mystic_savage

This is our household FAQ, still in its draft stages.  James & Karen & I have been working on it for the past few days.  I've lived here since last September and though we started as mostly renter/landlords and friends, we've become more intentional as a community.  I'm excited by how many of our values we share in common, and by how well things have been working so far (knock on wood).  So, yeah, for those interested, here it is.  

What is Dragon House?
Dragon House is our home.  We are currently two nuclear families assembled into one chosen extended family.  Full or part-time residents are 3 adults and six children.  Dragon House is also the way we extend our home and family to others in our circle.  Our honorary members are people who choose to contribute to our household by eating, working and playing with us.     

Why dragons?
Dragons in most traditions are fierce guardians of that which has value.  Particularly in the Eastern traditions, dragons are guardians of people, land, and wisdom.  They make terrific friends, but it is unwise to seriously piss them off (for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.)  Dragons are long-lived and have wings, letting them look at problems with the perspective of distance in both time and space. They are often introverts, living in solitary caves, but can also be extroverts in flights of dozens or hundreds of dragons.  They shift shape and model flexibility and situational appropriateness. 

The dragon's strength and ability to fly is related to its flame.  In Dragon House we are deeply aware of and respectful of the power of human flame, anger.  When wielded wisely and carefully controlled, anger is a source of power that we respect as a force for good.  However, we are also deeply aware of the destructive power of uncontrolled rage.  In Dragon House we strive to have the loyalty, the wisdom, and the perspective of dragons.  We also strive to avoid the destructive aspects of fire and strive to keep our flames well bounded as a source of light, life, and flight.  And cooking!  We dragons are into good food.

What are our interpersonal values?
We value and try to model for each other self-awareness, clear communication, effective problem-solving, respecting personal boundaries and courtesy.  In addition, adults are expected to back each other up when interacting with children and manage significant disagreements with each other in private.  Both residents and visitors are encouraged to ask questions about why we choose to do things a particular way and whether that is really serving our highest goals and interests.

How does our home work?
The house is owned and the mortgage is paid by James and Karen.  Other adults (that would be me right now) pay rent.  Karen is the full-time kid wrangler and house manager.  All members of the household contribute to the household by doing chores.  We strive for "a labeled place for everything and please return it to that place after you are finished using it."  (Sometimes we actually achieve this goal).  When possible, house rules are written and posted.  In general, rules apply equally to children and adults (ie:  kids can remind adults to clear their place after dinner too).  A rather impressive food pantry is kept in common and most meals are prepared and served in common.  Silent hours are midnight to 6am (a running washing machine is fine, cleaning the kitchen is not).  Quiet hours are 8pm to 8am (cleaning the kitchen is okay:  power tools are not).  Theoretically, breakfast is served at 8:30, dinner is served at 6:00, and lunch is sometime in between. 

What do we hope for ourselves as a household?
We try to be a safe haven for people of all ages, from adult friends who need a crash space for a couple nights to neighborhood children who have accidentally locked themselves out of their house.  We value slow living, recognizing what "enough" is, and questioning the dominant culture to determine what is authentic for us. We explore deep sustainability in very human terms, seeking to support the development of a culture that is healthy for body, soul, planet, and wallet.  We model our household values and lifestyle to visitors, especially children, many of whom have no previous experience with homemade bread, raspberries that can be picked in the backyard, and clearly articulated values and boundaries.

 What is our house motto?"Light a damn candle" (or in Vulcan:  Tanilau ta'hal; wafu ornat, which is literally "Provide illumination despite irritation").

Translation:  It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.  However, we acknowledge that sometimes we may occasionally light that candle with a great deal of annoyance.