John

I would have to agree that too many neighborhoods are like yours. I have lived in neighborhoods where many neighbors are quite interactive with each other, like 81 Ave in Edmonton circa 1990. My current neighborhood is about half way between your example and my Edmonton example. I can have some friendly outdoor chit-chat with about half my neighbors, but we are not social enough to be in each other’s kitchens. So there are many shades of grey in how functional neighborhoods are.

I have been working on the TDG for 23 years. In recent years, I have been hearing the words “tribe” and “tribalism” a lot. I think we are finding more comfort in our tribes, which includes preferred political ideology a lot. If this trend continues, we soon won’t give a damn about anyone outside our circle.

I am not a believer in the Deep State. But if there is one, it should be overjoyed that your neighborhood is not functioning very well. Your neighborhood just might be a successful social engineering experiment on their part.

I am hoping that the TDG helps break that distance between neighbors down. All I can say for your particular neighborhood is to make the offer. If you get two people out 20 to attend your first meeting, I would consider that a success. If there is no sustaining drive, then try again next year. And I can see a successful TDG outside your neighborhood being the actual impetus to get things started in your own neighborhood, but that is for the future. But for now, all one can do is try.

In my book, I have recognized that there might not be enough TDG interest in many neighborhoods. But there might be enough interest at the district level to find 5 to 10 people to start building the TDG at this higher level, then work down to the neighborhoods later. It all has to start somewhere.