Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Managing the Common House

[maura deering (mauradeering]

Norm,

Here is the way we manage our common house at Jackson
Place Cohousing in Seattle, WA. Answers are in CAPS:

1. The heating and cooling system is fully adjustable
to any 
individual's preference. - TO AN EXTENT - THE PROGRAMS
ARE NOT TO BE CHANGED, BUT PEOPLE CAN CHANGE THE
SETTINGS TO "OCCUPIED" OR "UNOCCUPIED." THE TEMP DOES
NOT GO OVER 68 DEGREES.

2. The doors are left open all day and a few hours
after dark. - AT JPC, THE DOORS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS
LOCKED, BECAUSE WE ARE IN AN URBAN, NOT-ALWAYS-SAFE
NEIGHBORHOOD. DOORS ARE UNLOCKED DURING MEALS AND
EVENTS.

3. Kids are allowed to use the common house
unsupervised. - THIS IS UP FOR DEBATE AS OUR KID
POPULATION AGES. CURRENTLY IT IS MANAGED ON A
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS (BASED ON AGE/MATURITY OF THE
CHILD), BUT IS A HOT TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION AT PRESENT.

4. Any food in the refrigerator is free for the
taking. - THIS IS NOT OUR POLICY (HOWEVER, IF SOMEONE
BREAKS THAT POLICY, THEY MUST RETURN THE ITEM(S)
ASAP). LEFTOVERS ARE NEVER UP FOR GRABS. THURSDAY
NIGHT IS CREATIVITY NIGHT AND WE USE UP THE LEFTOVERS
FOR THAT MEAL (AND INCLUDE A DESSERT TO ENTICE
DINERS).

5. We have two guest rooms and charge nothing to
guests.  At 
present we have a temporary resident who is a
professional 
musician  on an engagement lasting more than a week. -
WE DO NOT HAVE A GUEST ROOM.

6. We have frequent public meetings and private social
events and 
charge nothing to the sponsors. - SAME

Maura Deering
Jackson Place Cohousing, Seattle, WA
http://www.raining.us/attorney.htm

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