KarinCoHoUS's blog

Cohousing Policies

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

By Elizabeth Magill, Mosaic Commons in Berlin, MA

What shall we discuss as we are forming our communities? Every forming community (I hope!) asks this question and communities that have already moved in give lots of different answers. Many of those answers are in the form of "I wish we'd resolved this" and "we decided x which was irrelevant and should have decided y which was important." All of those reflections are completely true, of course, but I don't think they get at the purpose for deciding things prior to move-in.

The purpose of discussing policies before move-in is to resolve as much as you can about your values before getting so many new members you can never agree on values.

Why I Contribute to Cohousing.Org Every Year

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

By Marty Maskall, Founder, Fair Oaks EcoHousing

I just made my annual contribution of $100 to Cohousing.org. I do this every year because of the many benefits the organization has provided me: support, friendship, resources, and inspiration. Each year I choose ten organizations that are important to my life and my community, and I make a donation. To me, it’s a privilege and an obligation to give back to organizations I support.

What a Fantastic Conference!

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

I don't hardly know where to start! Thank you so much to Silver Sage Village and Wild Sage to hosting our day of intensives which attendees very much enjoyed. We all met new people and reconnected with cohousing friends during the reception. Katie McCamant talked about 'reintegrating community in this fast paced world' in a public presentation. There were sessions for everybody on Saturday and a fun time was had out on the town that night. Oh, and the CO weather cooperated (mostly) with the sun shining for the Community bus tours that went to nine different amazing cohousing communities! More details to be reported in blog posts and upcoming eNews

SO many things to look forward to:
National Open House Day Sunday April 29th, 2018
North East Summit regional conference September 21st-23d, 2018
National Conference Portland, OR May 30th-June 2nd, 2019

Kids Shared Spaces

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

Karin Hoskin, Wild Sage Cohousing

Don't Let Your Kids Space Become an Afterthought!

Wild Sage had some cool things in our kids space, we took a small plain square room and built a loft, we added an old library ladder to access it, we painted each wall a different color and painted sparkly clouds on the ceiling...but is it really what our kids wanted? We’re not so sure. It became the place where unwanted toys ended up...think about that for a moment...if kids kids play with them at home, why would they become suddenly interested in them at the common house?

Cohousing Conference in Colorado

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

Jenny Goodwin

Hello All,
A friendly reminder the early-bird deadline for the Regional Cohousing Conference coming up April 20-22 in Boulder, CO is just around the corner! The early bird rate is $60 off the regular price, so round up your community members this week and sign yourselves up here: http://cohousing.org/boulder2018

Make New Friends

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

Karin Hoskin, Wild Sage Cohousing

My favorite thing about attending conferences is the people that I meet. Don't get me wrong, the information gleaned while attending intensives and sessions is invaluable, but what I really love is the informal conversations with other conference attendees when waiting for the elevator or while sitting in the hotel lobby lounge. This is when you might hear about creative use of an old space, or of someone's challenges with community neighbors that might be similar to an experience you had just a few months ago in your own community, or perhaps you learn of a fun, unique tradition that you can take home to share and implement with your community.

Registration is Open for Colorado Regional Conference

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

The 2018 Boulder CO Regional Cohousing Conference holds the keys to creating a highly functioning cohousing community. There is something for everyone - those exploring the idea, newly forming groups or existing communities.

For Newly Forming Communities:
You will learn how to get started, meet the people who can help make it happen, and discover best practices from others who have already made the journey.

For Existing & Newly Forming Communities:
You'll learn from the experts how to attract new members, enable affordability, and improve your community.

For Everyone:
You will network with your broader tribe of cohousers and cohousing friends and have fun!

Four Months In — What Have I Learned?

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

by Ann Lehman

First, I have to say I love it here! I was not at all sure I would. Two-and-a-half years of lots of meetings and large potlucks, with little time for one-on-one relating, had made me wonder if I was making a big mistake. Plus, I was giving up a to-die-for view of the river for a view of a roof-top, stone wall, and cell phone tower.

Where will you live in the third half of your life? Isolation issues solved for seniors with Co-housing

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

Lew Bowers talks with Ann E Nelson - Retire Well Retire Happy Podcast Show

Isolation is one of the key issues that we face as we age. Women more than men will be in this predicament as women tend to outlive their male partners. Are you rattling around in that big house on your own? Are you interested in ageing with people of similar interests? Lew Bowers from PDX Commons, a senior co-housing project in Portland, Oregon, explains how this new concept works.

#GivingTuesday

Submitted by KarinCoHoUS on

~Karin Hoskin, WildSage Cohousing, CoHoUS

Social Activism consists of efforts to promote, social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to make improvements in society. Be a social activist, support the cohousing movement.
Often people make donations to organizations they support on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, but you can financially support non-profits such as CoHoUS ANY DAY of the week, ANY TIME of the year!

The Cohousing Association of the US is proud to offer things such as:

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