I love my neighbors! Living on a rural street has been wonderful. I’m not much of a city slicker, so being able to enjoy country life is awesome, and having amazing neighbors makes it even better. Actually, it’s the other way around; having amazing neighbors makes country life worth living!
Chuck and Paula live down the road about a quarter mile. When they go out of town, I am the one who takes care of their kitty, Bhoupe. She’s such an affectionate little thing and so fun to visit twice a day. I say little because she’s about eight pounds, rather normal for a cat. But since our cat is closer to twenty, she is half the size!
Last year I decided to send them Bhoupe reports. I took pictures of Bhoupe and then took them over to pixlr.com for editing. Pixlr is fun and easy to use and it has made my neighbors think I am some kind of techie wizard…which I am far from, of course. But it has become something they really forward to now and has actually made leaving their much-loved kitty something to look forward to.
I somehow have ended up as the neighborhood pet sitter. I have walked dogs and cat sat for several others as well. I do it because – well, because that’s what neighbors are for! To care for each other’s well being, watch out for their good, and support each other. It’s what makes my neighborhood the kind I want to live in. Not every service needs to have a price tag on it. In fact, many should not. This is one of them.
In return?
I have received a sense of belonging.
I have received a sense of security – they are here for me when I need them.
I have received the joy that comes from serving others.
I have received friendship.
Yes – sometimes I have received gifts too. And if that is their way of showing appreciation, then I accept it. But a hug and a thank you is worth more than money any day when it comes to important relationships.
In a day when people use face time, google hangouts, join me, and Skype – all of which have a place – they will never replace human contact. We just aren’t made that way. Can you imagine if the only way you ever interacted with your family or neighbors was through the above avenues? How empty and depressing life would be!
The depth and quality of our lives will always be in exact proportion to the depth and quality of our relationships.
Cultivate relationships with your neighbors if you haven’t already. Take time to be friendly, to care, to help, to work together and hang out together. Some things will never change. And we shouldn’t want them to. Yes – the best things in life are still free.
Tell us what you love about your neighbors or neighborhood in the comments below.