What's important...

[Stainz]

I moved into this house in the fall of '76 - Jerry was my next door neighbor. We talked some periodically - he was resingled - as was I - but I remarried - and retired. He was planning a retirement later this year. He works hard - seldom has time to do much - hadn't even uncovered his in ground pool yet.

At 1:48 AM this morning, I awoke to find the street littered with firetrucks, etc - they were putting up their hoses - Jerry's house had burned - possibly the horrible aluminum wiring - but who knows. Jerry had left early in the day - and has yet to return. His son's phone is gone - they went with a cellphone only, as many have. I don't have their cell numbers. He will get back this evening to a mess - boarded windows - pulled meter - lost family treasures. I have been heartsick for him.

We take so much for granted. I don't know why I don't have emergency numbers for my neighbors - or they for me. Oh, sure, I took him dinner a few times... and never even dangled a foot in his pool - neither did my sons, now 37 & 41 (His is 40.). He did cut my grass when I was sick. I'd rate him as a better neighbor than me, but I feel the need for a little self-pity right now.

I guess the moral is simple - at least know your neighbor well enough to get emergency contact numbers from them - one never knows.

Stainz

[Maximumbob54]

You just made me realize that in the two years I have lived here, I don't even know my neighbor's names. The most contact that we have is when one of us cuts the grass at the same time as the other and we wave. I am now going to make it a point to go knock on their door and introduce myself. I think this stems from just meeting so many losers, moochers, and jerks in my life so far.

[gregintenn]

Thanks for the reminder. I don't have my next door neighbor's cell number either. I know him, and he's a nice guy. Seems like neighbors aren't as close as they were when I was a kid. I've eaten dinner in all my parents' neighbors' houses. I've lived next to this guy for over 8 years, and I've never been in his house. The house next to him burned last year, and we didn't have his cell either. I really need to be a better neighbor. Sorry to hear about yours.

[DeathGrip]

I don't speak the language.

[GKC]

Originally Posted by Maximumbob54

You just made me realize that in the two years I have lived here, I don't even know my neighbor's names.

I was just reading a story about a woman who was found dead in the car, in her garage...a year after she died! She stopped paying her mortgage, the bank eventually foreclosed, took it over, sold it at auction, and the new owner came to change the locks and saw a car in the garage...looked inside and saw a skeleton. Apparently the inspector the bank sent out to examine the home didn't look in the car, or notice it (really good job.) No foul play is suspected...apparently she died of natural causes.

The neighbors didn't know her name or anything about her. The article said she was divorced, reclusive, and was on disability for mental illness. She had no pattern so no one noticed that she wasn't coming or going, etc.

The article pointed out that this day and time, it is not unusual for people not to know their neighbors...people live so much of their lives away from home, for work and/or entertainment...and just come home for rest and solitude. It seems our social patterns have changed, too...generations ago, people would buy a home and live there 30 years or so. Now, people move often.

[bamabiker]

Hey Stainz, sorry to hear about your neighbor's house. I'm not a close neighbor but in the neighborhood. If there's any way I can help let me know.
I come down ya'lls street sometimes when I don't want to wait at the red light.
I grew up in East Lake and back then we had a great neighborhood where everyone knew each other. Had cookouts and got together for homemade ice cream or watermelon eating.
I do know some of my neighbors now and have their phone numbers but it's not the same.

[LTC]

I live in a rural neighborhood on a county road. My closest neighbor is about 50 yards away. the next ones in all directions are 200-300 yards away. We have lived in this neighborhood for 36 years and have never set foot in any of there homes.

We know them all and converse if we meet them on the road or in town, but just never visit.

LTC

[wbraswell]

The neighborhoods really changed when TV and air conditioning came along. Everybody stay inside now.