Jan wrote . . .
My only question/suggestion is whether we want to allocate new people to Toiora Cohousing a "buddy". I think my buddy was Alex or Anne, and my lack of memory on which one it was shows how little I contacted them specifically for information, but it was kind of nice to know that there was someone who was designated to "take care of me". Inevitably new Toiora Cohousers will find their own niche and (we hope) build their own close relationships within the community, so once could argue a buddy is not required, but maybe it provides a safety net/safety blanket to facilitate the integration of newcomers. Anyone joining now will have missed all the bonding we have done over the ups and downs/highs and lows of getting to our move in date, and they might need that extra support of knowing that someone is specifically looking out for them.
Maybe the team already discussed this and chose to not include a buddy for new owners or renters, in which case I'd be keen to hear/read the path that led to leaving out a buddy.
We are in favour of a buddy system and I should have explained why we didn’t include it – sorry – which was no matter how we tried to introduce the idea, it ended up sounding like part of a boarding school prescription and very off-putting.
Added to that was our rationale (or hope) that if we agree (as per as last meeting) to ensure each joiner has a buddy, then it might be good if buddying was talked about at, and developed naturally out of, their first physical contact with Toiora people, probably at the induction.
But this is all draft material. Suggest additions or changes as you will.
Gay