Quotes

Matt & Claire: "I've moved around and lived as a 'grown-up' for the last several years, I have often missed my college days. One thing I miss most strongly is the relaxed and easy social atmosphere: you¹d leave your room and end up in a frisbee game, or a conversation about a book, or a political protest, or an impromptu dance party. You could just stay home, sit on your porch, and several people would stop by. Some of the most memorable and important learning happened at 3am, just because it could. While I realize co-housing won¹t be exactly like college (nor would I want it to be), I am drawn to the thought of being able to have spontaneous interactions again, over tea, with music, or just people being together. Who knows what the day will bring?

"Another reason I'm drawn to cohousing has to do with kids. We've always said that someday we'll have kids, but we're just not ready yet. Well, 'someday' doesn't seem so far away anymore, and the idea of being a mother is thrilling and terrifying all at once. To be able to raise kids in a communal setting, to have an extended family (especially since ours is spread across thousands of miles), to be surrounded by support and experience, to have our children interact with people of all ages, to have fun out the front doorŠall that seems like an amazing opportunity. I've often felt that our current society is really lacking a strong sense of community, and thinking about having kids just highlights it for me. I think cohousing offers an appealing solution."

Sarah Breckenridge: "In the process of developing our building project we've gotten to know one another well. We make decisions by consensus and have watched our cohousing friends and ourselves give a little, take a little, work through tough decisions and come out wiser and more connected. Moving in together will be the culmination of the strong sense of community and neighborliness we've been building for years."

Karen Scheer: "I sometimes grumble about all the meetings, but it will be a lot easier to meet when we are living next to each other. We do a lot of laughing while we are discussing issues and making decisions so its never gets dull or boring. Everyone has something unique to offer and it works best when we slow down and listen for the wisdom of the group to emerge.

"I hope to shift away from being dependent on my car for all my transportation. Being more centrally located, I will be able to walk or ride my bike to many of the places I go everyday.

"Our children will grow up with the experience of an extended family around them. How rare that is these days! I look forward to letting my son play in the common areas without fear of cars and knowing that there are more eyes than just mine keeping him safe. He will be able to have friends to come home to, and as he grows, adults to learn from and confide in.

"I look forward to spontaneous social interactions like dropping in for a cup of tea, chatting while doing laundry in the common house, gardening and cooking together. These are the moments when I am most relaxed and can enjoy being with other people without having to 'schedule it in'."

Jan Jacobs: "Living in Cohousing is a way to live my values: I want to use fewer of the earth's resources, I believe in the power of community, and I support affordable housing. The consensus process is creative and fascinating, and it stretches me to think in terms of what is in the best interest of the community, and not just in my individual self interest"