Thoughts prior to moving in to a cohousing community

People used to live pretty much together (in close, interdependent proximity) in real community. The aboriginal human collectives (bands) numbered around 50; tribes were usually collections of bands. After the Neolithic Revolution, for millennia until the modern era, most people lived in villages.

During the Middle Ages the lord in his manor would oversee and administer village life. With material affluence came the aspiration for every upper- and middle-class household to reside in its own mini-manor, i.e., a substantial home on a private plot of land. This was one aspect of the hyper-individualism of modern life.

It’s great in regard to privacy, but hard (and expensive) in regard to upkeep. And it’s unecological because it’s wasteful of resources. That recognition engendered the enlightened trend now back to living in real, cooperative community, with much sharing of resources.

Thus the cohousing and ecovillage movements.

But . . .

We’re no longer used to living together in close, interdependent proximity. And so it’s a challenge.

It’s a challenge for us scions of hyper-individualist modernity to put up with, tolerate, accept, endure, abide, suffer, consent with, consense with, and countenance … other people. It takes a proactive degree of focus, attention, practice, discipline, cultivation, and … self-restraint! Considerable mindfulness and … a sense of humor!