| Posted 10/18/2010 at 10:53 AM by Alan C (alan.calvert) | |
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 Are you a good neighbor? What does it mean to be a good neighbor?
Personally, I think I'm a mediocre neighbor. On one hand, I don't think I make too much noise, and if a neighbor asked me to keep the noise down, I would. I don't leave trash in their yard, etc..
I don't do anything negative to my neighbors, but I also don't do much positive with them either.
I don't know the neighbor to the south's name. I knew it two years ago when I moved in, but have since forgotten it. I remember her teenage son's first name, but that's because my neighbor yells his name when he's in trouble.
I do know the name of the neighbor to my north. Ann. Ann is a very nice neighbor, and if she needs a simple favor, I'm happy to help. Typically the favor is just picking up the paper when she is out of town. She brings over baked goods sometimes. I've not dropped off baked goods for any of my neighbors before.
I don't take an active effort to meet the people on my little street, which I think is something that would make me a good neighbor, and not a mediocre and passive neighbor.
How about the rest of you?
Do you consider yourselves to be a good neighbor? |
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| Posted 10/18/2010 at 3:39 PM by Jasmin M (jmaurer) | |
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 How are we defining neighbors? If we're talking about the people on our street, the only people on mine that I know are my landlords who live below me. I try to respectful of those who live around me and not play my music too loudly or own an annoying dog, but I never talk to any of them minus saying hi when we pass each other. So in that way, I've been a passive neighbor, not the best, but not that good either.
But if we define neighbors as those in our neighborhood, I'd say I'm a pretty okay neighbor. I volunteer at a place a couple blocks from me that repairs bikes that they then give to kids who complete their bicycle class for free. Through that I've met other people in the neighborhood, and it lets me give back. I've also helped with a Greenpeace project at a community garden maintained by a school up the street. In those ways, I feel like I have been a good neighbor and not passive at all.
I also frequent coffee shops in my neighborhood, which are independently run. So that helps out my neighbors. Of course, we could also look at the fact that I am super lazy and just refuse to go anywhere that's not within biking distance, but why should I leave my neighborhood? It's a great place. |
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| Posted 10/19/2010 at 9:25 AM by Kate C (katecumbo) | |
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 I live in an old neighborhood that was all folks in their 70's-90's when we moved in. We were the only ones with young children and our neighbors watched out for us - I guess what we gave them in return was the energy and liveliness of children!
Now there are many young families with children and I try to support them the way that we were supported.
It really helps when you have a DOG -- we walk our dog 2x a day and it is the time we chat with our neighbors. |
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| Posted 3/27/2011 at 6:13 PM by Sam W (samwellie) | |
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 That's tough. You're right though. I don't think you can really consider yourself a great neighbor if you're just quiet and nice. Definitely a respectful neighbor, but you aren't really building community in any way.
I'm like you Alan. I'm quiet, but not very involved. I know the names of the people below me (because we share their internet), but I've only ever invited them to hang out and talk once . . . . and they were busy.
I have no idea who the other people are who live near me.
I guess part of the reason it's set up that was is I don't consider myself settled. I'm in college, so I live near campus and we all move pretty much every year.
It's a lot of work to build friendships with neighbors who will leave in a few months - but it does seem worth it upon reflection. |
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