Cohousing-L Mailing List: BASE MODEL COHOUSING

[Jake Morrison (jake.morrison]

Dan Suchman wrote:
 > I'm sure that it will occur to some readers that eschewing one set of
 > necessarily means adopting another.  True enough.  I suggest that unt
 > cohousing itself becomes "mainstream", that aspiring cohousers stick
 > and proven mainstream models, which include (gulp!) democratic proces
 > than the poorly understood and applied "consensus" model), delegation
 > decision making (this is NOT the same as hierarchy -- and I don't bel
 > there is anything inherently wrong with hierarchy), separation of Chu
 > State (keep even poly-religious spiritual ceremonies out of group gov
 > and
 > group sponsored activities) and others.  Once cohousing becomes more
 > accepted and available as a housing option, let the specialization 
 > begin.

Dan, I mostly agree with you on sticking to a base model, at least in 
the realm of abstract promotion of cohousing. I think it would serve the 
'movement' best to keep it that way.

I do not agree that concensus decision-making should be left off of the 
base model, however. I haven't experienced democratic decision-making in 
a cohousing group but I find it very diffeicult to see how a cohousing 
group can shape itself to fit ALL of its members without the individual 
having the power to stop a decision that does not include his/her view.

I do not agree that individual cohousing groups should be required (by 
our peer opinion, if nothing else) to adhere strictly to the base model 
in their self-definition although it would be nice if, in choosing an 
identifier for themselves that they chose some modification of the term 
'cohousing' such as 'religious cohousing' or 'Mennonite CoHousing'.

take care
   Jake


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<Jake Morrison   Jake.Morrison [at] bbs.Synapse.net   Terra Firma Housing>
<769 Bayview Dr.; Constance Bay, Ont, K0A 3M0  voice: (613) 832-1458>
<BBS: MindBender's BBS       FidoNet 1:163/112        (613) 832-4097>
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