Here’s what we expect people to sign on to when they become members of the Fisher House community:
- I will assume good intent from others, interpreting their words and actions in the most respectful light.
- I will actively engage in the community, sharing time, energy, and ideas with fellow residents and participating in house traditions when I can.
- I will abide by the processes governing shared decision-making.
- I expect that common spaces will have lots of people (residents and guests) flowing through them, and that I am not entitled to anyone else’s private space.
- I will do my best to keep common resources and spaces clean, functional, and welcoming to others.
- I will perform my share of household chores in a timely manner.
Helpful Things to Keep in Mind
Here is some crowdsourced wisdom from people who have experience with cohousing (feel free to suggest additions!):
- If you are pulling your weight in the community, you’ll feel like you’re doing more than your share. This is partly because it’s much easier to notice your own effort than others’. It’s also because you will invest the most energy into the things that matter for you, and that might not match up with other people’s priorities. For example, if you care a lot about having a beautiful garden and less about eating delicious food, you may value your energy spent planting a lot more than your housemate’s energy spent cooking. To build appreciation instead of resentment, you can acknowledge that priorities are subjective and that diverse skillsets will make the community more enjoyable for everyone.
- There is a lot of evidence-based guidance out there about building and maintaining healthy relationships. Use it! For example, here are some nuggets from the Gottman Institute:
