Texas Proud
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
- Messages
- 17,313
From the responses, I gather that some people prefer a large buffer between themselves and their neighbors while some prefer closer contact . Obviously, pocket neighborhoods are not the answer for those that prefer isolation. However, for those who crave a stronger sense of community and neighborliness, but still want to enjoy the benefits of a single family home, a pocket neighborhood may be the solution. When I was younger I dreamed of living on a 5 or 10 acre parcel and gave little thought to the benefits of having neighbors. Now that I am older, I have begun to think more about the social advantages of having neighobrs nearby and the security benefits of having someone close by to watch my house when I am away. Also, I also don't want to bite off more than I can chew with respect to the maintenance that comes with a larger home. Finally, I am interested in simplifying my life so that I can better focus on what is really important without the distraction of the inevitable clutter that comes with "living large." The "pocket neighborhood" concept seems to address these priorities better than any other available lifestyle I have considered. I've looked at condos, mobile homes, traditional single family housing, and mini-farms in the country. None of them seem to achieve the right balance between privacy and neighborliness that I feel is ideal. Personnally, I'd like to see the pocket neighborhood concept catch on in the U.S. I realize it's not for everyone, but I suspect pocket neighborhoods would work better for most than the typical condo complex, or the typical housing development where their garage door is their "face to the world" and where neighbors quickly surround their property with a 6 foot fence, effectively isolating themselves from others. I think this emerging concept will work well for many retirees.
Here is a thought...... it is the PEOPLE that make the difference, not the layout of the houses....
My sister used to live on 10 acres of land close to Austin... she knew all her neighbors and they knew her... you could see 4 of their houses from her house... if someone came over at least one of them saw who it was and if they did not know them would investigate... one of them would 'mow' my sisters land to get the hay... they were 'closer' together than where I live and my neighbors are 15 feet from the side of my house... we do know one well as they have a daughter that is the same age as ours...
So, you can fill up a pocket neighborhood with people that want to socilize or some who do not.... if they do not, then it is a bunch of patio homes where the people live inside and do not interact.... guess what, just like it is today...
PS... my sister now lives on 40 acres in Oregon and also knows all the neighbors.... almost forgot... my BIL lives in a normal neighborhood and also knows all the neighbors... and have get togethers etc.... they just walk up to the neighbors house and knock and ask... 'do you want to come eat some bar-b-que?'