Community Living

What ever happened to living Community style? You know, when you see and know your neighbors well, and everyone in the neighborhood has a skill that they share.  The town I grew up in was like that.  My mom was the local barber/hairstylist,  day care and chicken supplier( yes, chicken that are grown for food).  They neighbor across the street had a small tractor that he used to till up every one's garden that had one and in the winter he would plow the snow out of your driveway.  Another neighbor knew how to fix cars so he would work on your car and just charge you for the parts it took to fix it.  Everyone knowing full well that they would get services in exchange for their efforts. But that was never said or assumed.  Living there, that is just what you do because you want to and you appreciate what others do for you.  We also saw each other on a regular basis. We didn't have mailboxes on our house. We had a post office that we had to walk or drive to every day.  Everyone would hang out at the Barley Pop now and then just to shoot the breeze and play some pool.  The local kids would also go there to buy candy with their allowance.  Everyone in the town would keep their eyes on the kids and if they were in some one's apple trees that they weren't supposed to then their mom would get a call. No big deal. We all felt responsible for each other.  The kids in town would also hang out with the older folks and keep them company, play cards and listen to stories from their childhood.  It was such an easy, safe life.  .  .   .   THAT .  .  .   Is what I yearn for for my own children.