Fitting In: A Time and a Place

People are always going on about how it's so important to get to know one's neighbours, and all that. But at the same time people are all about not talking to strangers and getting to know one another.

And also, at the same time everone seems to be going on about how good it is to out do one's neighbours, while at the same time becoming best mates so that nothing bad happens to one's house.

But seriously there is a time and a place for this kind of shit.

At the same time, no one wants to know their neigbours.

No one seems to realize that if one wants to become mates with their neighbours, then one really can't totally outshine their neighbours.

I mean, if you live in a cheaper suburb than you would like, it probably isn't wise to advertise the fact that you can afford to live better than your neighbours ... if something bad happens, your neighboursaren't probably going to go out of their way to help you.

But if you make sure that your house is up to about the same standard as the rest of your street, your neighbours are probably aren't going to help you ... because you're so snooty

There is something about being mediocre within the neighbourhood.

You don't want to be completely different on either spectrum, because that really won't lead to help (and I feel that I don't need to explain this).

If you want to feel safe in your neighbourhood, you have to be willing to talk to people, even if you feel that those people are below you. Just as long as your neighbours are happy enough to freely talk to you when they run into you in the street.

So long as your neighbours feel that you feel that you're both on the same level, they'll look out for you as best as they can ... and if you're in a dodgey area, the real bad arse of the area could be the best mate you ever made (for obvious reasons).

So when out shopping, always reply to strangers when they talk to you (unless they off you lollies, kids) and you should be fine enough in your suburb ... so long as you don't totally outshine your neighbours and make them look poor.