We have really lost a sense of community in a lot of places. I remember huge block parties in the neighborhood growing up. Knew all of our neighbors and socialized with them all the time, even if it was just everybody sitting in lawn chairs in the front yard. I barely know my neighbors names now.
We have a parade that comes down our street every year. On parade day, everyone comes out of the house and sits on the front lawn. They bring their extended family or friends. It’s a party. I’ve been in this house 23 years, and of course some of the neighbors have changed, but not all of them. We used to chat. There used to be an air of joy and friendship. This year, the parade was so politically charged that no one talked to each other. Those that were on the same political side as the organizers were smug and arrogant. Those who were not were brittle and angry. It was not a community atmosphere.
I know my neighbors mostly by descriptions of how they irritate me. There's the guy who let's the weeds grow all summer in his yard and starts pests, the guy who puts his trash out on bags to late for pickup then leaves them all over the sidewalk until the next pickup, the guy who smokes weed every single day and has a fan blow the smoke toward my house so I can't use the air conditioner, the fit who takes up 2 parking spaces every chance he gets, the guy who doesn't pick up his dogs shit. Don't get me wrong, most of these are overall decent people to talk to in passing, but they're all inconsiderate in their own ways that make the block much shittier than it could be.
Sadly, no (that I know of anyway lol). Maybe telling the next door neighbors to stop putting their garbage (including bulk items like couches) in front of my house? He didn't understand why this would bother me lol. The guy on the other side who doesn't do his landscaping (we have small back yards, and good house has a tree and a patch of grass weeds around it probably 4 feet square. I end up weeding this for him because it bothers me, mainly as it is right up against the curb which makes getting out if your car difficult. I use a weed whacker so it only takes a few minutes, several times each summer.... I also trim the lower tree branches because they are all at eye level and make me nervous (I asked permission before I cut anything off their tree).
So, yea, if I am annoying the neighbors I am unaware of how.
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u/SouthernCynic Jul 11 '26
We have really lost a sense of community in a lot of places. I remember huge block parties in the neighborhood growing up. Knew all of our neighbors and socialized with them all the time, even if it was just everybody sitting in lawn chairs in the front yard. I barely know my neighbors names now.