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mk  ·  4854 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Rich Man, Poor Man
I lived for many years in an affluent white suburb. Most neighbors spoke very little to each other, and except for some names, I knew almost nothing about the people around me. The lawns were very nice, but there were only a few parks, none within walking distance of my home. There were no sidewalks, and there were no front porches.

I now live in a neighborhood that is more mixed, both economically and racially. I know many of my neighbors, and talk to them quite often. We have four parks within walking distance, and a community garden within one of them. We have sidewalks that are heavily trafficked, and most houses have front porches. Once a year, there is a neighborhood music festival, where people play music on their porch, or in their driveway.

I'm sure that many good people lived in the neighborhood I lived in previously. However, it wasn't the kind of environment that encouraged interaction. On a community level, I act differently in my current neighborhood compared to how I did in my previous one.