INTRODUCTION TO THE “THEN AND NOW” SERIES
Visitors touring CoHo sometimes ask how our expectations for community prior to move-in differ from our current day-to-day reality. Comparing “then and now” is the framework for this series of blog postings.
The source of historical perspective is the CoHo newsletters published in 2006 and 2007 (they are still available on our website). This was an intensive time, with the primary focus on actively building the community (both in terms of actual construction of buildings and the collection of folks who would be our neighbors).
What were our dreams in 2006? What is our daily life like now in 2014?
First, read the original newsletter (link below), then return to this posting for current perspectives.
THEN…
AND NOW…
“Change is guaranteed.” It’s hard to imagine the truth of that statement eroding over time.
Changes in CoHo membership have shifted the composition of the group. Today, there are approximately 95 CoHoots. About two thirds live on site as owners and/or renters; one third live off-site as Friends of CoHo, Associate Members, or non-resident owners. The adult/kid split is about 75%/25%.
Children have been born; children have gone off to college. Renters have come and gone. Owners have come and gone. Associate Members have joined the community. The initial flurry of Friends has settled into a core group that is active on a weekly basis.
The timing of turnover in the community is unpredictable. The plus side for folks checking out cohousing is that options for connection aren’t dependent on the availability of openings. Our affiliate programs (Friends of CoHo and Associate Members) offer opportunities to be involved in CoHo now.
Other updates since 2006…
CoHo doesn’t maintain a waiting list, but folks can join the CoHoPublic Yahoo group to stay in touch.
Our buddy program is still active. Buddies are resource people to help new folks get acquainted and learn about CoHo’s history and current practices.
The cat/dog ratio is no longer 50/50, but in all fairness, it is heavily skewed by the steady stream of cats/kittens fostered by one CoHoot household.
CoHo still has two Wellness Retreats every year. The spring one-day retreat is held at CoHo. The fall two-day retreat is held off-site at a camp within biking distance of Corvallis. The Wellness Retreat team is exploring options for different sites for the future as the needs of the group shift.
A photo taken at an off-site Wellness Retreat was used in a photo caption contest. The first entry to describe the reason for the sad look was “What do you mean–we’re out of cinnamon rolls?????”
Hopefully one thing will never change–CoHoots will forever enjoy cinnamon rolls at CoHo retreats.