RE: sweat equity
From: TR Ruddick (truddickearthlink.net)
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2003 14:28:04 -0600 (MDT)
> [Original Message]

> From: Elizabeth Cobb <lizacobb [at] earthlink.net>
> To: cohousing-l <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Subject: [C-L]_Sweat Equity
> Reply-To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> 
> I am a recent fan of cohousing [edit] 
> But as I read people's messages, I began to be afraid that co-housing was=
>  less successful at addressing the big gap between the haves and havenots=
>  -- it seemed to me that at worst, co-housing was just a new way for midd=
> le class people to secure their own piece of the pie.[ edit]
> 
> I also see co-housing as a way to develop the ability to visualize a soci=
> ety that is non-hierarchic. [edit]> 
> What do you think, readers?
> 
> Liza Cobb

and one of the replies was:

> From: "Rob Sandelin" <floriferous [at] msn.com>
> 
> I agree with a previous post to Elizabeth Cobb, you would benefit a great
> deal from  actually living in a community first [edit] 
> One of things I would pass on, is that any one particular community is
> unlikely to encompass all of what you seem to want and believe, and by
> visiting several, you will find many parts, in many places which you can
> draw ideas and inspirations from.

Now, am I being overly touchy here, or does it seem that there's a teensy
bit of attitude here?  Having only reached the early stages of actually
doing cohousing, I admit that I don't know the details from experience, and
there is probably much to be learned from hearing and sharing with those
who've actually completed the process.  But time and again I get a message
from current residents of cohousing that goes "until you've really lived in
one, you can't really know what it's like or what you want from it--and any
variations on what has normally been done are questionable at best."

I don't doubt Rob's expertise, but 90% of attempts at starting cohousing
are failures.  While there's no arguing against success, there must be some
new way of approaching it that would lead to a higher rate of success for
new groups, whatever that may be.  Golly Geeze Jehosephat, there are so few
cohousing communities in this nation so far, most of them (all the good
ones) with waiting lists--telling her to try to live in cohousing first is
a little like telling her to walk on the moon.  Possible--but how likely? 
Especially since most of us are at least somewhat place-bound (career,
family, preference, habit, whatever).

So when someone comes up with a different perspective or a new idea, why
isn't it greeted with "gee, that's certainly an idea!  Here are my
insights." or else a hard bit of evidence about why it isn't practical? 
Failing that, skeptical silence?

If I'm being overly sensitive, please ignore previous.  Or tell me off on
no uncertain terms (I'm thick-skinned).

TR Ruddick
Dayton Cohousing


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