Pop Cap cometh?

from Your Passport to Complaining

by Paxus

One of the key identity questions for a community is “How big are you?” While this answer is often in flux for some communities, one critical factor in determining size is the number of available beds/bed rooms.

This counts as one bed

Twin Oaks is a big place, we have something like 105 bedrooms in member residences (we have another 10 beds in the 6 bedroom visitor building called Aurora which is not used for member housing). We have 9 residences in 7 dormitory like buildings (private bedrooms, share living, bath and kitchens).14 of these rooms are currently being used by our kids, leaving 91 member bedrooms. In the past we have a population limit of between 90 and 92 adult members. We shorten the term ” this our “population capacity” or “pop cap” for short. This year it might be different, this year it might be lower.

In the pit of covid, our population dropped to 63 (having been at 86 in February 2020) and this week we are at 84, but we can see a wave of new members coming. The current visitor group had 4 people applying for membership, 3 of whom are very popular ex-members/long term guests and one is one of their partners. We have a lovely pair of new members who we met at the Communities Conference. We also have several members currently on personal leave (what we call PAL) who are planning on returning. There is always someone planning on leaving – but word on the path is the next known member departing is not until winter.

And we have accepted our first two non-member associates. This is a special status which some of us have wanted for decades which was finally approved in late 2023, designed for people who have outside commitments or lifestyles which make it impossible for them to be here full time. The current requirements to be an associate is that you need to be here between 2 and 10 months of the year. You are not a member (which means you are off the property code, which means you can have a personal car – but can’t drive the community fleet cars). And non-members are not part of self selection process, so you don’t input on visitors who are applying for membership.

It is actually harder to become an associate than it is to become a member. You need to make a threshold 40% of the membership voting ‘accept’. While this may seem low, especially to people in smaller communities, it is important to remember that perhaps 30% of Twin Oaks members either very rarely or never involve themselves in membership decisions by not giving input to the membership team. In their defense, it is quite some amount of homework to know who all the current visitors or new members are and individual input very rarely matters if it is positive. The membership process seeks red flags and in absence of them, we are often willing to take a chance on someone trying membership.

Associates are not guaranteed a room, but can stay in one if it is available. This might lead to the creation of “slack rooms ” in the planners’ pop cap equation.  And is another indication that we are heading towards a shortage of rooms.

Waiting lists shift time

If we reach pop cap, we will re-institute a waiting list, which has a number of complex dynamics, including frustratingly losing some of the potential members we are most excited about have. This situation is what led to the development of Shal’s perfect number of members. This is just one or two below pop cap, so there is space for members to shift rooms and for us to accept someone quickly if that happens to be the flavor they come in. And if current forecasts are correct we will breeze past Shal’s comfy spot into a room crunch.

AI response to “community joys of togetherness and hassles of sharing”

If you are excited about possibly joining Twin Oaks you should read this section of the official Twin Oaks website. If you want to read more propaganda about how wonderful it is check this out. If you are more curious about the down sides of this commune, i’ve got you covered also.