I have been interested in cohousing for years but haven't taken it upon myself to get one started. I'm realizing that if I keep looking for the right community to join or for a project to get started in San Diego, I may be missing the opportunity to be in a community before my kids are grown and out of the house. I'm very motivated and would like to work with others who are serious and have similar goals.

My goals are to start a new cohousing project in San Diego with as many of the following elements as possible:

• Sustainably built with non-toxic materials, to the extent feasible
  
• Community garden, kitchen, and work spaces with shared resources
  
• Homes at a variety of economic levels each self-sufficient so that shared meals, etc. are optional but not required
  
• Community members of a variety of races, ages, and economic
  
• Group decision making
  
• Location that is either 1) coastal or 2) inland with substantial natural open space
  

My education and work background is in environmental planning and sustainable development. I work with developers and am very familiar with the design, review, approval, and construction processes. I'm trying to get more familiar with the financing and legal aspects of cohousing and would be interested in meeting folks who have similar interests and skills in those areas.

For now, I am investigating two properties (one in Encinitas, the other in Elfin Forest). I hope to gather more information and determine the feasibility of projects on those properties in the next couple of weeks. Please let me know if are aware of other coastal properties (greater than 5 acres) or inland properties (greater than 10 acres) that have utility service (at least water and road, but hopefully sewer, gas, and electric as well) and are for sale. If I think a project would be feasible, I will let this group know and at that point set-up a meeting time and place.

In the meantime, I'd be interested in hearing people's thoughts. Thanks and I look forward to hopefully meeting some of in the near future.

Beautiful vision. How can I help?

would a group from san diego intentional communities meet-up be interested in visiting my cohousing community in ann arbor, michigan? i can arrange for places to stay, meals, tours and discussion groups with residents here. i live at great oak cohousing, gocoho.org. it's a very vibrant, active and committed community.

Hi... This sounds great ... count me in

How can I help ? ...

I am engineer and have been researching ( on my free time )

about clean energy systems .. solar, eolic, I even have designs for a solar/steam turbine =)

I'm in. I've lived in community in the past (low income housing on boats) and live in community now (www.swzc.org). Would appreciate an ownership opportunity. Rodney's goals seem like a good place to start.

I'd probably want to eventually add things like non-violent communication.

Would also like to aim at age diversity as well as gender, racial and income diversity.

A way to generate income from the project other than rent or house payments would be good.

Cats welcome.

Maybe a kiln for pottery?

Anne Wayman
www.annewayman.com