NEIGHBORHOODS

 

Today I live in a suburb north of Boston in a community where houses are zoned on half acre lots. As a result I know only my neighbors a few houses away on my side of the street and those on the opposite side. I enjoy my backyard deck where I can drink my morning coffee in the most casual of clothes. Living in spaced out areas gives a great deal of privacy.

In comparison, when I was a youngster and living on West Fifth St. in Southie, our houses were jammed close together. Narrow alleyways provided separation and in many cases there were no spaces at all. It was a congested urban setting which still exists today. Growing up in that environment I knew not of the type of neighborhood I live in now.

The advantages as a young boy is that whenever I set foot from my house there was always a gang playing and you could just join in without an invitation. We played until our mothers called us in for dinner. I gained a lot from my interaction with the kids on the street. I recall that period as the happiest in my life. It also prepared me later in my professional career when I had to meet and deal with others.

So which lifestyle do I prefer, actually both. When you are young it’s important to have social interaction with others. It is a learning period that is essential to growing up. Without it, it becomes difficult to function in society. But now I am beyond needing that. My privacy means more to me. So yes, I can say I am pleased with both ways of living.