Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Rituals for Move-Ins

[Linda Aaronson (Laaronson]

We have a ritual that has grown as our community has grown. When the time for 
the ceremony arrives, one of our members walks around the community blowing a 
conch shell to call people together. People come out of their homes and follow 
him to the new family's home, where we roll out a red carpet to their door 
(literally :-) ), present them with welcoming gifts, and photograph them 
standing in front of their door surrounded by other community members. Gifts 
include a "Welcome packet" of articles and information we think people might 
need about the community, gift certificates from local merchants, a roll of 
toilet paper, and a bunch of flowers. 

As we approach our final move-ins it has become more and more of a festival, as 
there are so many more people involved!

Linda Aaronson
Stone Curves Cohousing
Tucson, Arizona