– 50 years ago (or more) houses had front porches and no AC – so people would hang on the porch and say high to their neighbors. Then the fenced backyard patio culture took over… People now congregate in the backyard and don’t interact with their neighbors.
– kids/dogs help form bridges to the neighbors. But we don’t let our kids run loose in the neighborhood or play in front yards or the street anymore… so it takes more effort, outside activities, or school interaction for the kids to meet/forge bonds… and drag their parents into interactions with their friend’s parents.
I live in the neighborhood I grew up in. When I was a kid all the kids in the neighborhood played out front. Cars did NOT go 35 mph down our dead end street. Its dangerous for kids to play out front. But the dogs and their owners are still the glue that makes for neighborliness. I know all of the local dog walkers and chat with them. It helps that many are the parents of kids I was friends with growing up. (Advantage of buying in the same hood I grew up in.)
