Living in Community
When we left Colorado, we kept our home in a cohousing community. You may or may not know what cohousing is all about, but one of my neighbors sent out this great video that is available on the internet. If you are interested in learning more, you can see the webumentary here.
I found after living in cohousing, that I crave a community of like-minded individuals! What a suprise that has been for me as a natural introvert! I loved being able to go out my front door and have spontaneous play-dates and conversation about the current state of… anything! All that good stuff being said, there are many things about cohousing that can get really annoying, but overall, I think the positive aspects far outweigh the negative and I look forward to the day when we will return to our home.
To me, cohousing is a great way to have intergenerational friendships, provide “grandparents” for Clara, is a source of great frustration (and therefor emotional and spiritual growth), and is a terrific way (on a very local level) to make the world a more beautiful and loving place. I loved being able to cook for my neighbors, volunteer my skills for the betterment of the community, and be a part of such an amazing web of connection and friendship.
May you all sustain, and be sustained by, your respective communities, Yoginis! Have a lovely weekend…
March 7th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Myself and Mr HPP were talking about this last week. I feel it’s very lonely as a stay at home mum these days. even though we live in a housing estate we know nobody, people leave their house in the morning, hop in the car, then come home, out of the car into their house. No community
I’d love to live in a vegan, attachment parenting community with loads of stay at home mums to chat to and we could help each other. We’d probably all drive each other mad but it would be nice! You get fed up having to manufacture reasons to meet people, mother and toddler groups, gymboree all that stuff! ah but, we manage, at least we have our online communities
Happy weekend!
March 7th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I’ve never heard of cohousing communities before, but I absolutely love the concept! Wish I could find something like that here in the city. I guess the housing co-op’s come closest to that kind of experience.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Great minds think alike! Check out my post today…
March 7th, 2008 at 11:12 am
that’s very interesting because i’m very much an introvert too. hmmm. that’s great that you have your house to go home to after you are done living abroad.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I think it’s a great model for all neighborhoods to emulate. Thanks for sharing…
And did I read your post correctly? Do you plan to return to your Colorado home in co-housing?? That day can’t come soon enough! We miss you!
March 7th, 2008 at 11:52 am
You would think a place like Rome where people seem to thrive being in each other’s space and everyone is in an apartment building that it would be the perfect place to build community. But most Romans just want to be locked away in their homes with their own families and don’t care about anything or anyone outside of it. That’s why there’s dog poop on the sidewalk, graffiti, litter - the complete lack of civic pride or responsibility and just overall inconsideration. Several years ago they tried to build up some community spirit by having a day when the inhabitants of each residential building were asked to open up their doors and meet their neighbors - cook and share food, etc. - the urban equivalent of a “block party”. There was massive publicity for this campaign. Unfortunately, it failed miserably.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
My husband has so many relatives down here in Florida and in New Jersey that it’s like having a village to raise your children. We were just laughing about that today.
March 8th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Sounds wonderful…I hope you are able to return to the life you so enjoyed.
March 8th, 2008 at 11:46 am
It is so hard to meet like-minded people for me. That’s why I’m so relieved we left Texas, where I was having a heck of a time making real connections. In our new home, where we have so much in common with our community, we’re finding it so much easier and “natural” to meet people and make connections, and this is only after a few weeks here.
I hope you do someday return to CO, because then you’ll be closer to us!
March 9th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I’ve heard of this concept before. It does sound wonderful. We have a very hard time connecting with people who are like us. I’m not sure why that is – I often spend a great deal of time reflecting on this… is it me? – but I hope it changes. Good luck building your new community.