Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Our official welcomer, the Kare Bear of our neighborhood, stopped by today.

It was interesting.

SHE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN NICER.

She had a plate of warm, sugar-free popovers and a bag full of information related to all of the resources available locally for senior citizens: the county program that offers shut in care; the company that provides home-health medical devices; a chart to keep track of blood pressure; a map to the local hospital; stuff like that.

I enjoyed the popovers. 

She also took one look at me and Frances and gushed enthusiastically about the singles group and how great it is and how Frances and I should give it a try.

Really?  

5 years from now, the Kare Bear packet is going to look much different.  Added to it will be a listing of farmer's markets and library resources.  There might be information about local volunteer opportunities and the county political structure.  Maybe a voter registration form.   5 years from now, the Kare Bear representative will not make the quick assumption that Frances and I are appropriate for the singles group. 

Our overall development is about 20 years old, and our neighborhood has been established for 12 years or so. Moving in to an established neighborhood (as opposed to new construction) means that the original owners - say they were 60ish when they built their homes - are now in their late 70s and early 80s.   Frances and I, in addition to being a tad bit young to begin with, have bought in on the early side of of the inevitable transition from one generation of home owners to the next.

It must feel like the kids are coming back home to roost.

As that transition occurs, as leadership and decision making shifts to a new generation, there will be a new spin on everything.  Some of that will be good - improved use of technology, broader outreach beyond his gated community,  a wider net of social norms and understanding.

The piece I wonder about - the challenge that I see in this transition - is the massive volunteer structure that supports this community.  Will younger people take the time to be a Kare Bear volunteer, or lead a club, or serve on the Home Owners Association?  The original residents did a very good job of building a robust and vibrant community here, or I would not have moved in; active residents are a huge selling point.

But engaged communities full of people who know and care about each other don't just happen.   From my vantage point, my generation really did not excel at community service - we were too busy building careers while raising families and attempting to maintain our sanity.  We've got huge talents and fabulous experience. And at some point - relatively soon - if we want to continue to enjoy this structured and active lifestyle, we are going to have to stand up and contribute to this place and these people that we have chosen to call home and hope to call friends.