community along
the lines of valuing the four sacred things (earth, air, fire, water) and
the Five Criteria of True Wealth (usefulness, beauty, healing or neutral
change for the Earth, nurturing for the spirit).  Then I'd go have lunch.

Commercial: And while you're seeking that One True Co-housing Community, my
current house is looking for a 3rd housemate.  We are mellow, responsible,
pretty good at cleaning up after ourselves and generally behaving like
adults, addicted to quiet, allergic to TV, Earth-lovers, one lesbian and one
bi and prefer living with women.  We are owned by one feline and a school of
fish and don't want to open the door to too many more owners. We live in a
fairy tale dream apartment with hardwood floors, a big back yard, beveled
glass windows, tons of sunlight and fresh air, 4 blocks from Lake Calhoun.
If you are interested or know someone who might be, drop me an e-mail.  End
commercial.