Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: problems at move-in time?

[Jim Snyder-Grant (jimsg]

Eris wrote about some concerns about move-in time:

"I've heard several community members who seem to assume that everybody will
help everybody else move.  I personally absolutely HATE moving and helping
other people move, although I have certainly done both many times. The idea
of not just moving myself but helping 29 other households to do so exhausts
me just to think about it. This time around, having fifteen years worth of
accumulated stuff AND actually having spare cash, I am planning to just hire
movers and be done with it. However, I worry that this may make me a magnet
for resentment from other folks if the expectation is that we all help each
other."

Almost everyone at New View hired movers. Some hired packers. The volunteers
who helped with tasks around move-in days were really just volunteers - no
one helped everyone move, and many helped no-one move. No penalties or
consequences as far as I can tell.

Our construction was staged so that only 1-2 houses were done every month,
so that there were always households who were not at all near moving time,
and a few of those interested in helping in some way.

Sounds like you are due for a conversation with your future neighbors using
these two key words from your post: "expectations" and "resentments".
Start now - those kinds of conversations pay off big, and practicing now
will get you ready for the next round, which will start as soon as you move
in.

-Jim Snyder-Grant
New View Cohousing
Acton MA


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