topic Re: Your Neighborhood in Among Friends

Your Neighborhood

CherryHugs — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:13:51 GMT

I have seen at times on TV and in Magazines how people and those in their neighborhoods have Block Parties, Holiday Parties, Gift Wrap Parties, Cookie Making Parties.

Does this happen in your neighborhood or a former neighborhood you lived in???

Not once ever anyplace we lived did any of this happen lol!!!

Re: Your Neighborhood

GAQShopr53 — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:15:14 GMT

@CherryHugs I lived in Germany for three years and every Harvest time, Christmas and New Year the entire community would come together and celebrate..I loved it and it gave everyone a chance to catch up. I grew up in a neighbor hood where we would come together and have block parties and they were awesome...my brother thought he was the best cook on the block and we would have contests to see who cooked the best burgers. Your post just brought back some fun memories for me...Thanks!

Re: Your Neighborhood

riley1 — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:16:51 GMT

Not where I lived before - but we all lived in a lake community and gathered at the clubhouse there. Where I live now is an HOA community - don't know if anyone ever thought of something like that.

Re: Your Neighborhood

Desertdi — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:17:23 GMT

Definitely NOT where I live. Our yards are enclosed by cement block walls. My front yard has a wrought iron fence and key-locking gate. (This is for privacy, not because it's a bad neighborhood). Most communities in the area are like this.

Re: Your Neighborhood

Imaoldhippie — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:17:46 GMT

I have often wondered about this too. It has never happened where I lived either. I guess it would take an out going type person to get it started and some fun loving neighbors to join in.

Re: Your Neighborhood

151949 — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:22:27 GMT

Our old neighborhood almost everyone worked. Those who didn't had volunteer jobs at places like the school or the library during the week. When my day off fell on a weekday, by 8AM our neighborhood was a ghost town. The neighbors hardly knew each other. We had the busy lives young people typically have today.

Now I live in a mostly senior community in Fl. Every one is here all the time,and everyone is very busy minding other people's business. We have a community clubhouse and there are frequently events held there.We don't always attend. There is also sewing/craft club - various card games clubs like canasta, bridge & poker, and some others. I don't play cards. A trivia club that actually gets into competitions with other trivia clubs in town.

Re: Your Neighborhood

reiki604 — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:23:25 GMT

Wow....I feel sorry for you folks. We have annual Block Parties and have had them wherever we lived for as long as I remember. The street is blocked off (permit from PD) Live music, DJs, rides for the the kids and everyone brings tables and chairs outside their home or apt building with loads of food and drink. They are a blast and bring a neighborhood together.

Re: Your Neighborhood

SahmIam — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:37:02 GMT

Yes and no. My current community has a few events a year but overall, it's the same people who attend all of them. I've asked many a person "hey, do you attend?!" and what I hear is "No. Why should I?" said with a sneer/attitude.

That answer right there folks....it explains everythings.

Re: Your Neighborhood

Eileen in Virginia — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:03:46 GMT

They tried to have neighborhood yard sales in our community years ago, but most folks were too busy working and didn’t have time to sort through their stuff to get it ready for a sale. Also, our community’s streets are pretty much hills and cul-de-sacs without much parking for browsers. There is a neighborhood a couple of miles from us that holds an annual yard sale called The Mile Long Yard Sale. It’s all on one street that nice & wide with plenty of parking.

The closest thing we’ve had to a block party is National Night Out. Our civic association has food, drinks, kids’ games, etc. to pass the time until the police and firefighters arrive with sirens and flashing lights. It’s one time during the year that you’re likely to see your neighbors.

Re: Your Neighborhood

Regal Bee — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:11:02 GMT

Yes, our neighborhood is fairly social. We just had a summer BBQ party this past Saturday.

We have Easter, Halloween and Christmas parties in our clubhouse and also lots of other gatherings by the lake. Lots of fun.

Re: Your Neighborhood

missy1 — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:11:43 GMT

I don't want to party with my neighbors.

None of the neighborhoods I have lived in, had any block parties.

Re: Your Neighborhood

Meowingkitty — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:30:44 GMT

Never had a block party either. In fact, I doubt I could pick my neighbors out of a lineup. We too have 6’ block walls surrounding each property and in summer no one in their right mind goes outside unless they have to. Winter would be the only time. I don’t think anyone in our neighborhood would even be interested. It’s just not something we do in the desert. I’ve only lived in Arizona so I can’t speak for other parts of the country, but we pretty much keep to ourselves. An occasional “hi” is about it for the neighbors.

