A few weeks ago, Hilly wrote a post musing about hiding from her neighbours. She talked of the bat-cave phenomenon: you pull out of your garage in the morning and you drive into it at night, never seeing the outside of your house. If I had her neighbours I'd hide too.
We do not live in the batcave (and not just because there is too much crap in our garage to park the car.) In fact, if there were a spectrum between a batcave and people just walking into each others' homes, we live just shy of that. (Though, if I am expecting you, there really is no need to knock, just walk in and announce yourself someone -- no the door is not locked.) I told the kids on the street they had to ring before entering, The Man and I may be doing a re-enactment of the Dance Hall (starts a 1:59) routine from SYTYCD Canada, the naked overweight, almost-40 version. And trust me no one needs to walk in on that. (Still working on that handstand.)
This street and this neighbourhood is just not condusive to keeping to yourself. We live in Hintonburg, there are parties in the park, and in Dee's driveway. I know that a walk to pick up milk at the corner store, will no doubt include a pit stop to say hello and to catch up. It's just the way it is around here. Typical fashion, The Boys had gone to see a film and I'd opted out. I was on my way to the Table to pick up a bit of take out. I never made it. Dee decided that I needed booze and food. I never made it.
Then there are the people next door -- the scientist who genetically modifies food (and has the most incredible mostly ornamental garden... including the biggest garlic bulbs you have ever seen.) She lived alone for many years, now she has a partner. Not sure how they met but he's from Scotland and shares her passions for all things that grow.
Then there are the new couple next door. I expect they'll be the new couple for a long time. We were. They decided to plant any number of vegetables in their yard. But rather than grow a tradition garden they just sort of planted stuff wherever. Totally cool. We have a rose bush growing in the middle of lawn -- why? Because that's where it goes.
But the tomatoes did a bit better than expected and have grown through and over the fence. (I like tomatoes. I Love right off the vine tomatoes.) Then this big leafy vine with orange flowers came crawling through the fence. Amazing, it seems to have grown through over night. What to do with this unexpected bounty? And what if there is a dreaded squash beast growing on my lawn... after a delicate conversation... we discover that they are pumpkins and that whatever grows on Nat's lawn is ours to keep. Score.
There is comfort in knowing that your neighbours will drive you to work if your stuck. Help your child in an emergency... and knowing that someone will call the cops if they walk by and see your door open. Not to say, it's perfect... kids peeing on trees, the punk rock band and the drunks in the rooming house. But somehow it all works. I'm really happy I don't live in a cave.
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1. The exception is the woman who lets her usually unattended children, wander around the street naked peeing all over the fucking place. Sometimes she helps them hold their appendages. She also homeschools -- if ever there were kids in need of a normalizing influence...
