You better believe it. Lemonade, even Kool Aid (for which I lost my taste about 50 years ago).

I’ll add:

- Hire kids to mow your lawn.

- Have neighborhood events just for them. (For example, we have an Easter Egg Hunt, a Xmas in the Park with Santa, Fourth of July cookout, National Night Out with the kids decorating their bikes for a parade and awards, etc.) Of course the adults are there, and end up mingling anyhow…

Ronn.

The one I have an offer on is from 1940 (Pam, how do you feel about “wartime” houses?!). It’s a style that I now know to be called Minimal Traditional. What a terrible name! Anyway, this link has a good description of this period of “plain Jane” architecture and a photo of a house that is more interesting looking than the one I am getting, but that’s OK.

http://www.antiquehome.org/Architectural-Style/minimal-traditional.htm

Of course, as in Sue’s case, the sum is more than the parts. I will be steps from a beautiful park with stone shelters, fire pits, and extensive trails through the woods; a short walk to all the shops I could possibly want, plus a brand-new library; and surrounded by people who are satisfied with things “as they are.” And as Pam’s latest post says, the “inner ring” of houses is holding or increasing in value here in Madison. (Why drive when you can walk, bike or take the bus?) Hopefully that same thinking will help me with the one I am selling, which was part of Madison’s first “suburb” serving the UW campus just after the turn of the last century. Now it’s considered “downtown”!

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments! This site always makes my day (on the days I find time to visit it:).

How about:
- Random acts of kindness, like shoveling or snow-blowing your neighbors’ sidewalk and driveway every once in a while. Guess what, they reciprocate. What a nice surprise.
- Taking in their newspaper when they are away.
- Borrowing some sugar every once in a while!

I love your list. I have one thing to add:

Whenever you see a kid selling lemonade in front of their house, stop and buy a glass.

I too live in a 1958-62 neighborhood, with a majority of ranches but a few splits (which is what we have). I suppose the area is slightly higher end than what was considered “middle” class at the time.

Our neighborhood is as everyone else here seems to describe, so I have nothing to add on that subject. However, I AM concerned about how this “feeling” is maintained. Older folks die. Younger folks take over. Behaving in a friendly, community fashion is not genetic. How do we make sure that the children and new buyers are brought into the “fold” - share the sense of pride?

Some people will never join up. That’s just a fact. As a member of the Civic League and other sub-committees (as is my wife), we see and wrestle with this issue. One thing’s for sure (despite the fact I was a great renter in my time): Rental properties tend to also be problem properties. Why? Renters generally have less at stake. (There’s NO reason for anyone to get their hair in a tangle about this statement. It’s a broad statement, but you know darned well it has truth to it.) You aren’t going to change those people. That’s that. Discourage your neighborhood from having rental properties. Write up a charter.

Moving on…

I think a few, simple, healthy gestures make for a cumulative, positive effect:

- Go for strolls. Don’t go for “power walks”.

- Walk your dog, and carry a bag.

- Say “Hello”. Wave. Nod. Invite people to neighborhood events.

- CREATE neighborhood events!

- Drive slowly and carefully through your neighborhood.

- Take your sunglasses off when you speak to someone.

- Have your car window down when possible.

- Offer to help. Watch over the older folks. Involve the kids.

- Wave to the kids. Look them in the eyes. Know their names like everyone else.

- Start a Civic League, establish a Neighborhood Watch, invite the kids as well.

- Start a “Welcome Wagon” program with your Civic League.

- Create a newsletter and a website.

- Have signs at the entrances to your neighborhood announcing when and where your Meetings will happen. Give folks advance notice!

- If your garden is over-producing, deliver food gifts to those nearby.

You get the idea. You probably have no larger an investment, nor a more important location in your life than your home and neighborhood. They are NOT self-maintaining machines. Think of them as you (hopefully) do your car. They REQUIRE your attention and involvement.

I hope others will add to my list of suggestions.

Ronn Ives at FUTURES Antiques

When I was growing up in the 60s in a brand new suburb of Baltimore (Wynnewood in Arbutus, for those of you in Bawlmer), almost everyone decorated their houses with a pair of ceramic cats or squirrels that looked as if they were climbing up the wall. Generally they’d be hung offset (one a little higher than the other) close to the front door. They were highly glazed, and must have been available in a variety of poses and colors because they definitely weren’t all the same. I’ve checked on eBay and have seen a few of these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180237417368&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3D), but never in a set.

I’ve always been curious if this was just a Baltimore thing, or if these were popular in other places, too.