A True Community: Neighbors Revive an Old-Fashioned Tradition
By: Big Country Homepage Staff
Updated: November 14, 2012
There was once a time when most people knew their neighbors. While some are lucky enough to live in communities where that is still the case, many live side by side for years knowing very little about each other. But, a community right here in the key city keeps that old-fashioned tradition alive.
Many would agree that gone are the days of neighborhood dinners, and gleefully knowing every detail about the families living nearby, let alone just asking to borrow a grocery item.
But Travis Eason doesn't agree with that notion. The way they live proves it.
"If wasn't for my neighbors, i wouldn't be where i am today.We love each other, and it's not a weird funky new age love, it's like 'what do you need?' yeah I'll watch your kids, I'll pick them up from school, that's not a big deal" said Eason.
When talking about his former neighborhood, Travis said "it was like 'hello Mrs.Winslow, can I borrow an egg or two?'" but that's not the case with the community he lives in now.
From regular gatherings, to a communal garden this group of neighbors are more like a family, yet they even admit that they have little in common.
Melissa Walraven and Erin Currie then chimed in with "we don't really have that much in common, we are all really different. But I think it helps that we all have kids."
A type of bonding that seldom occurs now a days, a face to face conversation and quality time with each other.
The group bonded over a funny story and a bowl of chili. Their relationships stem from the quality of communication. Eason then followed up saying he doesn't communicate with computers or smart phones but simply "connect with my neighbors and community."
Another point was made about communicating with strangers on the street.
"You can walk past someone on the street and they won't even look at you. Because if they're not on their phone, they're just not used to looking at people" Currie said.
Though none of the neighbors shy away from social media. They do however consciously turn it off when they get together.
But according to these neighbors, this sort of eutopic living with fulfilling relationships takes work, and they're the first to admit, it's not a common trend these days.
Erin Currie had this to say about her community "I think our neighborhood is kind of rare, because I've lived in places where i didn't know my neighbors, and i like it a lot better this way. I wished more people knew who they lived next to."
In fact, several of these current best friends had previously fallen into the private isolated living that many identify with. Most of anyone's concerns would be thinking about the safety of their children.
Currie followed this up by saying "you never know who someone living next to you is. But you're never going to know unless you go say hello."
And while there is always the issue of safety, especially concerning children interacting with strangers, Eason and his neighbors live by the notion of togetherness.
Many would agree that gone are the days of neighborhood dinners, and gleefully knowing every detail about the families living nearby, let alone just asking to borrow a grocery item.
But Travis Eason doesn't agree with that notion. The way they live proves it.
"If wasn't for my neighbors, i wouldn't be where i am today.We love each other, and it's not a weird funky new age love, it's like 'what do you need?' yeah I'll watch your kids, I'll pick them up from school, that's not a big deal" said Eason.
When talking about his former neighborhood, Travis said "it was like 'hello Mrs.Winslow, can I borrow an egg or two?'" but that's not the case with the community he lives in now.
From regular gatherings, to a communal garden this group of neighbors are more like a family, yet they even admit that they have little in common.
Melissa Walraven and Erin Currie then chimed in with "we don't really have that much in common, we are all really different. But I think it helps that we all have kids."
A type of bonding that seldom occurs now a days, a face to face conversation and quality time with each other.
The group bonded over a funny story and a bowl of chili. Their relationships stem from the quality of communication. Eason then followed up saying he doesn't communicate with computers or smart phones but simply "connect with my neighbors and community."
Another point was made about communicating with strangers on the street.
"You can walk past someone on the street and they won't even look at you. Because if they're not on their phone, they're just not used to looking at people" Currie said.
Though none of the neighbors shy away from social media. They do however consciously turn it off when they get together.
But according to these neighbors, this sort of eutopic living with fulfilling relationships takes work, and they're the first to admit, it's not a common trend these days.
Erin Currie had this to say about her community "I think our neighborhood is kind of rare, because I've lived in places where i didn't know my neighbors, and i like it a lot better this way. I wished more people knew who they lived next to."
In fact, several of these current best friends had previously fallen into the private isolated living that many identify with. Most of anyone's concerns would be thinking about the safety of their children.
Currie followed this up by saying "you never know who someone living next to you is. But you're never going to know unless you go say hello."
And while there is always the issue of safety, especially concerning children interacting with strangers, Eason and his neighbors live by the notion of togetherness.
