A short walk today. Short because we spent the day (finally) working on this silly looking house I am building.On the walk I stopped (thankfully!) to talk with Bob. Bob is a veteran "off the grider"; a retired autoworker with Libertarian tendencies. He has noticed me walking by daily, and asked if his dog has been bothering me. Told him that I have finally won Bob's dog over---as the dog has finally let me pet him.
Just neighborly small talk: the sort of talk that almost never happened when I lived in Reno, Grand Junction, Calistoga, Las Vegas, Rochester, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Truckee, Preston and all the other places I've lived. Is it me? Or does being "off grid" make living on the ridge a bit more clubbish?
How often do you talk to your neighbors? Are you satisfied with your relationship with your neighbors?
8 comments:
We know our neighbors here in Saratoga Springs because we all have front porches that sit right near the sidewalk. A front porch is a great socializer, folks walking by stop and chat without needing an invitation or having to knock on a closed door. And once a year we have a progressive porch supper: appetizers and drinks on one porch, main dish on another, dessert on a third, etc. We're all different ages, occupations, politics, income levels, and don't socialize much otherwise, but enjoy our neighborly companionship. We can call on one another in emergencies, we know each other's phone numbers and email addresses.
I read somewhere that front porches are coming back, and that in-town walkable living is making a comeback as fuel prices rise. It's a kind of totally "on the grid" lifestyle that can create true community. And save gas!
Good day woods,
That is so cool! Hurray for front porches!
We are rediscovering the old ways. My Grandparents ate local. Organic. Walked everywhere. Knew their neighbors. On the grid, off the grid...the old ways are coming back.
And being off the grid doesn't mean you are necessarily greener than thou. We have to drive lots of miles. Work. Groceries. Our cabon footprint is quite huge compared to someone who lives in high density housing and walks everywhere.
Hi Allan,
We talk with neighbors and friends on a regular basis. Being on a bike (and slowing down...) or on foot helps.
Today I took two rides. First was with our 26-YO son, and he only slowed me down a little. But he didn't want to do the full 12-mile loop, so we cut it down to about 8.
Then I went over to Bruce's (photos on my blog) to see if he had a muffler for the gas pump we're trying to fix.
Total for both trips:
12.29 miles
1:14:32
9.89 mph average
36.2 mph max
Also tried out my new pedometer today. I didn't look at steps or calories, just miles. My walk to the mailbox and back showed .80 miles, while it's actually .66, according to my bicycle's speedometer. Guess I have to shrink my pace setting...
I stumbled across your blog last weekend. I love it. What a terrific idea.
We live at the end of a cul-du-sac. We love it there and know our neighbors well. Kids run wild around the fronts of the houses. Their "wild ways" are a reminder of my carefree youth where I walked or biked all over my small town.
My wife and I are considering the construction of a front porch. We have some hideous arbor vitaes that hide the front of our house. I often sit in the front yard on my camping chair watching my five year play with the neighbor kids.
I figure with a cozy little porch I could bring our neighbors even closer to us.
I look forward to following your blog throughout the summer.
Good Day!
Ian,
Sounds like a fancy pedometer. I used to wear one at work. I could tell how busy I was by looking at the number at the end of the day. The highest was an 18,000 step day.
A slow day was 8,000 steps. I liked those days. :)
Iph,
Thanks for your kind words! And welcome! I took a moment to peruse your new blog and profile. Cool!
Madison. Is the Plaza Bar still there? Do they still serve beer in the student union of the University?
I seem to hear from English teachers. Guess that makes up for the D minus I got in English in the 7th Grade.
Welcome! Chime in whenever you want. I don't put a whole lot of polish into this thing. First draft all the way. I am challenged by the proper use of both the apostrophe and the semi-colon. My punctuation sucks. Sentence fragments abound.
Cheers!
allan
Allan
Yes the Plaza Bar is still there, although since its been almost 25 years since I graduated I haven 't frequented there in many, many years. I remember it well though...the only bar I ever knew that turned its lights down at bar time.
The Memorial Union has been remodeled, but still serves beer overlooking lovely Lake Mendota. I still get down there at least once or twice a summer. If you are ever in town I'll buy you a microbrew.
No matter on the sentence fragments or the poor punctuation...it just creates a more distinct voice. We can't all be Hemingway:)
Take care,
Larry Hale
Hey Larry,
I actually got to read an original letter that Hemingway wrote. It was in a store in Las Vegas. The letter was filled with all sorts of typos and mistakes. So, even Hemingway couldn't be a Heminway. :)
As for the beer? I'll take you up on that next time I'm in Madison.
Cheers!
allan
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