Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Reinventing the Wheel

[MelaSilva (MelaSilva]

Gee, this is really complicated. 
For a long time after we moved in, I would have whole heartedly agreed that
we wasted a lot of time making decisions about minor stuff. 

We have been here almost 4 years now, and  I see a big difference in trust,
faith and acceptance among those of us who spent years fact finding,
reporting back, discussing, persuading, defending our position, giving in to
another view, facilitating, arguing, and finally concensing on literally
hundreds of issues.
Why did it have to be design and construction that we learned so much from?
Because we CARED so very much. How can you learn the depths of someone in 2
hours a week, except in a situation in which you are very emotionally and
financially invested?   Designing a cohousing community now seems like an
excellent way in which a bunch of people who don't know each other can grow
into a caring, committed extended family.

Sorry if this sounds sappy. But I have witnessed such caring and sharing in
this community,  and I really do credit the creative design/building process.
 People who only live here, who moved in after we built it, take much longer
to grow those bonds.  

Pam Silva
Southside Park, Sacramento