costambar is a retreat for poor alcoholics mainly. quiet but inexpensive.
Costambar is a
Community. But it is not a homologous one; it consists of a number of diverse groups, each living their own lives, but with certain communal interests. Therefore Dv8's implication that Costambar is primarily inhabited by 'poor alcoholics" could be a result of who she associates with. (However, by her prior posts, her comment most likely was driven by an innate 'snarkyness', which creeps into her writings, from time to time).
Costambar's communities consist of different cultural and national groups, as follows:
1. Italian immigrants to Canada, who pretty much keep to themselves
2. French speaking Canadians, who also tend to associate with each other
3. German and Austrian expats, see above
4. US snow birds, many from the NY area, who are the 'original settlers', and who have dominated the quasi-administrative organization that attempts to 'govern' Costambar
5. A wonderful collection of people from all over the world who defy classification, but find in Costambar enough good things to keep them here.
So how is this a 'community' then? Because Costambarians have united, time and time again, when their common interests have been threatened. We have joined together in fund raisers, partitions to government, protest marches and law suits.
We have collected money to pave our roads and buy garbage trucks. We have a group of residents who, year after year, contribute money to support the security effort by purchasing uniforms, boots, motorcycles, 2-way radios, etc. We have a free community library funded totally by contributions; English, French and German sections are maintained. Movies are shown on a weekly basis during the winter, all organized and run by the residents. Day and overnight trips also take place, all for the benefit of the residents, and all totally non-profit.
It's activities such as those above that make Costambar a 'community'. It is neither an 'old-age home' nor a 'drunkard's dream', but a complex collection of people who, while not always in agreement, certainly agree that it's the best place for them.
