Ideally we would all live in a neighborhood with wonderful people that we enjoyed and with whom we could share good times. This can happen, but it requires some effort to develop. Don't sit around waiting for someone else to take the initiative. You can start developing your neighborhood into one that's friendly and sharing and safe.

Start by introducing yourself to your neighbors. A natural way to do this is take walks and when you see a neighbor outside, stop and chat with them. Show a continued interest in your neighbors by asking about their hobbies,

children, and health when you see them. Remember their children's names and their pets. Call a neighbor to join you when you're going to a festival or out to eat. After the ice is broken, talk to different neighbors about having some social events and getting everyone involved. See who reacts enthusiastically and then build from there.

Get something regular going so people look forward to it. One way to do this is start a "dine around." The dine around rotates with different neighbors hosting it. They choose a date, pick a restaurant, and invite everyone to meet and car pool to the restaurant together. Everyone pays for their own meals. Afterwards the neighbors gather at the host's house for desserts and coffee. Set up a schedule for once a month and pass it around for others to sign up as hosts.

Plan an annual block party. Make this a fun family affair with outdoor games for the children. Get donations to hire a clown or find someone in the neighborhood who's game to dress up goofily and hand out balloons. Have everyone bring food for a picnic. If anyone in the neighborhood is musical, ask them to perform. Make use of neighborhood talents and get everyone involved and having a good time together.

Enhance communications by starting a site for your neighborhood on Yahoo Groups. Make a flyer with the sign up info on it and pass it around. On Yahoo Groups, they can share tips, plan parties, warn of problems, post photos and generally keep in touch. It has a database if people want to keep addresses, phone numbers, and even birthdays there.

Plan some guys outings to ball games or other male bonding activities. Plan some ladies-day-out excursions too. Go for tea at a fancy restaurant or visit a museum together.

Help each other out by offering rides to the airport or picking up mail and newspapers for someone on vacation. Visit a hospitalized neighbor. Keep an eye out for frail or elderly neighbors. Swap babysitting duties so mothers get some time on their own.

Have a neighborhood beautification week where everyone clears out trash, put plants in their yards, and share tools and skills. Perhaps plant colorful flowers at the entrance to the neighborhood. Develop a plan for maintaining those plantings. Another shared activity is a neighborhood-wide yard sale. Involve a good number of the neighbors to plan yard sales for the same weekend. Share the advertising. More people will come to shop if they know there are multiple sales in a small area.

Consider starting a neighborhood watch. Contact the local police department for help with this. After all the community building activities above, the neighbors already will be looking out for each other, but a neighborhood watch organizes it even more. Now the community is friendlier and safer, making it a better place for everyone.

Learn more about this author, Virginia Allain.
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