How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors? (cont'd)

Another idea is to start a website for your neighborhood. You can get a free website from Geocities (http://www.geocities.com) or Neightborhood Link (http://www.neighborhoodlink.com). You can put a calendar of events in your area on the site, or perhaps list the email addresses of the residents. A bulliten board can be used to post announcements or special needs.

What about an old-fashioned potluck dinner or backyard barbeque. Invite your neighbors and ask them to bring a covered dish or dessert to share! What a wonderful way to get to know the people in your neighborhood. You might enjoy it so much that you turn it into a monthly event!

In this day and age, it is even more critical that we know those who live around us. Our very safety might depend on it. But there is also so much joy to be found right in your backyard! A host of new friends (and babysitters!) can be found just a stone's throw away from your front door. And perhaps, all of your neighbors are just sitting there waiting for you to make it all happen!

This article was written by using information provided in an article entitled "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" written by Laird Harrison, published in the 2/2002 issue of Parents Magazine.