Next Introductory Meeting and Site Tour:
Saturday, October 13
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"What is the "Co" part of cohousing?" a friend asked me recently. In reply, I described the amenities that all residents of Fair Oaks EcoHousing will share: the large salt water pool and spa, the workshop and community gardens, and above all, the almost 4,000 sq. ft. Common House, with its commercial kitchen, large dining hall, guest rooms, crafts room, library, and more.
My friend seemed impressed, but afterwards, I realized that I'd left out the most important "Co" of cohousing, which all of the shared facilities are designed to support--a sense of community. Here is how some current residents describe that less tangible aspect of cohousing:
“It’s not the practical advantages of living in cohousing that are most important to me. It’s the sense of belonging, a real home."
"It feels like an extended family. You have people you can turn to and depend on for fun as well as the challenges of life."
"Not everyone in the community may like one another, but everyone is central to the well-being of the community. It's a lot different philosophy than me, me, me."
"The idea is that the quality of life comes from sharing."
Karen Anderson
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Connection and Community
adapted from an article by Karen Gimnig
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From the pedestrian site plan to the participatory decision-making, cohousing communities are carefully designed to nurture a sense of community. In an article called "Connection and Community," however, Karen Gimnig suggests that connection isn't automatic, "even among members of an intentional cohousing community." It requires two elements generally "lacking in our broader culture" and only partially addressed by cohousing:
"The first element is time. Deep connection depends on trust and a sense of safety. Humans, like most mammals, need
time to build trust . . ." something our "tendency to be 'busy' and to spend much of our discretionary time interacting with or through devices does not allow . . . This is one of the tremendous benefits of cohousing.
The physical and social design of a cohousing community encourages time together. Moments of conversation at the mailbox add up, especially when they transform into lengthy discussions. Shared meals, work parties, and contentious discussions contribute to the time needed to build trust."
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According to Gimnig, the growth of trust opens up possibilities for deeper connections, but at that point, we may "stumble into the second factor that makes connection elusive in our culture, the lack of
essential skills needed for connection.
We are a culture that rewards speakers more than listeners. We define power in terms of control and honor those who wield it. Most of us are never taught the skills of deep listening, nor those of emotional intelligence, such as awareness of the emotional needs that underlie our own behavior."
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In Gimnig's view, "cohousing addresses about half of this challenge. The time we spend together gives us opportunities to practice relationship skills and we learn a good bit through trial and error." But for most communities, "achieving the full promise of connection that cohousing offers will require bringing in help in this area."
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The good news is that there are many many resources available--facilitators, yoga and meditation instructors and other professionals-that can help. See the next article for some upcoming free opportunities.
Reprinted with the author's permission from cohousing.org, the website of The Cohousing Association of the United States
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Coming in October:
FREE WEBCHATS
on Communication, Connection, and Community
The following free webchats are being sponsored by the National Cohousing Association of the United States. Each session will be 60 minutes, starting with a short talk by the presenter followed by ample time for questions from those who attend. There will be additional webchats in November. For more information and the complete schedule, visit
cohousing.org. Note: the blue links under each title will ask you to download and install the zoom software on your computer.
Wed, Oct 10, 4:30pm Pac, 5:30pm Mt, 6:30pm Cent, 7:30pm East
Jerry Koch-Gonzalez,
Facilitating While Listening
Thu, Oct 18, 6pm Pac, 7pm Mt, 8pm Cent, 9pm East
Laird Schaub,
Working Constructively with Emotions
Wed, Oct 24, 6pm Pac, 7pm Mt, 8pm Cent, 9pm East
Karen Gimnig,
Getting Connected: Going Deeper than “Company Manners”
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Community News
Find Out About Our Community
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Curious about Cohousing? Join us for Coffee & Conversation Thursday, October 18, at 7 PM
Ever wondered what cohousing is all about, or if it might be a good fit for you? If so, you are warmly invited to join us at 7 pm on Thursday, October 18 for an informal evening of coffee and conversation about cohousing. Held at the home of future Fair Oaks EcoHousing residents Bob and Karen Anderson, 5001 Shamrock Drive, Fair Oaks, CA, 95628. Please rsvp to Karen by phone or text at 916-947-3070 or email her at
fresianlass@gmail.com.
West Side Story at American River College
One future resident of Fair Oaks EcoHousing (FOEH), American River College Drama Professor Kathy Burleson, is very busy at the moment, overseeing the construction of sets and lights for the department's fall musical,
West Side Story
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From the ARC Theatre website: "West Side Story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. Arthur Laurents' book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim are widely regarded as among the best ever written. Its exciting, sophisticated score by Leonard Bernstein is often considered Broadway's finest, its songs a part of the nation's musical heritage. And the dancing, originally staged by Jerome Robbins, is remarkable."
