Thanks to foxypar4
It’s important to make connections, to make friends, to have a support network to turn to when times are tough.
I was thinking about this just recently after a number of things happened in my life, I started thinking about my own support network. It’s a small network of people who I can rely on will be there to listen, to help, to support and occasionally kick my butt.
Living in the country has its charms and its drawbacks. Neighbours rely on each other to watch out for kids, dogs, strangers, bears, etc, but our neighbourhood is changing. People are moving away to the city as their kids get older, as they get older, and they’re being replaced with city dwellers who just think differently. Who want to be anonymous, aloof, private.
We moved here when my kids were tiny (my daughter was 2, my son born that summer), and have been here through ice-storms, earthquakes and fires. There’s always been a core group of us on the road and we’ve got used to each others rythms, routines and quirks. Someone to smile with, to share a coffee (or in my case tea) with and catch up on life. We all love to live here even though the winters bring out the usual complaints of unploughed roads and spring pot-holes, but knowing someone’s watching your house when you’re away or keeping an eye out for any problems makes you feel safe, warm and comfortable. Without that connection, when a problem arises you could be the one to suffer. Knowing your neighbours could one day save your life or your property.
As an example,: Just recently we had a major problem with our car, which left my daughter and I stuck in town and my husband and son unable to get into town to reach us and fix the problem. Our support network almost broke down: one neighbour had recently moved away, others were away on vacation or were spending time with family. Grasping at straws, we franticly weighed our options. Fortunately, I had been offered the use of a neighbours car while they were away, but had always refused this option, wanting to rely on myself and family resources, but this time I was out of options. So the decision was made, with one proviso that if we couldn’t contact them and make sure it was OK we wouldn’t use it.
However, the support network came through and my daughter and I managed to return home and leave the car at a garage to be fixed. I guess what I’m trying to say is that we all need someone to share our lives with and that means being willing to help them out too and accepting them “warts and all”, as my Nan used to say, because we never know when we’ll need help, or a shoulder to cry on, or someone to smile with.