I can predict what I will find in the comments for this post. My followers will know their neighbors well.
In urban areas there are places where neighbors do not know one another. People don't know the neighbor's names and some couldn't recognize a neighbor.
So why know your neighbors? Neighbors are support. When we visit with people we discuss things that we share and validate what we think and who we are. We just feel more secure with a little support.
We need some quality social time. We are social beings and need contact with others. Networks develop and we are able to socialize with more people.
When neighbors know one another there is more physical security. We recognize who should be in the neighborhood and who does not belong. We cover each other's back. We know when neighbors are away and to keep an eye on their place.
Across the street from me I know 10 out of 12 neighbors by name. One two of them are 30 plus years. The 87 year old is a feisty character and we always stop to visit.Two of them are former students. Two of them are dog walkers. So some of these people I know very well and some just to say hello to.
On my side of the street I know 7 out of twelve neighbors.
There's a close behind me and I know 20 of 21 of the people. I delivered papers in the close for 2 1/2 years and really got to know people well. I had many very good visits.
Now I don't know these people well enough that I go in their houses. I don't coffee with them. We visit on the street.
I think it's important to know neighbors and to know more than just names. We have to share part of our lives and be willing to help those around us. This makes for a healthy neighborhood.
In Texas we knew most of our neighbors. Bob had keys to most of the houses in the event someone was having a repair person come, furniture delivered or an alarm system went off, good ole Bob would take care of it. Now that we live in an apartment we don't know anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part of this is that when you really need the support of neighbors, they are not there.
DeleteHi Red, I sure agree with you ... knowing neighbors is important. In my previous residence we had 11 apartments on our floor in a high rise building downtown. People come and go in apartments but most of the time I did know them, especially if they stayed around for a year or more. Usually did not go into their apartments but sure enjoyed visiting once in a while out in the common hallway. My new residence is more of a neighborhood similar your own. I've met all the folks on all sides. Some are friendly and some not so much. I know who I could count on if I needed some help and I think that is true for them as well. I would say most of the time it's a pleasure to know the neighbors. It sounds like you have a good group there in Red Deer.
ReplyDeleteYou have a key phrase,"it's a pleasure to know your neighbors."
DeleteNot very well to be honest
ReplyDeleteYou've just moved. Give it time.
DeleteI know 90 % of them, some down at the lake are just summer people and only here on weekends or for a week or two. Since I grew up here, moved away when I got married and now retired here I do know many of the people in the area. We were also First Responders and Firemen/woman for a number of years...you get to know lots of people that way:)
ReplyDeleteHey, everybody knows volunteers. Volunteers are great neighbors.
DeleteWe know a few of our neighbors, but don't socialize with any of them. We do share small favors with one young couple, like lending help with a heavy task or bringing bins in from the curb when we are away.
ReplyDeleteYour residences look to be very private. It's hard to meet in those conditions.
DeleteI really wish I knew more of my neighbors better. When we lived in Illinois, we knew a lot of our neighbors very well and socialized with them quite a bit. We moved to Hawaii 8 years ago and really don't know all that many of them. It's also an older neighborhood and sadly losing several who we knew better.
ReplyDeleteSome areas just aren't neighborly. Since you were in Illinois , you know what you're missing.
DeleteI've only lived in my township for 23 years. Before that I lived 14 miles away on the other side of the bay where I know a lot of people. In this township I know a few people to chat to but the only close friends I had moved into town 7 miles away a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteGood neighbors come and go.
DeleteIt gets harder for people to socialize with everyone always busy with jobs and family. I have a close knit group around me, but have lived in some areas where this wasn't even so.
ReplyDeleteEach area i different. Some people are very wary of others and don't want to have much to do with the rest of us.
DeleteI've lived in a townhouse for nine years and I have yet to meet the people living on either side of us. They aren't home much.
ReplyDeleteI've found townhouses very neighborly. Decks on townhouses are great opportunities to visit with neighbors.
