Cactus Village Community

BLOCKWATCH NEWS - What it means to be a good neighbor

Jul 08, 2003

At an association meeting I observed a good example of what it means to be a good neighbor.

I spoke with an association member who said he frequently goes to Mariposa Park. While there, if he passes someone, he stops and talks with them. He also tries to meet new neighbors, and frequently watches the children as they come to or are dropped off at the bus stop. If someone driving by stops to talk with them, he calls the police. He tries to know the people around him and to be friendly to all. And he has been active in the association for about 20 years. He shared with me that he has met over 100 neighbors.

I salute him as a great example of a good neighbor.

I have often wondered why it is that we can be surrounded by people and know only few of them. I am a good example of that. Although we have lived in the same home for over 20 years, I rarely see or talk with the people who live around us. After we had lived here for about 18 years, we met some neighbors who have lived on the street for most of the time we have lived here. They became very dear friends, and we
have been close ever since. How our lives have been enriched by that friendship.

What can you do to meet your neighbors? Perhaps the easiest thing is just to speak up. When you are out and see some one, stop and ask them who they are and where they live. You may be surprised to learn that they live next door, or across the street. And they may be surprised to learn that you are friendly.

We don't have to live in a neighborhood vacuum. What makes any city a scary place is to be surrounded by people whom we don't know and whom we don't trust. By meeting people you may find that you both like them and trust them.

As a friend of mine expresses it: "I have two kinds of friends--those I know and those I haven't met yet"?…☺