Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Where Everyone Knows Your Name [was The Declaration of ...

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Jul 5, 2017, at 11:45 AM, Sharon Villines <sharon [at] sharonvillines.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> I’ve written so much because I know there are many lurkers on the list who 
> are considering cohousing. What they seem to fear most is losing their 
> privacy. Everyone has as much privacy as they want.

One aspect I forgot — people borrowing things. Except for my immediate neighbor 
no one comes knocking on my door asking to borrow this or that. We use email 
for that or at least that I’m aware of. 

Does anyone have a tablespoon of curry powder? an extra onion? A camping light 
I can use for the weekend? Borrow a car? Watch Jovan this afternoon for an 
hour? Walk my dog tomorrow? Pick up some items at the grocery store when you 
go? Help me carry boxes from my car?

If all those knocked on doors I think everyone would go nuts but on email 
people can respond only if they can do what is asked, and ask if it is still 
needed.

My daughter was amazed when she came to stay with me for a week after surgery 
last winter that so many people did come to the door. But they were bringing 
food and other items they knew I needed. Or asking to empty the trash since 
they were going that way. She said you have so many friends! Some of those 
people didn’t even like me much. But I got soup. 

Normally, people email or call to arrange visits or drop offs.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines, Washington DC
"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities." Walt Kelly