Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Small "retrofit" "community

[Lynn Nadeau / Maraiah (welcome]

As if often the case, I find Sharon V has made a very cogent response to this 
post. 

Myself, as a long-time cohouser, I am often asked for advice by people looking 
to start a group. When there is an owner of the property involved, I always 
advise that the group get very clear with said owner/member just what they see 
as their role. Are they essentially looking for compatible renters? If there is 
disagreement, does the original owner get to stay and others have to leave, or 
is there real equality in the matter of who stays? Any arrangement can work, as 
long as everybody is clear what the deal is. 

The good news in the case of the person who posted, is that this has become 
visible up front. Now is when you need to know this. If it's not what you want, 
and the owner's needs are nonnegotiable, then you need to look elsewhere. Be 
glad you didn't find this out years from now, after significant investment of 
time and money. 

Maraiah Lynn Nadeau
RoseWind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA
where I think I got the last strawberry in the garden today