Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Work value by interests

[MartyR707 (MartyR707]

In a message dated 4/18/01 5:43:46 PM, Rob S. writes:

>I think the wrong question about work, that is too often asked is: Is it
>fair? I think the right question is: Are you happy? If you are happy doing
>25 hours a week gardening then that's great. If you are happy not doing
>any gardening, but find reading to kids after dinner is your joy, that's good
>too. The fact that one is more hours than the other is not the correct
>measure of its value to yourself or to the community.
>
>My advice is to find the things that make you happy and do them. If you
>are unhappy, stop, tell others why, then do things that make you happy. This
>isa good place for a 80/20 gauge, 80% should be stuff that is your joy, 20%
>isthe rest of it. Remember, your happiness is nobody else's job but yours
>andyou only get, if you are lucky, 100 years or so to figure this out.

Rob,
This sounds so nice, but I can't quite grab hold of it - and I can't see it 
working here.  Maybe because we are a smaller community and there are fewer 
adults to do the work.  But, for example, I really hate cleaning the common 
house - I think most of us dislike it, but we have all agreed to do our share 
so it is not a large burden for anyone.  I really can't fathom saying "I'm 
not going to clean the common house because it does not bring me happiness."

I think there are many here who don't love to cook, but they are willing to 
do their share because they love to eat someone else's cooking.  there are a 
few who do love to cook, but I don't think they will be willing to cook all 
the meals.

I tried dropping back a bit after move-in because I was burned out from 5 
years of hard work to get here.  It was OK for awhle, but I sensed it was 
time to get back in and "do my share".  I would truly be happier doing less I 
think, but I would feel bad if things were not getting done.  And I feel bad 
also when I see people who do very little.

I don't know - I'll have to think more on this...

Marty Roberts
Two Acre Wood, Sebastopol, CA
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