Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012

There used to be a primetime television show on called Tool Time with Tim Allen.  I loved that show!  On it, there was an interesting character, Wilson, who we viewers never got to see other than the tip of his head or hat, him always conversing with Tim from the other side of their adjoining wood fence.  Yesterday, I chuckled, remembering that show and character, as I held a lengthy conversation with one of my neighbors through our wood fence, neither of us able to see the other. 

That seemed strange…and yet…not.  Yes, I’ve met both the folks who live at that house—a lovely couple who are sweet and friendly as can be.  Since moving in, we’ve had occasions to converse with one another, but those conversations have taken place out front or when I’m in my back yard, looking up at them from their rear balcony.  Yesterday’s fence talk was a new experience—a gratifying one.

One of the things I missed most, living at my old residence for the past eleven years, was a sense of neighborhood.  There, each of us had large properties, and those surrounding me wanted nothing to do with anyone living near them, keeping to themselves.  I used to joke that if there were a fire, my house would burn down without a single neighbor ever uttering a peep or offering help.

That’s so not the case with were I now live!  Here, it’s like taking a step back in time thirty-some odd years ago where people trust and want to interact with one another.  Neighbors don’t just breeze by one another, barely making eye contact.  Instead, they pause whatever they’re doing to see if help is needed or to just stop and chat with one another—ya know, get to know one another—be neighborly.

So, though each of us was doing yard chores yesterday, my neighbor and I paused to catch up with one another through our fence.  I like that—the sense of community here.  How folks actually care about others.  Builds a strong sense of community and makes it a wonderful place to call home!