Polly Esther wrote:
> "Ranée at Arabian Knits" <> wrote in part
>> There are hardly any mothers in the neighborhood to keep an eye out
>> for their own and other children. Most people don't even know their
>> neighbors.
>
> You've nailed what I see as part of the problem that we can do
> something about. When did it happen that folks don't know their
> neighbors? We don't get to choose our families or our neighbors
> (much) but it is surprising and sad that people don't meet/know their
> neighbors. Being neighborly didn't come easy to some of ours and it
> took years. There's one home on our road where I've never met the
> folks. Don't think they'll shoot me but they might not welcome me with
> open arms. ( or they might) I just may bake them a banana nut bread and
> go
> introduce myself. Do you know your neighbors? Polly

I guess it depends on where you live. In some of the military housing where
I lived, lots of people said they didn't want to get to know others because
they would soon be moving on. And when I lived in a civilian apartment I
had neighbors moving out right and left and new ones moving in. I tried to
throw a party to meet the neighbors. I invited them all. One man came. He
had a drinking problem. But he was very nice. When he wasn't out chasing
cars or any of the other idiotic things he did before he got kicked out.

My parents have several rental houses on their street. People generally
only stay for a few months at a time there. They get tired of going over to
introduce themselves only to have the people move.

I know the people on either side of me and one other family two doors down.
And some other people further down the street only because they have kids
that are or are near my daughter's age. But really I have nothing in common
with any of these people so aside from greeting each other now and then, we
don't get together.

During the day I am usually the only one home. When I am home. Everybody
works. The guy on the one side of me does construction so at times he is
home. But pretty much nobody else is.