Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Reply to B.Sandelin on coho cost as barrier

[Harry Pasternak (Harry_Pasternak]

Judith

Your statement that-

"It is not at ALL clear to me that cohousing provides less community than 
I wish.  For while community is intentional in both setups, the 
ecological/physical community in coho is essential to my desires (and 
apparently to  all those who choose coho as their kind of community."

- is an important issue for this conference to deal with---or for that matter
any group who are interested in having "better" neighborhoods, whether its
cohousing or other forms of intentional neighborhoods.

One of the reasons that I am asking for folks in this conference to express
their viewpoint of cohousing (in 35 words or less-or more) is to get a sense
of whether "cohousing folks" are willing to accept the fact that different
folk need/want different "stuff" from their social networking experiences, in
a cohousing neighborhood.
 
To some, having supper two or three times a week may satisfy their
needs---others may want to have contact two or three times a day for brief
periods---others may want "stronger" intense emotional relationships---some
seniors may require specific help---the Down Syndrome child and his or her
family may have other unique needs.

Since people have different needs---does the design (and cost) of the homes,
common buildings, the private, semi-private and public spaces as well as the
formal processes (meetings etc.) enable everybody to access the needs that
they have or restrict accessing their needs?

There are hundreds of scientific studies (Dr. Johnston, Centre for
Cooperative Learning-Univ. of Minnesota) to show that "homogeneous" groups
working cooperatively on projects tend to be underachievers when compared to
"heterogeneous" groups, when it comes to solving problems.

Not only are the heterogeneous participants more successful and creative
problem solvers; each member of the group matures more rapidly in developing
leadership and other skills. 


In oder to have a good heterogeneous mix,  it seems to make sense that
participants in a cohousing venture have a mix of differing incomes (poor,
low income, middle income and high income), differing races, differing age
groups, include people with so-called "handicaps" (aren't we all handicapped
in one way or another?) etc. etc.

So I wonder if its possible for folks who have already put in their capsule
overview of what cohousing is--- would want to add a second thirty-five words
(or so) comment on the a) the kinds and b) the amounts of social networking
they envision in a cohousing community-because I believe Judith's predicament
is paramount to what cohousing is all about.

Harry Pasternak
Thousand Islands Institute