DeleteLiving in an apartment complex, I know all of my surrounding apartment dwellers. We just last night had a going away party for one of them, and I looked around the room at all the wonderful people who have become part of my life and enrich it so much. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think you're one who promotes good neighborliness. It takes a few leaders.
Deletemy best friend out here is my 83 yr old neighbor lady. she looks out for me and my place; i look out for her and hers. my neighbor across the road is someone i have called in case of emergency (a horse that needed burying, a neighbor's longhorn that was caught in a hammock, and even changing lawnmower belts on my riding lawnmower.) i have 2 others in the area that i know that have helped with farm stuff. that's it. rural areas are hard to get to know folks unless you have kids in the school systems or share a nearby fence.
ReplyDeleteYour first sentence is key, "my best friend is 83." We learn so much from being good friends with seniors.
DeleteIt's great that you know your neighbours. All your points are right on. We know a lot of our neighbours, especially the ones beside and across us. But there are many others that we don't know at all.
ReplyDeleteIn the city you're doing all right. many people don't want to have anything to do with neighbors.
DeleteI live in a cul-de-sac of about 17 homes. When we first moved into our house, most of the other homes were still under construction. As people moved in, we got to know each and every one of our neighbors. But much time has passed and all of the houses have changed hands, and now we only know about half of our neighbors. When our kids were little we knew more families, because our kids would always play together.
ReplyDeleteYoung kids certainly bring neighbors together.
DeleteAdmittedly I don't know any of mine. I'm rarely home, except to sleep, so getting to know anyone just doesn't happen.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to get to know neighbors with your schedule.
DeleteOur one set of neighbors have a home in Florida. It bugs me that they just go away and don't tell me. I have to guess by the clues that they are gone. The left early apparently to keep track of their property during the hurricane. The son that did come to mow the yard a few weeks ago did finalize my decision that they were not off visiting relatives. The son left the kitchen light on while here so now I can see a different view of the house when I walk the dog.
ReplyDeleteSome people are just weird.
DeleteIt's good to know your neighbours. When I was a boy in my East Yorkshire village I knew everybody and they knew me but here in the city it takes much longer to get to know people. Hell, we have been in this house for twenty seven years but I only know half the people who live close by.
ReplyDeleteVillages were great places to live.
DeleteWe just recently organised a get-together will all the farmers on our road. We used to have them twice a year, then we all got busy and it didn't happen for a few years. New people have moved in, others moved on. It was a wonderful evening and one that we will have do again ... soon.
ReplyDeleteOrganizers like you certainly make it easy for a neighborhood to function.
DeleteThe busyness on the farm drops off a little as we get into summer and that is the time when we are most likely to get together socially. Even the not so close neighbours who I don't know well, wave out a hello as I go past and vice versa. We don't see a lot of traffic, so recognize the vehicles first.
ReplyDeleteRural areas need the support of one another. Sometimes it doesn't work.
DeleteWe live here for 37 years now in our neigbourhood and some neighbours we know very well but we don't pay visits to each others. You talk with them in the street. We just lost one neighbour last week by passing away, he is the first one and we will attent the remembrance ceremony next week.
ReplyDeleteI do agree, but find that my tiny neighborhood is full of busy people. I know the folks on either side well enough to sit down and eat with them when we encounter each other at the local restaurant, but the others I rarely see even though I know them.
ReplyDeleteI feel most fortunate to know my neighbours. To me it is like an extension of your family. I have watched toddlers grow from childhood and off to College, but its kinda nice when the neighbour kids come home to visit and include a visit to me. This visit is indeed special. Know your neighbours....you betcha. On the other hand.....Folks around here have gone suddenly from fall jackets to toques n winter jackets.....and in a matter of days filled with heavy rain and high winds....all those pretty leaves have gone....sigh.
ReplyDeleteYour neighborhood looks so tidy!
ReplyDeleteWe know our upstairs neighbors well enough to say hi, and the same for our next door neighbors on one side. Otherwise, we don't know anybody on the street. But then, we've only lived here three years.
I just moved into a new apartment so I do not know my neighbors as of yet :)
ReplyDelete