Most of the homeowners at Takoma Village Cohousing (TVC) moved in from November, 2000 - January, 2001. At that time, we were still a construction site, with lots of workers and heavy equipment around. Rattling, banging, whirring and mud were all a part of the lifestyle in the early days. There were even two large guard dogs behind a chain-link fence between the wings of the building and barked at us when we moved around.
This dream started in 1998, the first meeting in October. It took untold hours of hard work to attract members, plan the building and grounds, and construct our units and Common House. We are still working hard to make it better. Looking from the Common House at the long, grassy green that replaced the dogs, it is hard to believe it is the same place! Our homes are lovely now!
Children run and play while their parents chat with other cohousers in the "piazza." Those with green thumbs nurture the ornamental plants and cover the garden boxes in blossoms. The artful among us decorate the interior spaces, the talented lead us in song, and those who love detail develop policies and keep the books straight. Our technically inclined and green building experts helped us wire for high-speed networking, and build in an environmentally conscious way. Group purchases often keep cost to a minimum. Celebrations and common meals bring us together for dancing and delicious food. Even a video seems more fun in the Common House among friends.
We are fortunate to have technically inclined members who helped us use sustainable building methods. They helped insure we built as sustainably as possible. And in the DC area, where cost of housing can be prohibitive, we succeeded in building a beautiful yet affordable place to live.
Was it worth all the work, the sweat and the worry?
Yes! To those working on their own cohousing communities, I say, "Keep going! There is no other way to live.
