Would you get into the time machine?

[Jessica]

Kid, I'm with you.

I've lived in my current house for 6 years, and I know the neighbors on either side. I've met two other neighbors across the street, but I don't ever see them. I know one of them has a child. I don't ever see that child out and about.

Last month my husband and I were sitting outside one night and talking about the disconnect we feel with our neighborhood, and the fact that we don't feel like we live in a community so much as a collection of houses. We thought about organizing a neighborhood block party at the local school, and even decided we'd go around knocking on doors, talking to people and inviting them to the party. We reached out to our local representative, never heard anything, and then realized how much work it would be to organize and pull of everyone on our own.

I would love to live in the kind of neighborhood I did as a kid - the kind of place you described, where people knew and looked out for each other. We're looking to move over the next year, and a big part of our decision on where to buy next will be what we see when we drive around the neighborhood on a Saturday morning or Monday afternoon.

[longnecker]

Kid, I'm with you.

I've lived in my current house for 6 years, and I know the neighbors on either side. I've met two other neighbors across the street, but I don't ever see them. I know one of them has a child. I don't ever see that child out and about.

Last month my husband and I were sitting outside one night and talking about the disconnect we feel with our neighborhood, and the fact that we don't feel like we live in a community so much as a collection of houses. We thought about organizing a neighborhood block party at the local school, and even decided we'd go around knocking on doors, talking to people and inviting them to the party. We reached out to our local representative, never heard anything, and then realized how much work it would be to organize and pull of everyone on our own..

Knocking on doors and talking to people. I wonder what percentage of people would actually open their doors and talk to you??

[Jessica]

Knocking on doors and talking to people. I wonder what percentage of people would actually open their doors and talk to you??

I'm very sweet looking

But, no, you're right. I'm sure a lot of people just wouldn't be bothered.

[Curly]

Great thread, it really makes you think. I'd go back just to spend a few more days with dad. Then go stop my future wife from marrying the first guy who beat the crap out of her. Then again, I wouldn't have a great son. Damn! Can I just go smack him around a little? As for the future:



No thanks.

[Jessica]

There are a lot of places I'd go to visit, but as far as raising my family somewhere else.. I don't know. Every era I can think of has problems of its own - war, social and gender inequality, poverty, high birth mortality rates, high instances of childhood illness, etc.

I think that your life, your family, and your community are what you make of them. The choices you make for your kids and yourself in terms of what they're allowed access to and what they're exposed to in your home is solely your own. If you put a TV and game console in each of your kids' bedrooms, so be it. If you choose to raise your kids on organic vegetables and locally raised grass fed beef, so be it. If you want to take your family off the grid and live in a solar powered house in the Colorado mountains accessible only by snowmobile for 5 months of the year, then okay. Obviously we all have our opinions as to what works the best, but in reality there is only one "best" way - the way that works for your family (assuming no one is hurt, neglected, etc.).

The lack of the small Main St. USA type of community in New Castle County is kind of strange. I'm talking about the kind of place where you walk to school, walk to get a cup of coffee, high school football games are popular Friday night events, and people gather around to watch the Halloween parade down the main drag. There are a lot of these little enclaves in Southern NJ and the Philly suburbs. Not so much here. I think a lot of that just has to do with a population that isn't big enough to warrant neighborhood school systems all the high school, but isn't small enough to warrant central town areas like you might see in the more rural areas.

I was looking online at some neighborhoods, and I came across a planned community that, at least on paper, is trying to recreate the small town feel just outside of Middletown. It's called the Village at Bayberry ( http://www.bayberryhomes.com/) and it's based on a smart growth concept. The plan is to create a wide range of housing (single, 55+, and I think townhomes) around a central park, organic farm, and downtown shopping district. The plan includes hiking trails, a town center, tree-lined parkways, etc.

Has anyone had experience with this sort of neighborhood plan? Of course, the downside is that if you buy in now, you wait until the concept is completed to really get the benefits. Tree-lined parkways and a shopping district aren't happening overnight.

[wendy]

where people knew and looked out for each other.

I live in that neighborhood, it has its issues too. That thing they say about grass being greener elsewhere is very much true.
Has anyone watched Midnight in Paris? It kind of touches on this issue; every generation thinks the previous one had it so much better.

[childOfLacroix]

Yeah, I have no desire to go back to a "better time," because I don't think there WAS a "better time." There are certain, individual aspects of the past I'd like to see brought back, but not an entire era. Every era had issues, including the 1950's, which so many Americans rave about. "Happy Days" and "Leave it to Beaver" were sitcoms, not documentaries.

I'd like to live in an isolated Everglades cabin, but I run a pet-sitting business, so moving to a remote area and living the lifestyle I'd most prefer isn't a realistic option. It's probably not a realistic option for most people.

[EpicWin]

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

Full Lyrics never actually aired

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got;
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?

All those night when you've got no lights,
The check is in the mail;
And your little angel
Hung the cat up by it's tail;
And your third fiance didn't show;

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.

Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead;
The morning's looking bright;
And your shrink ran off to Europe,
And didn't even write;
And your husband wants to be a girl;

Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.

Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came...

[Bellicose]

@Jessica, ah South Jersey towns. Sure are great. We were just up there for a fiends kids Birthday Party. On our way back we went through Woodbury, seen some people walking down the street with their dog. Now, I did make fun of them and stuff, I know I'm going to hell. As we chuckled a little, I turned to Wifey and said, where can you get in Delaware, Main Street and that's About it.

I can remember growing up in Woodstown, left there at the age of 9 for West Deptford. I used to be able to ride my bike around the block to the lake, or across the street to a friends house by the Swim Club. Heck sometimes my parents would let me ride my bike to the center of town to meet a friend and go back to his house to play. Everyone pretty much knew us, and looked out for us, especially the owners of the local pizza shop. Heck even some of the bar patrons looked out for us, only knew us because our Sensei rented the small little space below it for our Karate Dojo.

Even in WD, it was the same way. Everyone knew each other, looked out for each others kids, yelled at each others kids. Riding our bikes to Woodbury LL, to play Baseball in the Summer. Riding our bikes to the local pizza shop, or Cumberland Farms, to spend a few bucks. Went to Football games on Friday nights, whether it be High School, or Midget. Ah the good ol' days, smile on my face just reminiscing!