Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: dining room size

[Rob Sandelin (robsan]

Of all of you living in built communities, what is the maximum number of
people that actually eat in the dining room at one time (relative to total
people living there?  we are making early plans and calculations for ours.

At Sharingwood, and from what I remember from previous posts to this 
question, this varies.  For example there seems to be a universal 
community dinner lull in August, with the lowest turnouts.

Generally speaking the maximum number of people that actually eat in 
the dining room at one time relative to the total people living here is 
all.  On a few occasions, everyone has come to a special dinner and 
thus we planned our commonhouse to cover seating (rather crowded) for everyone.

The average is much different and is hard to peg because some people 
who don't live here yet, do come to dinner at least once a week or 
more.  General average: out of 30 residents,  24 come regularly to 
dinner.  Some nights there are 17, some nights there are 30.  For 
example last night 2 offsite residents came to dinner and 3 guests.  
One thing which happens a lot is guests for dinner, so be sure to add 
them in your calculations of seating needs.  Peoples relatives come to 
dinner, friends, visitors to the community, even neighbors from down the road.

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood