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

[Meg Palley (megp]

That contribution was worth reading.  You speak my mind.
Let us be open to many kinds of contributions from diverse individuals, unlike
the median character. whoever that might be!
"Guy Koehler, Rivendell Ranch" wrote:

> 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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