Cohousing-L Mailing List: Use of the CH [was Costs for Shared Services [was Shared community internet service

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Apr 2, 2014, at 6:30 AM, Ann Zabaldo <zabaldo [at] earthlink.net> wrote:

> Not always.   People work on the jigsaw puzzle waiting for their laundry.  
> Read a book or watch TV.  I talk to them when I’m in the CH.

But the percentage of time that people do this compared to the number of times 
people do laundry is very low.

> I call all this socializing.   There’s a lot of INCIDENTAL socializing going 
> on.    When you include “meetings” please include teas, a women’s group, 
> exercise class,,  yoga, etc. 

I wasn't suggesting that the Commonhouse isn't used a LOT but it isn't for the 
party line that was popular when we designed our common house -- which was the 
message I was responding to.

Having a laundry or not having a laundry in the CH would not significantly 
increase use of our CH-- though it is important to the community. Having a 
larger laundry room where more than one person does laundry at one time might. 
Or a large folding table. Laundry use is spread over at least 14 hours a day, 
with 13+ households using the laundry once a week, and couple using it twice a 
week, that is a lot of empty hours.

Having the mailboxes in the back hall with the theory that people will walk 
through the CH on their way from the parking lot is also not significantly 
true. Some come in the back door and go out the back door. Some go home without 
entering the CH and come back at 10:00 to get their mail, etc. Some who come 
through are walking fast just wanting to get home. Mailboxes in the foyer would 
be more convenient for all (though we now use it for shopping carts, hauling 
carts, carseats, and a wheelchair).

It would be interesting to hear from Eastern Village on this because their 
common house facilities are spread throughout their 5 (?) story building.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org