Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Income levels, jobs and stability

[Guy Koehler, Rivendell Ranch (rivendell_ranch]

Dysfunctional people: by your definition, it is doubtful that many artists
would be acceptable in your communities of choice. For example, van Gogh was
so dysfunctional that he cut off his own ear, yet the world today treasures
the work created from his tortured soul.

Mortgage applications are approved for individuals who meet the loan
requirements of the given financial institution. Those criteria are debt
level, income level and credit history. I am unaware of any test made by
lending institutions which measure the functionality, let alone
dysfunctionality of the borrower.

You mention criteria I value: a "...process to evaluate and screen the
emotional, motivational, social abilities of their membership". However, I
do not agree that the only response to a low score is "...a quick and easy
exit process". You do not seem to have addressed the potential for assisting
in building those skills in the noted individual.

You mention that "...there is a level of social competence required for most
jobs". Which jobs are those? Does the cook, dish washer, fence builder,
landscaper, monk or hermit artist need to qualify to some litmus test of
social competence before they are allowed entrance to a community? I suggest
that we do ourselves a disservice when we restrict our boundaries to only
those who meet our income levels and job abilities. An interesting thing
that I have learned living and working on 160 acres by myself for two and a
half years, is that the cook, dishwasher, launderer, fence builder, web
designer, financial planner, marketing guru, salesman, strategic planner, et
al are all indispensable. I can only do one at a time, which has taught me
to respect even the lowliest job much more than I did in my previous
endeavors.

I have also had the experience of serving in the corporate world. There were
many different sorts of folk I worked with: responsible, kind, greedy,
savage and nearly everything along that spectrum. The only corollary that
can be drawn from an individual with "...a history of drifting to a new job
every 5 or 6 weeks..." is that they didn't work out in that job for some
reason. The longer I have lived, the less I am willing to hold onto as
definite; other than, each individual almost without reserve has something
worthwhile to contribute.

If I am able to assist in even one dream, to give that dream a place and a
chance to grow, I will have lived well. In the meantime, who knows what will
happen come Spring. There may be guests, there may be community, there may
be success. What I know for sure is that in April the new grass will start,
the lambs will take their first steps on trembling legs, and I will have
done the best that I know how to create a space that will enable others to
share in this with me.


Respectfully,

Guy Koehler
Rivendell Ranch
Hoquiam, WA 98550

http://www.geocities.com/rivendell_ranch

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