Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Who Lives in Cohousing?

[Becky Schaller (bschaller]

I've received several compliments for this message below and am therefore
tempted to leave this thread alone.  However, I also want to say I actually
wasn't trying to make the point that it's hard to say who has a mental
illness and who doesn't.   I agree it's a good point; it's just not the
point I was trying to make.  That's because I think I understand all too
well what Zev's question was and would not want to see it lost in the
ambiguity of definitions.  I was actually trying to say that I don't think
the woman I was referring to requires the kind of community support and care
that I thought Zev was talking about.   I think this is a question that is
probably difficult to discuss for a number of reasons - particulary on a
listserv.   However, I also think it is a worthy topic to ask about.  I
imagined that Zev was talking about someone who had perhaps attempted
suicide several times and people were worried that perhaps their next
attempt would be successful.   Or perhaps someone who people felt like they
were always walking on eggshells when they talk to this person.   Or maybe
it's someone with whom you just can't seem to do right by no matter how hard
you try.   I don't know that much about mental illness or how to define it.
But I do believe that people who are challenged with a mental illness could
easily provide their own unique gifts and challenges to a community.

Becky



>> Zev, We have one person who I know of who fits your description.   I also
>> suspect that if you were to ask everyone who lives here, Who in this
>> community provides you with the most difficult challenges? this persons
>> name would probably not come up.  I say this knowing this woman has her
>> own personal challenges because of her illness.
> 
>> Becky Schaller
>> Sonora Cohousing
> 

_______________________________________________
Cohousing-L mailing list
Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/cohousing-l