Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Simplicity

[pattymara [at] juno.com (pattymara]

Dear List,
(PattyMara from Tierra Nueva, CenCA coast) Thanks, Sharon, for your tender 
response to the question about community supporting voluntary simplicity.  I 
especially loved the line about accepting that a mountain probably won't become 
a flamingo.  

There have been waves of "voluntary simplicity" that we've felt in our forming 
days, and after move-in as well, as folks move through their life cycles and as 
the group soul of Tierra Nueva shifts and settles. 

I've noticed a shadow side (the flamingo) to this attempt to simplify, which I 
have experienced from time to time.  That's when someone who has decided to 
live car-free has to beg rides and borrow cars and otherwise depend on those of 
us with not-yet-simple lifestyles. It cracks me up.  This is of course, one way 
community living can support the voluntary simplicity folks, and also an 
opportunity for the not-yet-simple to be both in service AND have clear 
boundaries. 

Perhaps in communities where everyone is committed to a more simple life, there 
is a more synergy, I can't say.  Here at Tierra Nueva we have the full range, 
from lead-foots to the lightest of walkers on this lovely earth.  And from time 
to time, we all seem to ask for help from one another.  I know I sure 
appreciate my neighbor's huge sewing/art room when I need a place to spread out 
a big project.  And when we go camping I may borrow a neighbor's VW camper 
instead of sleeping in our tent on the ground.  Ah, luxury.

coheartedly,
PattyMara
Tierra Nueva, Oceano, CA  
http://www.gourleydesign.com/DolphinSmile/INDEX.HTM
feather to fire fire to blood blood to bone bone to marrow marrow to ashes 
ashes to snow.   
www.ashesandsnow.org




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