Having lived in group houses for the last six years, I find it good and
enjoyable but some definate ground rules have to be established. We've found
the hardest part about sharing is:
1. Eating other people's food
2. Cleaning the kitchen/bathroom
We solved it by having a shared list of foods that we all contribute to
equally (ie. milk, sugar, flour, spices, soy sauce, laundry detergent
(sometimes), cleaning supplies) and by making sure we had a dishwasher. Also
we had semi monthly house meetings that were social events but had a brief
business section where we could air grievances. Screening prospective
roommates helped a lot too - the worst roommates were those that just wanted
a cheap place to live and dind't want to be a part of a community.
Environmentally, it was great because we recycled more, had a compost heap,
gardened more, shopped in bulk more, and lived healthier than I can afford
to live on my own.
Just my 2 cents.
> ----------
> From: Kimberly & Brett[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: February 18, 1999 7:42 AM
> To: STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT
> Subject: Re: Dormitory Nostalgia
>
> There was a time in my life during college that I found dorm/communal
> living to be very satisfying and enjoyable. Someone, unleesh? mentioned
> something about a house that should have people moving through it
> constantly, or something like that. If I were still in college I would
> agree with that. Now that I am married and living in an apt., and I had to
> adjust to this isolation, I enjoy the quietness and privacy that my
> husband
> and I share in our small but cozy living space. I think if I wasn't
> married, a communal, co-op, living arrangement would be ideal. In positive
> arrangements, I think it saves space, educates people about diversity,
> strengthens social skills, teaches tolerance, breeds maturity and
> responsibility, etc. I don't know, these are just my random thoughts on
> this topic......
>
> ----------
> > From: Alison Hope Alkon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Subject: Re: Dormitory Nostalgia
> > Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 9:28 AM
> >
> >
> > I moved off campus for the first time this past september, and although
> > I'm still walking distance from both school and friends, I understand
> your
> > nostalgia.
> >
> > I wonder if the isolation of which you speak is related to consumption
> > patterns in western society. I often feel like advertisements
> > (especially tv) are trying to sell me my own esteem-- like their product
> > will cure the problems in my life. I do think that a stronger feeling
> of
> > community would avoid this.
> >
> > I also think that it is these consumption patterns, and the percieved
> need
> > for ever-increasing consumption that keeps many people from exploring an
> > environmental mindset. It also makes people more protective of their
> > posessions and therefore less likely to consider a more
> community-oriented
> > lifestyle. So the whole thing becomes circular.
> >
> > Just a thought on how the things you wrote about might be related.
> >
> >
> >
>
