Feeling lonely? Seek a richer social experience that involves close proximity and daily co-operation and interaction with your neighbours? Cohousing might be for you, as it certainly is for a small but possibly growing number of Vancouverites like Jack Brondwin. Naoibh O'Connor's feature about Brondwin's quest to form the second cohousing project in this city is one of the clearest arguments I've come across in favour of this alternative form of housing. It's not necessarily cheaper but you might get more bang for your housing dollar.
Getting more for your dollar is important because, frankly, in the end you can't take it with you. And when you go, chances are you're going to be cremated, at least in B.C. where 77 per cent of us choose that option either for ourselves or our loved ones. But as Pat Johnson shows in his terrific continuing Pacific Spirit series on death and mourning, some cultures, notably Jews and Muslims, outright reject cremation out of profound religious and historical reasons. The differences are fascinating.
Finally, Mike Howell linked up with Jordan Bateman of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which is spearheading the No side in the transit plebiscite, to talk poodles and pigs and what they have to do with transportation. I'm not convinced by Bateman but I'll grant that the No side is mounting a much clearer and effective campaign than the unwieldy coalition that makes up the Yes forces. That's why No looks to be winning.
