Do you feel isolated in the suburbs?

Question

Do you feel like you are disconnected from your neighbors in the suburbs? Do you even know your neighbors? Do people sit
on their porch and people watch in the summers, or hide in their
home away from the world? Does anyone actually care or give a
damn about you in your development? Would they even bat an eye
if you died or took ill? Again, do you feel disconnected from the
people that surround you where you live? Personally, I feel road
rage even from the people in my own subdivision. I have been
cut off even leaving my subdivision by my wonderful neighbors.
I don't know where the anger comes from. Its an upscale place
and most people are making big bucks, but they seem to be the most miserable and petty people you'll ever meet!
I blame it all on the way developers have laid out subdivisons
in the last 10-15 years. They are built expressly to isolate people.
Every one has the illusion that they are a private castle with the
drawbridge drawn up. Written in the sub's DNA...

Answer 1

Good question! I was talking to my family about this very subject the other day. I don't know if you remember, but there was a time when people actually sat out on their front porches in the evening. The neighborhood children would be playing in the street and it was another great opportunity to interact with your neighbors. How times have changed.

As far as living in an upscale place, I can totally relate. I live in a wealthy area too. I've often wondered why people who are obviously very materially well off sometimes look so miserable and treat others so crappy. I mean, I would think driving a car that is worth more than some houses would put me in a better mood. I know money doesn't buy happiness, but I DO believe money can buy you security and comfort, to some degree.

If you're really interested, there are books written about this very subject, how developers have designed subdivisions that not only tend to isolate us, but they also make us fat as well, by building subdivisions in the middle of nowhere and surrounding them with sidewalks that are 12 inches wide. There is a new subdivision near where I live and there is NOTHING but houses there - no stores, no parks, no trees, NOTHING but houses. After three years, they are finally building a grocery store. And these homes cost over a million dollars. Pathetic. Even more pathetic, there is a very exclusive area a few miles from where I live. The average home costs over three million dollars. Over the years, I've visited there several times. It's weird, every time I'm about to drive through those massive gates, I get depressed. There is a very, very unhappy vibe there. To this day, I have never seen one person outside. Not one. Very sad. If you're interested, read a book about this. I read a great one about a year ago. I think it's called "Suburban Nation".

Answer 2

i've met my neighbors. a few times. i don't have much of an interest in knowing them.

go watch the movie american beauty

however, i agree with your sentiment...and i bet most people feel this way. why not make an effort to meet your neighbors? organize a cookout?

youre waiting for them, they are waiting for you...nothing will change unless you make it happen.