On a recent trip to New England to visit with family over the
traditional holiday season I spotted this house in the neighborhood.
It is a good example of what I have imagined housing might be like
in this proposed cooperative community. In a warm climate, a single
story might be more desirable.
Lets say for example each side of the
longhouse could accommodate five bedrooms. This would mean a total
of 20 bedrooms in this longhouse. Based on double occupancy,
this longhouse could accommodate 40 people. And to house a
community of 270 individuals would only require seven of these
buildings.
Paying for a building such as this would
be incredibly easy. I don't know exactly, but I could imagine
something like this could easily be built for under $40,000
depending on building materials. Of course it would be built
by the people living in it. $40,000 divided 40 ways is
obviously $1000 each. This is the kind of efficiency and
economy that is possible with cooperation.
Thinking about individually owned homes
is simply being stuck in the old paradigm of a joyless, workaholic,
puritanical existence.
And there would not be any reason they
would have to all be bunched together. They could be scattered
about; some perhaps for people who need quiet, others for those who
like noise and some perhaps for young couples with child or
children.
Remember! These residences,
bedrooms, would exist in a community with all the facilities,
amenities, and space anyone could ever hope to have within short
walking or biking distance. Such as:
Cafeteria, kitchen
"double
click" here for important message about food
Private bathing facilities, hot tub, Sauna
Library
Computer and telecommunication Center
School
Laundry
Lounges
Private offices, studios and work shops....as required
Employment
Agricultural land
Forest natural areas
In a northern climate probably one large
wood furnace would probably heat it just fine. And there would be no
reason to need to be hooked up to the "grid" or have running water
in such a building.
And if we had a small emergency fund or
stockpile of building materials, and an agreement with neighbors to
help rebuild in case of fire...like the Amish do, there would be no
need for insurance.
........bizarre?
Remember the goals. This community is
definitely not for workaholic "Hypocritical
Puritans", as
Emma Goldman so aptly described in her
essay. This community is for people who love life, each other,
and nature......people who love to work, of course!....but people
who also value freedom, spontaneity, creativity, friendships,
travel, being well informed and celebrating life.
