Besides the fact that summer evenings are made for outdoor get-togethers, block parties are a good idea because initially, they’re wonderful ice-breakers, perfect for helping you get to know the people who live around you. Then, after the first one is successful, subsequent parties serve to forge a wonderful closeness between neighbors. And why shouldn’t we get to know (and love) our neighbors – after all, they’re the people we share our lives with! Some benefits to having a good relationship with the people on your street are ...
Safety. In a community, people look out for and protect others. Kids will be safer playing around the neighborhood because everyone helps take responsibility for their wellbeing. You can feel more secure about leaving your home unattended while you’re vacationing or on a weekend trip, because you know your neighbors will keep a keen eye on things. And you can even band together to create a Neighborhood Watch program, helping to keep crime out of your area.
Community action. When there is a sense of unity in a neighborhood, it’s much easier to get necessary changes made. Do you need speed bumps? New road signs installed? Potholes fixed? New playground equipment at the park? Mobilize your neighborhood into action and watch the positive changes that take place when everyone feels they have a stake in the community’s welfare.
Easier problem solving and dispute resolution. What if your child throws a baseball through the neighbor's garage window, or there’s a tree on their property that’s leaning precariously close to your house? Living in such close proximity to someone else, there’s a good chance that eventually you’ll have some sort of problem, whether minor or major. If you have an issue to address with your neighbors, it’s a lot easier and less awkward to do it when you actually know, and have an association with, their family. If you don’t know them, you’re more likely to get into a dispute over the issue rather than working together to solve it in a constructive way.
Convenience. Having someone close by to depend on in a pinch can be very valuable. You can call on your neighbor to give you a cup of sugar if you suddenly realize you’ve run out, rather than having to trek to the store right away. Your kids can play with their kids, and you’ll feel comfortable knowing what kind of people your children are associating with (plus, if their friends are right there in the neighborhood, they’ll tend to stay closer to home when they play, making supervision much easier). If your neighbors notice that your dog is about to pull his chain out of the ground, they can stop by and let you know. Community spirit makes it easier to network, and maybe create business opportunities.
And finally, fun! When you get to know the people in your neighborhood, you may find that many of them are quite remarkable. Perhaps you share a common interest that you weren’t previously aware of – getting to know your neighbors is a great way to find a golfing partner or a fellow scrapbooking fanatic. There is a comfortable feeling in seeing familiar faces and exchanging pleasantries on a day-to-day basis. And most importantly, if you become friends with your neighbors, your social calendar will never lack for holiday celebrations – and block parties!