The Absent Uncle: Community

During this past holiday season my wife and I were asked to our first neighborhood get together. We moved to this area (a Houston suburb in Fort Bend County) just a bit over four years ago. By nature, neither of us are really social people; but we are neighborly, say hello and wave when folks walk by our house or when we walk by their homes.

We were looking forward to living in a neighborhood. Our last home, outside of Wichita, Kan., was a five-acre lot with a limited number of neighbors, but we made friendships and had good relationships within the rural neighborhood. Looking forward, living in a suburban housing development meant neighbors much closer and a higher potential for friendships. 

Then, within a year, along came Covid, my entrance into full retirement, some unexpected health challenges (we have both bounced back from thankfully), and the adjustment of the move. 

It really was a lot to deal with. Moving after 20-plus years was pretty traumatic, and we both agree it took at least a year to adjust and settle in.

The Covid threat was probably the most isolating. Folks just stopped socializing. Most of the community-sponsored events were canceled or severely curtailed. Not saying we would have participated, but the opportunity to do so was gone.

Not being tied into this neighborhood meant we did not have prior personal relationships with neighbors. For sure, we had met the people in our immediate neighborhood (next door, across the street). We waved, said hi, but we never were invited – or invited them – into our respective homes, mostly because of Covid, the risks of exposure associated with our age, lack of history, and the mask thing.

During this time, I had developed a routine of walking in the neighborhood about five miles per day early in the morning. My wife started walking in the afternoon a bit shorter distance, but on a regular basis. Plus, our house has a rare – for the neighborhood – front porch that both of us love to sit in and enjoy our double glider.

So here we go. Our first neighborhood get-together.  

It was great.  

Folks we had only waved to, introduced themselves “with glad to finally meet the walkers”, “the people on the front porch”, and so on. Stories about neighborhood history, events, and a feeling of inclusion. Community. Thank you.