Kev Manning,
Aptos Hills, CA.
My experience has been– culturally, people with more southern (rural?) roots tend to be porch people (and employ languish-avoiding strategies), making them more outgoing, boisterous, and apt to loud outdoor partying, while feeling sorry for their quiet (near death?) neighbors; ….at the same time, people with more northern (urban?) roots tend to be cabin folks (and employ cabin-fever strategies), making them more introspective, quiet, and apt to sedate indoor gatherings, while feeling abused by their loud (obnoxious?) neighbors. To me, it’s a matter of cultural norms and not race, at all.. We simply misinterpret the intentions behind behavior different from what we became used to, when growing up …. often prompted by these differing contexts. So, living next door to each other can become a real challenge for both households – with suspicions easily manufactured and indulged. It was freeing for me to realize this when confronted with the exact situation. It made me laugh– how easily we can make the wrong assumptions and deprive ourselves of enjoying what would – otherwise be – wonderful neighbors! Which, we became … for each other. I have many happy memories of the times we, ultimately shared, together.
