I currently live in a small town twenty minutes from my hometown. Everyone knows each other here, will check on each other and call for updates, and gossip about others. Since most of the community is 40+, there are many prolonged illnesses and quick deaths at least twice a month, which takes a toll. We had a lovely gentleman who did not own his own garage pay about 25 dollars a month to use ours. He passed away from liver cancer after being diagnosed months earlier. We ended up letting his last two payments to slide because the wife was struggling.

Before that, I lived in an apartment in my hometown where the neighbors were whacky as hell. The area was known for its redneck people and drug use. One guy, who was harmless but had boundary issues, even managed to climb the patio and knock on my window while his face was pressed to the glass. Worst part? I was naked in a towel after a shower.

The guy waved and brightly said,"HEY! How are you!?"

And when I lived in a townhouse there was a lovely black couple from the state my folks lived for many years before moving to Tennessee. They were sweet, and I could talk to the husband/father all day without being bored. We mainly bonded over cars, his life as a youth, and other little things.