Willow Cottage Basic Guidelines
by Andrine de la Rocha, Massage Therapist
Welcome to Willow Cottage! We’re happy that you’ll be joining us for a time. In order to make your stay more wonderful for everyone, please be mindful of these basic guidelines, and feel free to ask questions if you’re unsure about how they apply to you – they do apply to you, regardless of your status as resident, guest or family member. These are not ALL the rules, but basic rules of thumb which will help you to know how we roll. We request that you read this document and agree to the basic rules if you choose to stay. If you are uncomfortable with or don’t agree with the guidelines in this document, please tell us so we can negotiate terms that work for everyone.
We value friendship: Join In!
- come to meals (even if you didn’t cook)
- join us for movies in the living room
- play fun games with us
- offer to help us with yard work, cooking, cleaning
- join us on walks, bike rides, yoga, running
- tell us about yourself and/or ask us about ourselves
- respectfully discuss politics and religion
We value contribution & reciprocity: Chip In!
- clean up after yourself
- clean up after someone else
- wash dishes, or put them in the dishwasher
- unload the dishwasher and dish rack
- wipe off the counter, table, cutting board, stovetop
- sweep the floor, wash a sink, scrub a tub or toilet
- offer to cook a meal
- buy groceries if you can
- if you use something up, replace it, tell someone, or at least write it on the grocery list
- help clean up after meals
We value order and beauty: Keep Things Tidy!
- keep your personal belongings in your personal space, not the public spaces
- if you feel compelled to move something, please put it back where you found it
- if you want to borrow something, ask before using it and return it in good condition
- if you break something, fix it or tell someone who can get it fixed
- offer to help fix it, or help pay to have it fixed or replaced
- consider taking off your shoes when entering the house to preserve our beautiful refinished floors; there are shoe racks in the hallway and many slippers available
We value safety and security: Be Aware and Secure!
- lock the door when you go out and at night when going to bed
- lock the garage if you use it to keep bicycles secure
- introduce yourself to people so we know who belongs in the house
We value health: Respect Others’ Needs!
- use only unscented products and avoid toxic cleaners & other allergens that trigger illness
- don’t smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes or anything else on the property
- don’t bring animals into the house without explicit permission
- please keep pork and shellfish out of the house
- if you are cooking, ask about dietary restrictions (and ask for help if needed)
- keep all illegal substances off of our property
Our House is a Resonant Musical Instrument: Sound Carries Unusually Well:
- keep noise to a minimum between 10pm and 9am
- please be gentle when closing doors; keeping your hand on the doorknob will help keep doors from slamming
- walk quietly on the stairs, and anywhere on the 3rd floor
We value the Earth: Conserve!
- Reuse, Recycle & Compost
- avoid packaging when making purchases
- bring your own shopping bags and containers to the store
- sort your trash before filling our tiny garbage can
- ask if you’re not sure about how to dispose of something
- take large amounts of recycling directly to the outdoor can
- turn off lights & fans when you leave a room
- take shorter showers, turn off taps to conserve water
- close windows in cold weather
We value communication: Talk to Us!
- if you don’t know where something goes, ask!
- if you don’t know how to use an appliance, ask!
- if you would like to have visitors, let us know when, for how long & introduce us
- for guests staying more than 1 or 2 nights, please ask permission
- please be responsible for your guests following the basic guidelines
- if you will be gone for several days, please let us know so we don’t worry
Related: Make sure you’re getting your Vitamin T right now!
