Cohousing-L Mailing List: Common House Use and Uses

[Ann Zabaldo (zabaldo]

Hi all!

I took the liberty of changing the Subject line in this email because I'm
also interested in the questions posed by Ruth.  Could you please post your
responses to the whole listserv?

Ann Zabaldo
Takoma Village
WDC
----- Original Message -----
From: <HeidiNYS [at] aol.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org>
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2000 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: COHOUSING-L digest 287


> DEAR FRIENDS,
>
>
> we moved into Cantines island a little over two years ago, and I'm now
> writing to post a Common-house Question to established [ie, residential]
> groups.
>
> We did build Part One of our CommonHouse.  Untill our additional land
brings
> additional members, we won't be able to do Phase 2:
> guestroom/office/livingroom/lounge......
>
> We now have a good kitchen:  prof fridge, excellent stove [tho we bought a
4
> burner semi-professioanl stove.... had we thought ore, we'd have a 6
burner!]
> , and prof type dishwasher about which we are quite mixed!  Big enough
dining
> area.  kids room which we will probably soon transorm to guestroom, as the
> kids are opting not to use it [it's on the small side, and our kids no
longer
> are!]  Small laundry;  most folks' landry is in their homes!
>
> We use common house for meals trice per week.  Tai chi,  Yoga, once each p
> week, and a 'stitch & bitch' knitting/sewing circle.  Also, of course for
> Community/committee meetings.
>
> We are trying to prioritze 'what next'!!
>
> We do not informally hang out there...... some folks think that it is
because
> of everyone being so very busy.  Others think it'd be used more if we made
a
> plan, made the money, and made it more beautiful.  For some folks,
matching
> tables are important, matching lounge area furniture, etc.  For others,
it's
> ok the way it is.   this is one of the more friction-producing questions
> we've had since move-in.  Money is available in differing amounts and with
> different meaning to various of us, of course!
>
> So, please give uses of CH input such as:  What areas of your Commonhouse
get
> used and how much??????
> Do people hang out informally?
> What brings folks to Commonhouse?  Does doing/not doing laundry there
matter
> at all?
> Looking forward to hearing,
> all best,
> Ruth Hirsch, Cantines Island, suagerties, NY
> Inviting in additonal families: one neighbor is marrying out of the
> area...... and we have one piece of land which'll take 2 households, and
are
> trying to buy one additional near piece of land.
>