apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I've started walking around my neighborhood in Austin for fitness and am enjoying it so much more than walks around the lake, for these reasons: I get to check out houses that are out of my price range, I meet cats and dogs and say hi, and the people I see actually smile and say hello! It's quite refreshing, saying hi to strangers (aka neighbors!).

I live in San Francisco in a building with over 100 apartments - I know some of my neighbors on the floor and others via the elevator...
...and when you don't own a car, you do walk and get used to the folks at your bus stop. I certainly don't say hello to every person on the street here in the City, tho it's nice to sometimes smile.

I live in an old school West Los Angeles neighborhood with a great sense of community. Every morning, I take my dog out for a walk and am always meeting new neighbors or greeting those I already know. Young and old alike, people are very friendly so it sets a great tone for the rest of the day.

In the South we call it "speaking to people." You would never dream of passing near anyone and not saying "Hi,," "Hello," of "Hey." We even wave from our cars. You may not know all of your neighbors personally, we're all very distracted. But you do treat each person with respect and courtesy.

I didn't use to know my neighbors... then I got a dog. There's nothing like a golden retriever puppy to encourage conversations with your neighbors! People would come out of their house just to see the puppy. I know LOTS of neighbors now.

greenish - how about 2 golden retrievers! My two are excellent conversation starters. And the little kids love them.

I guess it all depends on where you live...

I live in Manhattan and unless we're the only two people on the street, I'll rarely even acknowledge anyone I pass by. Maybe a nod and a slight smile if it's someone with a dog... In my world, saying hello to everyone I pass on the street would be nuts.

Maybe it's a girl thing but... I don't make eye contact! Being female, I have to navigate men who'll curse at me if I don't respond to their "hey, baby, how ya doin'?" because then you get the old familiar "What, you're too good to say hello, bitch!"

Personally, I don't like people invading my space... (Unless it's, "Watch out for that bus!" or "I think you dropped your scarf.")

My last comment was so negative... I wanted to add one of the best things about a neighborhood walk:

Ever notice how when you on impulse take a different turn or a different street, you always find or see something truly wonderful that you would have never seen otherwise? It's like something's calling you to go that way, just at that time...

I know what you mean about the not talking to people on the NYC streets. When I first had my interviews in NYC, the first night when I was taken to dinner, the woman told me DO NOT TALK WITH ANYONE ON THE STREET, if you need help, talk to a doorman, and if you need to go to the bathroom, go to a hotel. It was in June of 1994 when Barbara, who'd grown up in NJ, told me that.

When I lived in NYC, walking to work, I fell--SPECTACULARLY, in the bus lane on Madison Ave in the mid 40s--on the day we started bombing Iraq. I foolishly thought, "Maybe I didn't run my nylons," and three women came running to me to see if I was OK. They told me to sit down and collect myself. I was bleeding heavily from my knee, my hand and shoulder hurt from trying to break my fall. They stayed with me a bit and told me to go to the hospital. I didn't, but I am grateful for them.

When I walked into work, I looked like a wreck, but when ya fall in NYC, people will come to your aid.

It happened to one of my co-workers in Bryant Park when I was walking with her at the end of lunch. We'd just bought ice creams and she was looking at hers and a stair step showed up and grabbed her from my sightline. Three guys who saw that came running to help her. I was talking to her and all of a sudden, she wasn't there! She had a good sense of humor and didn't get hurt, but was bummed that she didn't even get to lick the ice cream. I got her a new ice cream for free from the vendor because of that!