Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Did the earthquake effect any CA cohousing?

[Mike Swettenam (mikesw]

A warm hello from Paso Robles, where Oak Creek Commons cohousing is under
construction.  Many, many thanks to all who have emailed, called, and had us
in their thoughts since the earthquake that hit here on Monday.  Despite the
images of destruction from our dear little downtown that hit the national
media, all of us Oak Creekers living in Paso Robles faired very well through
the shaking.  

We, too, experienced the gift of community during disaster.  As we all
emerged from our homes, we set about checking on each other.  Many of us
live on the same block and went from house to house surveying the minor
losses of baking dishes, vases, and spice jars.  Arlen a member on the west
side of town was over in a matter of an hour to check on all of us east
siders and bring us digital images of the quake caused mess in his home.  He
also brought sad reports of the devastation in the downtown area and gleeful
reports of the hot springs that had been uncapped in the downtown library
parking lot.  If it hadn't been for the authorities taping off the area, I'm
sure Arlen would have been mobilizing us to get on our swimsuits and take
advantage of the 110 degree mineral water the earthquake had liberated.

The rest of our day was spent helping a working parent from our community
pick up her children from childcare centers that were closing and fielding
calls from others who were at work and wanted us to check in on loved ones
and their homes.  Some of us gathered at homes that DID NOT have cable TV
(since the cable was out and those who had it could get nothing) and watched
the unfolding tragedy in our downtown area.

What has been most saddening has been the loss of two lives and the
destruction to our historic downtown.  We've all been reminded of the
importance of staying inside under solid furniture or door jams instead of
running outside as the two women killed were buried by exterior bricks
falling as they ran outside.

Paso's downtown is really the heart and soul of our city.   Lost was the
Acorn building which graced the downtown square with it's clock tower.  In
addition many, many of the historic buildings downtown were badly damaged
and may have to be torn down.  The earthquake really made it's biggest
impact on the quaint Victorian homes and masonry buildings from the late
1800's downtown.  Paso lost many pieces of it's past and it's pride.

It will take much time to regroup and rebuild.  In the meantime, many have
lost their livelihood and small businesses which were their dreams.  This
town has an incredible "can do" spirit and I have no doubt that many will
rally to help those who have been affected.

Our construction site and homes at Oak Creek Commons appear to have
withstood the earthquake well.  We await the structural reports from JW
Construction for the details, but from what we can see, all is well.  There
is a lot to be said for modern earthquake construction standards!

As we read the newspaper reports today about the earthquake in Iran, which
had the same magnitude as ours' and killed 20,000, we know we have much to
be grateful for.  Our gratitude is also for the community of our group,
which came together to support each other after the earthquake, and for the
larger cohousing community which reached out to us with concern.

We'll be more than happy when the aftershocks subside (especially the strong
ones that have hit in the wee hours of the morning and set the heart a
pounding).  It is easy to see that we will be stronger for this experience
and even more committed to living in community in both the good times and
the sad. 

Our best to all of you in the larger cohousing community

Nancy and Mike Swettenam
 

on 12/23/03 9:38 PM, PattyMara Gourley at pattymara [at] juno.com wrote:

> Tierra Nueva rocked and rolled on Monday.  My family was all home from
> colleges, both kids upstairs, Bruce and I downstairs.  We felt the first
> tremors and headed outside.  Our living room floor was soon covered with
> broken glass from falling framed art, toppled sculptures and other loose
> items.  I stood outside on the ground and rode the waves as if I was on a
> boat on a high sea.  The most remarkable sensation...I actually wished it
> lasted a bit longer, but it was fortunate that it was so short (20
> seconds maybe?)..not enough time to really cause any structural damage to
> most homes in the area.   Once the waves subsided we all started checking
> in on one another.  I helped a neighbor turn off her gas at the main (as
> a potter who owns a gas kiln, I'm familiar with gas lines)....checked in
> with a band of roaming kids (barefoot) and sent them home to put on
> shoes, only to be met on the pathway by their mom who had an armful of
> shoes for them!   Emergency radios were turned on...and we heard and
> relayed all the news from the surrounding area.  A few of us assessed the
> common house appliances and couldn't detect any gas fumes, so we made a
> decision to wait on turning off the gas there.  Electricity was off,
> water mains were broken, so we had no tap water, but our wells continued
> to have pressure.  And, we knew that our Y2K water tank was full of fresh
> water, waiting for such an event.  So many of us are campers that we also
> have plenty of cookstoves and lanterns ready.  Most households had broken
> glass on the floors, toppled furniture, lamps, TVs etc, but no real
> property damage, and no injuries at all.  We were all in a state of
> nervous excitement, some were quite fearful.  I carried around my large
> spray bottle of rescue remedy (a Bach flower remedy for trauma/shock,
> nicely mixed into a good brandy!) and offered a spritz to anyone who
> wanted some.   Once we had checked in with all the neighbors who were
> home, including our eldest couple, Cliff and Helen, who are in their
> nineties, we started the cleanup.  By the time our common meal commenced
> that evening, everyone had a story to tell.  After dinner we had a
> planned "progressive dessert/open house" tour to four of our homes,
> retelling our stories and reliving the feelings and fears, all the while
> sensing the aftershocks which continued on through the night.
> 
> My pottery studio in Halcyon, a neighboring theosophical community, fared
> poorly....many shelves of greenware and completed pottery were
> toppled...I will have some major clearing to do in the new year.   While
> walking through Halcyon, all the neighbors there were out in the streets
> too, helping each other out, and telling their stories.    At the Halcyon
> Store/Post Office where I work part time, all the holiday customers who
> were there during the quake, stayed and helped pick up all the
> merchandise that was flung from the shelves.  Nobody left until the store
> was cleaned and tidy again.  Amazing.
> 
> I am so glad we live in a place where we watch out for one another, and
> help each other out, through thick and thin.  It feels like the only way
> to live, and I have a feeling that we will be called to lean into the
> support of one another more and more in the coming years.
> 
> I haven't heard yet from the Oak Creek Commons cohousers...their site is
> under construction, and is located in Paso Robles, very near to the
> epicenter.  Please let us know how you all are faring!
> 
> coheartedly,
> Patty Mara Gourley
> Tierra Nueva, central CA coast
> Where on Sunday night we finished our "Persephone Returns!" four play
> cycle of the Great Turning of the Year, by celebrating the Winter
> Solstice, and the return of the Newborn Sun.  When candles were lit
> around our bonfire circle, and wishes were made, the first person who
> volunteered to speak wished "for a new president"!
> 
> www.gourleydesign.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> mmmmm
> 
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