This Little World We Call Our Neighborhood

A survey conducted by Dreyer's Ice Cream asked Americans how well they knew their neighbors. It found that:

-- Three out of ten Americans (27%) don't know their neighbors' first and last names.

-- Six in ten Americans (59%) who aren't friendly with their neighbors say it's because they're just too busy to create meaningful relationships.

-- Fewer than half of Americans (48%) have borrowed something, like a cup of sugar, from one of their neighbors.

Supposedly, according to the experts, kids do better in school, people live longer, and crime rates are lower when people who live in the same community have a basic familiarity with each other. It doesn't take an expert to know that feeling at home in your own community means knowing some of the folks who live near you.

When we first moved to our neighborhood shortly after it was built, no one had fences, many people walked after dinner, there was a shocking number of babies in the neighborhood out in strollers almost all the time, and somehow we all got to know each other. Over the years, many people moved out and new people moved in, fences divided every home, the kids grew older and got over-involved in activities, and garage doors opened and closed, spitting out and sucking in people we never really saw anymore outside their cars (with the exception of the always-magical evenings of Halloween and July 4th).

And so, it was a breath of fresh air what happened in my neighborhood the last two years, and for it I thank my friends Kelly and Carol. I invite you, as the last Sunday of our FoodShed Planet Kids suggestion, to do what they did and invite the kids in your 'hood to a very casual evening of caroling from door-to-door.

They arranged the caroling on an innocent weeknight, when people were home from work and tired and basically not suspecting a group of cherubic children to ring their bells and sing to the heavens from a selection of boundary-crossing holiday classics that made everyone feel welcome.

Moms with pajama-wearing toddlers clapping in their arms stood weary at the doors, smiling in recognition that one day that child in their arms would join the children of the neighborhood in song.

Elderly couples reluctant to open doors, especially at night, heard the singing voices up the road and stood anxiously awaiting their unexpected guests.

Children we didn't know the day before asked their parents if they could join us.

And the whole thing ended with hot chocolate in Kelly's garage and the warmth of knowing just a little bit more about where we live, and with whom we share this little world we call our neighborhood.

Not interested in caroling? Then perhaps it might work better for you to simply take a moment during this busy holiday season and get to know one person who lives near you better; or start waving when you pass those dog-walking, cellphone-talking neighbors; or maybe even head on out after dinner for that jog you've been meaning to take.

You never know who might join you. And you never know when you're going to need that cup of sugar.