It’s not Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood, but it’s a good one.

When we bought our house 28 years ago, we had a couple of *musts*: Valleyview Elementary School zone (a year-round school at the time), 4 bedrooms, no pool. We never noticed or thought about underground power lines (more on that later). This neighborhood was new, with spindly starter trees and little landscaping. Because it sits higher than some other neighborhoods, we could see for miles across undeveloped properties.

It’s not the fanciest neighborhood, doesn’t have gates or huge houses. It’s never been like the neighborhoods I grew up in, with kids in and out of each other’s homes. Most of us work – or did — and the kids were far enough apart in age that they were never playmates. However, it’s developed into a nice neighborhood of families, retirees, growing diversity, and full-size oak trees. I can’t say I know a lot of my neighbors, but I always wave at Dave walking his dogs, at the woman who does lunges, and at the couple who wave from their seats at the top of their driveway.

Three families in our little curve of the street have been here for more than 20 years. Interestingly, we each moved in with one toddler and now have 2 adult children, one of each gender. All our children have turned out pretty darn well.

Over the years, we’ve done all the usual neighborly things: babysitting, feeding pets, buying from each other’s children’s fundraisers, saving newspapers, and the all-inclusive “keeping an eye on things.” A couple things on the “not so usual” list: attaching a squirrel picnic table to a tree and writing the occasional fundraising letter. Hey, we have different tools and skills.

And after the most recent hurricane barreled through here, we all turned out for yard clean up. Those with chain saws and machetes attacked the big branches. Those with tarps spread them out to drag mounds of yard debris street-side. Those with rakes, shared. Beth brought out cold bottles of water and Gatorade to remind us “we’re all old and need a break.” A newer neighbor came over and introduced himself. We all laughed, and we all groaned about our aching backs. Mounds of debris now line our street.

As for those underground power lines…I wish they were in every neighborhood. We never lost power during or after the hurricane. We survived the 24 hours without cable and internet. We certainly can’t complain about the impact of this hurricane; people in other areas suffered heartbreaking losses. (This is one time that comparative suffering counts.)

I’m still sorry we don’t have sidewalks, and we can no longer see Bok Tower on a clear day. But I’m grateful we have terrific neighbors. We have different politics, different faiths, different football teams, but we are a community of neighbors who can rally for one another.