NEIGHBORS... how much do you know them?
By ruthinian
@ruthinian (2309)
United States
March 14, 2008 8:19am CST
From where I came from, everybody knows everybody else in the neighborhood. It may be a small town but since, family is closely-knit, neighbors are almost always, relatives too. But then, even those who had just moved in, people are very friendly and always accommodate new-comers.
Now that I am here in a new place. My next neighbor is about half a mile away from my house. And most of the time, they are all at work the whole day. I don't know my neighbor not because I am new here but because I don't see them. My mother-in-law learned that her long time neighbor died from the local new paper and she knew about it a week after she was already buried.
Sad huh, sometimes, I was wondering if the person I met in the grocery is a neighbor. Sometimes, I need to feel that I am not alone and wanted another soul (outside my family) to whom I can relate to.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@kingcrapper (1536)
• United States
15 Mar 08
It certainly is sad that we live such a diconnected life from one another that we are unable to really get to know our neighbors. What benefit to the neighborhood if there were strong bonds? It would be one cared for, one safe area! I have to think, in a smaller scale, how close are we (really) to the people in our own home? Our own spouse?
@kingcrapper (1536)
• United States
17 Mar 08
In the acient times one would rely directly on the help of familty, friends and neighbors for survival. Even in the early English colonies of the Americas one would use the community to for construction, defence and basic needs. I wonder when we changed from that to a society that really doesn't care about our neighbors. Or is it that we are just so distracted that we don't take the time?
If you could build the ultimate neighborbood, what would it look and feel like?
@ruthinian (2309)
• United States
15 Mar 08
Of course, having a neighbor gives us a sense of belongingness.
@Bev1986 (1425)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I grew up in the country with 13 houses around us, but we were still pretty stretched out. When I got married, I moved away for 10 years, then my mother needed to move into a smaller house, so we bought her house and moved in. So I'm living in the house I grew up in, with my family now.
The neat thing is, there are only two new families out of the 13 houses that are here! One of them moved in right before we moved back in, so they've been here for 12 years. Their kids are my kids' ages, so we've gotten to know them pretty well. The other family has been here for 3 years and we do not know them at all! We never see them. I guess they work afternoons and weekends, and we work days... so when we are home, they are not. They have a little girl who is about 4, and tons of toys in the yard, and swingset and trampoline, but we hardly ever see her on them. I guess she has the same stuff at her grandmother's house, which is where she is 95% of the time.
We know all the other neighbors very, very well. I played with their kids growing up and now their kids are all grown and come back with their kids to visit!
It's great to feel such a closeness with my neighbors...
@ruthinian (2309)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Good for you. I wish I could be friends with my neighbors too. It makes me feel safer that way. Don't you think so? Your neighbor is the next person you will go to for help in case of emergency.
@Bev1986 (1425)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Definitely! And I have gone to them for emergencies! My youngest was choking on a piece of watermelon once, and as I'm doing the Heimlic on her, I'm yelling at my other daughter, "Go get Judy, Go get Judy!!!" She's our closest neighbor. Don't ask me what I thought she could do, but I just felt like I needed another adult there! lol! I got the watermelon out, and she was fine, but Judy came running immediately! It's nice to know I have someone I can count on...
@spiritwolf52 (2300)
•
15 Mar 08
When I moved to Scotland over 6 years ago I had high hopes of making friends with our neighbors. Never happened. I left my family, friends and everything else behind to live in hubby's country. I couldn't even tell you the names of our neighbors. They are very private people and just won't talk to you. I wave at them when I am out walking the dog, but they just turn their heads and drive on. I have given up even caring about whether or not we know who lives on our road. My hubby has lived here for over 11 years and he still doesn't know our neighbors. The only time I get to "talk" to people is through the internet. If nothing else it has made me a better writer.
@ruthinian (2309)
• United States
15 Mar 08
I understand your predicament. It is pretty much the same with me. And yes, here in the internet, it's not impossible to find "real" friends too. I know, I found a few rare gems.
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
15 Mar 08
Well, I live in a house with several apartments. I work as a assistance nurse and in hour house we have some old lady´s that I do go home to help every day, mornings, or evenings. So I would say I know my neighbors very well. Since you help them with different kind of things you get to know them, and their family members to.
@kilani123 (864)
• United Arab Emirates
15 Mar 08
hi everyone
well regearding to the subject well i dont think i know anything about my neighbours because i dont see them at all and if my neighbours dont want to know then i dont want to know them that is the equation most of neighbours dont want to know others and that is the way its
@ruthinian (2309)
• United States
15 Mar 08
Of course, if the is the case you have to respect that. thanks.
@miaosroom (59)
• Indonesia
15 Mar 08
i live in a small city. A state province, but still small.
We only has one mall here. And as neighbour, we can never do anything secretly. Walls talk. But i like this situation. Because we can't live alone, right? Couple years ago i was work in big city and i really miss my friendly and close neighbour. And i'm glad to back to my hometown.
@ruthinian (2309)
• United States
17 Mar 08
Good for you. I wish I had neighbors whom I can be friends with too.
@mrtimharry (1180)
•
14 Mar 08
Live in a long street so there are plenty of neighbours - i have to say i wouldn't recognise half of them though if I bumped into them.
My immediate neighbours I will say hello to but other than that I have to say I don't know my neighbours
@ruthinian (2309)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Good that you see them. It's impossible where I am living right now. thanks.