Re: Your Neighborhood

TX-starlight — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:40:28 GMT

I live in a small rural town, but do not socialize with my neighbors. I went to school with my closest neighbors. There are only 3 houses on my block, the rest of us barely speak to each other. Right across the street, that will not even wave when in the yard, VERY snooty people! I've waved my arm off, only for them to turn their head, so I now ignore them when I see them outside.

Re: Your Neighborhood

Shanus — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:13:49 GMT

We’re one of the oldest couples in our neighborhoods. As the homes sold and resold, families w/ school age children moved in. We did attend a block party and felt quite out of place. They organized a Ladies’ Night Out at one woman’s home and everyone there was my daughter’s age...25 yrs. younger than me. Discussions were about carpooling, soccer teams, scheduling 2 kid’s activities,etc...absolutely nothing that related to me. I haven’t been back.

I keep telling dh it’s time to move, but he’s still working and his office is only a mile away. I’m feeling I may be too young for a retirement community....between a rock & a hard place. I continue to clear out closets, attic and other areas of things we’ve accumulated antipicating an imminent move.

It’d be nice to be friends w/ neighbors my age, but won’t happen here.

Re: Your Neighborhood

AuntG — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:32:02 GMT

Not so much. Church activities (ours had an ice cream social) are probably the closest thing we have to a neighborhood party.

Re: Your Neighborhood

busymom22 — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:39:04 GMT

I think it depends on the region in which you live. Our society has become much more mobile. My husband grew up in NC and I was always impressed with his parents' neighborhood as after 30 years most were still the same people. They socialized and knew each others' families. They had a history together. But as those people pass on the younger generation doesn't get to enjoy the same stability as many careers require multiple moves. That neighborhood was anchored by stay at home moms who never worked outside of the home. So even after kids aged out neighborhood women would still have coffee or play bridge with each other. Now that women work full time that doesn't happen anymore. People are too busy just working and shuttling their kids from school to activities.

Re: Your Neighborhood

Peaches McPhee — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:49:10 GMT

My current neighborhood has done a block party and a Xmas party for the ladies (gingerbread house decorating). I went to both, to met new people, but I probably won't again. Oddly, I did not find the neighbors very friendly.

Re: Your Neighborhood

Marp — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:50:31 GMT

Where I used the live there would be neighborhood block parties in late spring/early summer and another just before school started.

Where I live now there is very little socializing between neighbors but every once in a while someone will sit on their porch and start playing a guitar or banjo. Before long others mosey over either with their instrument or just to listen. That is the closest to a block party we have but a truly enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours.

Re: Your Neighborhood

haddon9 — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 15:04:12 GMT

@CherryHugs wrote:
I have seen at times on TV and in Magazines how people and those in their neighborhoods have Block Parties, Holiday Parties, Gift Wrap Parties, Cookie Making Parties.

Does this happen in your neighborhood or a former neighborhood you lived in???

Not once ever anyplace we lived did any of this happen lol!!!

@CherryHugs Yes to all of the above!

When we moved here 26 years ago it was a brand new neighborhood and we all had young children. My street is a cul de sac of 8 houses and over the years we've had a variety of parties & get togethers.

There have been lots of graduation parties, birthday parties, block parties with fireworks (we have a huge field behind part of the street), holiday parties (one neighbor had some Christmas parties with Philly string band mummers!) Bar &Bat Mitzvahs and a few weddings.

Now things are quiet (most of the kids are grown & gone on with their adult lives) but one thing that we still do is on Halloween we all get together to give out candy. We gather in the middle of the street with folding chairs, candles (I have a rolling cart that I bring out) some wine and of course candy. We call the kids over to us when we see them coming around. It's fun and a great way to get caught up. We've been doing this for over 20 years.

Most of my neighbors are still here. We had one tragedy. The neighbor across the street from us had a house fire almost 6 years ago at night and the house was completely gone. However thank goodness they were all fine and decided it was time to move. A young family moved in.

Most of us plan on staying for a while. I love my house, neighborhood and community. I hope to stay as long as we can.

Re: Your Neighborhood

151949 — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 15:05:30 GMT

In the summer there are only 13 homes occupied in my plan, so the 12 ladies who are here go out to lunch once a week on Wed.(13th home has a man only) Except for 2 of us - the other 10 ladies who lunch are widows.