Community Chat

[MaverDaver]

Growing up it was what everyone did. Air conditioning was minimal and by the end of the day the house was hot. So after dinner we would "sit out front" well into darkness. 

You would get to know your neighbors and oftentimes neighbors would congregate at a particular house. Sadly today many don't even know who their neighbor is. 

[Desertdi]

And the dog sat out with us, too!

[Biftu]

I don't find it odd behavior at all.  Those that don't have a front porch and live in a brownstone or row house sit on their stoop or front steps to get some fresh air and maybe interact with their neighbors.  You don't need to be lonely to sit on your front steps.

The majority of people in my neighborhood have front porches and it's nice to see and talk with your neighbors during warmer weather.  There are many porch parties here too.  People started moving to their back decks or patios during 1960s or so when homes started having decks and they started sitting in the privacy of their back yards.  People stopped interacting with neighbors as much.

[CalmInHeart]

There is more to see by sitting out front. I sit out front with my dog (on a chain). A lot of people walk their dogs so I get to talk a little and my dog loves it. 

I also sit on my back deck. It's great at 6am when the birds are chirping and animals are waking up.

[CalmInHeart]

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@occasionalrain wrote:

I have a neighbor who sits on their front door threshold, morning, noon, and evening with the door fully open. They have a patio at the rear of their home so they have another option.

This is uncommon to me but is it common in other regions, other countries?  I'm in the NE.

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Go over and introduce yourself and ask to sit with her for a minute. Maybe you'll become acquaintances or friends.

[Judaline]

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@CalmInHeart wrote:

There is more to see by sitting out front. I sit out front with my dog (on a chain). A lot of people walk their dogs so I get to talk a little and my dog loves it. 

I also sit on my back deck. It's great at 6am when the birds are chirping and animals are waking up.

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Whenever I hear the word 'chain' regarding a dog I cringe.  Must you?

[shoptilyadropagain]

I don't find it odd at all.  It happens a lot in my small midwestern town although it's not as common as it once was.  My dad used to get home from work, eat dinner and then go work in the yard or garden.  Afterwards he would sit in the driveway (front porch was just a very small concrete slab) and drink an iced tea.  The garage door would be open as he had some of his tools stored in there.  Sometimes my mom would join him in the evening.  As he got older and retired, the neighbor would join him.  They'd "shoot the breeze", people watch, bird watch, etc.  My dad and his neighbor are both in heaven now and the two families have joked that they're up in heaven sitting under a tree and people watching, etc.  

[Meowingkitty]

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@Desertdi wrote:

9:30pm in PHX...still 98°...NOBODY is sitting OUTSIDE

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We have a couple of neighbors (2 different houses) who sit in their open garage for hours a day most of the year. I don't know how they stand it. It's to hot even in the morning. They have a portable swamp box and drinks. One has a couch and a couple of chairs the other one just uses lawn chairs. They sometimes play games like ping pong in the cooler months. They even watch tv sometimes. I see them as a good thing by being alert for the neighbors.

[Carmie]

When I grew up, everyone did this.  Sometimes my father would ask me to take a walk with him and we would stop and visits with friends for a few minutes along the way.

In my neighborhood now, a few people have front porches.  They sit on chairs out front when the weather is good and some open their garages and sit on folding lawn chairs placed facing their driveways even if they have a back patio.

I never sit out front.  Our house is on a corner, so I can sit on the back deck and see out into the street.  I have recently purchased privacy/sun shades so I can close them if I am not interested in seeing my neighbor or having anyone from the street seeing me.

[gidgetgh]

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@occasionalrain wrote:

I have a neighbor who sits on their front door threshold, morning, noon, and evening with the door fully open. They have a patio at the rear of their home so they have another option.

This is uncommon to me but is it common in other regions, other countries?  I'm in the NE.

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@occasionalrainI'm a little confused about the word threshold in this case. Threshold is the doorway. She actually sits in the doorway, half inside, half out?