Cohousing-L Mailing List: A bright future predicted

[Joani Blank (joani]

Friends,

Here's a paragraph excerpted from an email I just wrote to a 
cohousing group in response to their announcement that after a long 
struggle and a lot of opposition from surrounding neighbors, they 
finally got their site rezoned so they can move ahead with building. 
Thought I'd share it here to boost the spirits of any of you who are 
experiencing similar obstacles.

"I predict that in a few years you will have become friendly with a 
number of your surrounding neighbors because you cohousers will know 
so much more about the practice of neighborliness than they ever can 
know living in conventional housing.  And many of those who have been 
opposing your project will be saying that they can't believe that 
they opposed you, because cohousing is clearly a wonderful way to 
live, and because your presence in their neighborhood has been really 
positive.  It won't even be long, I predict, before a neighbor or two 
asks to be notified when there's a unit available for resale so they 
can come to live there with you.  And the town may even be looking 
around to see if they can find another group to build cohousing 
within their borders."

Joani


Joani Blank
Swan's Market Cohousing
Oakland, CA
joani [at] swansway.com