Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: FIRST POST Questions and sort of statement

[lcamundsen (lcamundsen]

Hello,
Welcome to the cohousing network. I would suggest visiting some cohousing 
projects and talking to residents about the practical realities of this kind 
of living. The issues you raise are certainly relevant. They do however have 
many manifestations in practice.
Our project, for example, has twice yearly open days when anyone interested 
can visit and talk to residents and see the way things work.We also have 
frequent guests at common meals.Contact is made via our website as well as 
through being the guest of a resident.

There are conferences as well where discussion and exchanged information 
air the nitty gritty of how to implement some of the policies you mention, 
such as zoning laws or regulations about recycling/composting.
Camilla Amundsen
Quayside Village Cohousing,
North Vancouver, BC

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wayne Tyson" <landrest [at] cox.net>
To: <Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 4:08 PM
Subject: [C-L]_ FIRST POST Questions and sort of statement


> Honorable Forum:
>
> I am and long have been interested in the subject of co-housing and 
> related matters, and have read "all" the informational material I could 
> "find."
>
> I am especially interested in building upon the ideas and experience of 
> others, and will always welcome all kinds of responses to my questions and 
> ideas.
>
> At present, I am investigating the possibility of developing a variation 
> on the themes I have investigated, both theoretically and actually. We 
> plan to investigate Oregon for possible sites in early September, 2010. We 
> expect our "project" to be rural, but near towns and cities; we expect 
> that it will take years, if not generations, for the transistional process 
> to occur.
>
> I would appreciate any tips regarding legal procedures (zoning, changes, 
> building codes, requirements for establishing a town) and obstacles (how 
> to overcome them or the feasibility of overcoming them).
>
> Here is a brief description of the something of the sort of alternative 
> community we are exploring.
>
> 1. Facilitating trends toward reconciling the needs and works of humankind 
> with those of the earth and its life.
>
> 2. Diversity and integration of skills, personalities and lives.
>
> 3. Concept of "frugal luxury" and adequacy in all aspects of fulfilling 
> life potential--an alternative to both poverty and greed.
>
> 4. Trends away from egocentrism as a presumed normal function of 
> cooperation rather than intentional displacement-competition.
>
> 5. Leaving the land and its life alone as much as possible, integrating 
> with nature, in the sense of staying within the energy/nutrient cycle as 
> much as possible, but without pressure for rapid change--gradual 
> transitional transformation, but complete tolerance of all versions and 
> degrees and rates of such a process without active peer pressure or other 
> coercion.
>
> 6. Innovative, original, efficient ways of providing sustenance and 
> comfort such as through highly functional, economical architecture rather 
> than aesthetic style.
>
> 7. No rules, and no rules about no rules. Deception and other manipulation 
> simply will not work because of the nature of the citizens. Dominance is 
> not concentrated, but shifts according to context.
>
> These are thoughts quite open for discussion, and we welcome other 
> thoughts and discussion on the implied specifics. Each of these "topics" 
> probably have an infinite number of subsets, and we welcome all kinds of 
> comments and suggestions as we cycle through our learning/understanding 
> process.
>
> Thank you for your responses and for allowing me to participate. Specific 
> suggestions about modifications to this brief list are especially welcome.
>
> WT
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