Performances:
Fri/Sat 8 pm October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, 2018
Sun 2 pm October 14, 21, 28
Thurs 6:30 pm October 18, 25
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Construction Update
by John Szostek
The Timber Has Arrived!
(And Framing has Begun!)
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Timber has been used for dwellings
at least since the Mesolithic Stone Age, 10,000 years ago. The largest structures were the Neolithic Long House, (9000BC to 5000BC), housing up to thirty people. Timber framing was developed by the Romans in 50 AD.
From the beginning, wood was been used to make central buildings, allowing communities to develop group decision-making, governance, and the general well-being of the group.
With the delivery of lumber to the Fair Oaks EcoHousing site we anticipate the building of our “Long Houses.” Soon the exterior framing of the walls will begin, followed by the roofs. Then the interior framing can commence without undue delays because of rain.
The pouring of the footings to the remaining residential buildings continues, followed by the pouring of the concrete foundations. This type of construction, timber frames on top of a stone base, can be seen in the oldest example at the Nanchan Temple in China, 782 AD.
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Where We are Going . . . View from the Entrance
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Be Part of Our Community:
Just A Few Homes Left!
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As construction progresses on our project,
Fair Oaks EcoHousing has only a few homes left. Call now to learn about cohousing, observe the site and reserve one of the available units-our very popular 2 bedroom flat, a 2+ bedroom townhome, a rare 3 bedroom with one bedroom down; or a spacious 2-story 4 bedroom townhome.
Key features for all include:
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Large windows, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the home and make rooms feel light and spacious
• Open design for living and dining areas, providing more space and flexibility in use
• Modern kitchen
with ample storage and counter space
• Porch or deck for visiting with neighbors
The 2 bedroom flat features:
• Wide doors and open space in the unit
• Easy access to yard, porch, and common areas (downstairs flat)
The 2-story 2+ bedroom townhome includes:
• Bathroom upstairs and downstairs
• "Plus" room, ideal for a home office, craft room, or play room
The 3 bedroom townhome includes:
- Spacious downstairs bedroom with a full bath
- Two good-sized bedrooms and one full bath upstairs
- Generous front porch
The 4 bedroom townhome includes:
• Spacious upstairs master bedroom with a full master bath and walk-through closet
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First-floor bedroom, perfect for a home office, an aging family member, or single-floor downstairs living
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Large wrap-around porch that provides roomy outdoor living space
Like all homes in Fair Oaks EcoHousing, these homes are designed for energy efficient living, with eco-friendly construction and high-quality fixtures and finishes.
Fair Oaks EcoHousing is a pedestrian-friendly village for residents of all ages, with a centrally-located clubhouse, pool and spa, and garden.
The location is close to Fair Oaks Village and the American River Parkway, with many nearby dining and entertainment options, plus easy access to the freeway.
If you are interested in learning about the community, please see below for information on the site tour.
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Introduction to Fair Oaks EcoHousing and Site Tour
Saturday October 13 at
10:30am
Fair Oaks EcoHousing will be a neighborhood of 30 homes on 3.7 acres in Fair Oaks, CA, 18 miles east of downtown Sacramento. Come see the site and our architectural plans, and meet members at an upcoming cohousing informational meeting. Kids are welcome.
Act now! Fair Oaks EcoHousing has only a few homes left. If you are interested, please come to the informational meeting and site tour. Other h
omes do become available on occasion. If you like what you hear at the meeting, please join our interest list to be notified of new availability.
To attend the Introduction to Fair Oaks Ecohousing, meet at 10:30 am
at the
Fair Oaks Coffeehouse in Fair Oaks Village,
at 10223 Fair Oaks Blvd
, at the intersection with Park Drive. Look for us on the side of the Coffeehouse, in the patio area or in the building at the back. We will introduce you to the project and then we can carpool to the site, where we will be able to overlook the construction of our new community.
The event will last about an hour and a half, with an optional lunch afterwards at the Siam Patio Restaurant or the Smokey Oaks Tavern. If you can't make it Saturday, the next tour is Sunday, October 28. Please RSVP below. Thanks!
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Want to Learn More About Fair Oaks & Sacramento?
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Pictured: Fair Oaks Village, Fair Oaks Theatre Festival, Floating the American River.
Click below for useful links, there's a lot to keep us busy here!
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