Cohousing-L Mailing List: re: Cohousing?

[Buzz Burrell (72253.2101]

Yesterday, Tim wrote
                          
>. It seems that most Cohos are based on some philosophical
>lifestyle in which all the members agree to participate in.  

Joani responded:

>Au contraire, tim. Most of us share little ideology other than the desire to
>live in much closer community with our neighbors than is now possible in the
>city, countryside or suburbs, considering the
>isolation-masquerading-as-privacy inherent in almost all contemporary North
>American housing developments

I'm not sure what to make of this ...

Joani's own comment seems to be describing a "philosophical lifestyle".

Tim's comment definitly applies to me, at any rate.  I have no particular desire
to go to years worth of meetings, spend the same or more money than I would if I
was buying into a "comtemporary American housing development", and all for the
purpose of living 10 feet away from somebody else.  Instead, I'm making a
"philosophical lifestyle" choice.  I share much "ideology" with my community;
otherwise, why bother?

I think housing co-ops and cohousing have numerous similarities.  The main
difference seems to be that the adherents of both have read different books, but
not each other's books, so each presumes what they are doing is unique and
different.  Also usually presumes that what they are doing is superior to what
the other guy is doing (he didn't read the right book).  Not an uncommon
syndrom.  

Buzz Burrell
Paonia, CO