Cohousing-L Mailing List: red/blue;cohousing;definition of freedom

[Nika Quirk (1quirkywomyn]

I was reading this thread this evening and it merged with musings I had
today after hearing a European commentator on NPR today, commenting on
Bush's meetings with European leaders. He said one of the fundamental
differences between the U.S. and the EU is our definition of freedom. He
said parents in the US teach their children that freedom = independence and
autonomy, and that European parents teach their children that freedom is
based on the quality of your relationships.

Seems to me that those definitions directly relate to housing choices.
Autonomy/independence translates into the American Dream of transcending
shared and rental housing, and owning a detached home on its own "little
acre". No one witnesses or gets in your private business. You're finally
free.  

Co-housing, I believe, rises out of the European definition, holding the
perspective that investing in quality relationships, collective ownership,
and cooperation, creates the support for real freedom.

Co-housing is in my near future, which is why I'm on this list. Yes, I am a
liberal; more importantly, I identify myself as a cultural creative. 

Nika Quirk
Oakland, California