« We Don't Need No Edukashion | Main | Homework Time »
August 9, 2005
It's A Wonderful Life
I have found a blog that I thoroughly enjoy reading. I enjoy it so much that I am working on going through all the archives. As fellow bloggers, I’m sure you can appreciate what a feat that is, especially since this is someone who blogs almost daily; not one of these hit and miss people.
In the future, I will add this blog and others to my sidebar, but for now, I want to keep it quiet because I want to talk about one of the posts and I don’t want everyone running over there gawking.
In the archives, she talks about her neighborhood. Her neighborhood actually has a website. She lives in a home that is in the Historical Society. This means that she cannot do anything to the outside of her house without a committee voting on it. For instance, right now she would like to erect a fence. I know when Kevin and I moved into our house, we paid someone to mark our boundary lines and the privacy fence went up that weekend. I didn’t ask permission because this is my house and my yard. However, when you live in a historical house that is in the middle of a Historical Society, you have to abide by other laws.
That is really beside the point. What I wanted to talk about was the community of this neighborhood. It is apparently a community unlike most others in that they all like each other and want to do things with each other. Get this: they actually plan events so the neighbors can get together! It boggles my mind to hear of such happenings.
What I read about today was the neighborhood throwing porch parties. This is a progressive dinner type of fundraising event with different neighbors doing different parts of the dinner. They raise funds for things that will improve the neighborhood, like landscaping. Everyone comes up with his or her own theme for his or her porch.
It sounds like a blast! I’m sure that everyone is happy and loves getting caught up on neighborhood news. I’m sure that I would enjoy it too - if I were in a different neighborhood.
There are many rental properties around me. That is probably the number one reason why I don’t get to befriend many neighbors. People move in and out under the cover of darkness. People who you thought would stay a while, pick up and leave without even a good-bye. People play their music so loud sometimes; you swear your head will explode. People let their two dogs out without a leash to take a dump in everyone else’s yard. People let their junk cars sit in the street. People refuse to look you in the eye and wave a quick hello. People let their kids, who are way under age drive a moped down the sidewalk. Oh, do I have a street for you! It hasn’t been bad this summer because it’s been too hot for people to be out. This fall is when things will get interesting again; spring and fall is when things get very rowdy. We could never do the fundraising idea here because most of these people rent, therefore what do they care what happens.
This girl’s neighborhood, even if she does have to ask permission to do certain things, at least she knows that her neighbors care and that’s a wonderful thing. I know that she appreciates them for it too.
Posted by tami at August 9, 2005 12:19 PM
Comments
I know you don't think your neighbors will care, but you really never know...I read an article in Reader's Digest about a woman who moved into a rough, inner city neighborhood. She was afraid. Long story short, she's brought together a very diverse group of people and loves her home and neighborhood now. Nothing's impossible! :) I encourage you, take little steps and make your neighborhood a better place for everyone.
Posted by: gw at August 10, 2005 4:19 AM
I know, I may be a Pollyanna, but hey. I've been trying to find that article, but no luck so far. Check out this page, though:
http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=16147&pageIndex=1
Good things really can happen in neighborhoods. Some of the nastiest places have experienced a revival of community. Never give up, Tami! :)
Posted by: gw at August 11, 2005 12:39 AM
GW: I loved those tips! Thank you for sharing. I hope other people will go there also.
Posted by: Tami at August 11, 2005 9:11 AM
Blimey, we rent but would love the neighbourhood to be friendlier. That's what would stop people moving on. We can't buy here as our UK home hasn't sold so we currently run two houses. The costs are phenomenal! Plus renting lets you suss out the area and find the street you would like to live in. We quite possibly look after our rented home better than the one we already own as it belongs to someone else and you always look after other's stuff you use or borrow, better than your own, don't you? Give a smile to anyone who has chosen to settle in the street, even if it's only short term. They may stay longer.
As for rude neighbours, we've discovered many are homeowners as well as renters. Unfortunately they will always be rude no matter what you do. It's a shame they don't wish to improve their area or sometimes themselves.
Posted by: urban gypsy at August 11, 2005 7:36 PM
I agree with you Gypsy Girl. I shouldn’t have just blamed the renters. As a matter of fact, the people that I referred to as letting their dogs run wild and allowing their kids to ride the moped on the sidewalk are homeowners and they could care less. Good luck with selling your house :)
Posted by: Tami at August 11, 2005 9:53 PM