Is Community Living Returning?

Is the trend for smaller houses bringing back the community life or is it the other way round? Are Baby Boomers showing us the way with their socially-driven RV communities and snowbird villages? Have the drastic price increases helped to pull us together as a community and promoted a feeling of social awareness?

Recently in a local neighborhood, a second community garden was started as the first one became too popular; this is not so commonplace in a North American community. Does it point to social changes in the way we live?

Since World War 2 we have gradually become a more insular society, choosing more to separate ourselves from our community. For instance, we watch the ball game at home,or we choose to skip the movies and watch the videos in our own home theaters. Less of us grow (and share) our own vegetables.

Unlike Spain, where a town of any pride has a town square, and England where there is the village green and France where there is the 'boules' pitch shaded by trees and surrounded by benches for the audience - we seemed to have opted out of civic socializing.

Smaller European homes meant that children played together in the streets, or chatted in their front yards. Local church halls encouraged get togethers that were free.

Lately there have been sub-divisions created that have a community spirit built in; small parks and safe walkways for kids to ride their bikes on. Many of these have focused on 'green' construction and the homes have been built within a smaller square footage.

Smaller homes and community living is not new in one echelon of society - the idea of community living has been pioneered by seniors and others who flee to the sun for the winter - the snowbirds.

Jumping neighborhoods for such a short period of time each winter meant that every snowbird was a stranger with little time to develop friendships. Happily, most of these residential areas have facilities and amenities laid on for community life.

Community events give people a reason for having to show up and chat with everyone else in the area; it also helps them to overcome their shyness. Community pools and social evenings, community gymnasiums and scenic jogging paths tend to throw everyone together and blend residents into a cohesive group.

If you are not lucky enough to be a senior who can join in these community events, then think of transforming your own community into a friendlier place. One home owner placed a log bench at the bus stop outside his home. Older travelers use it often! Small touches can make all the difference.

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