FabSwingers.com forum: How connected are you to your local community?

By *he_original_polo OP Woman
over a year ago

a Primark shoebox in Leicester

When I was first asked this question my immediate thoughts were how few people I actually know to talk to on my street… probably a dozen out of close to 200 houses and that didn’t seem a lot.

But then consider the following:

When you go to the nearest pub, how many people do you know?

When you go to your local shops/high street, how many people do you know to talk to and how many people do you recognise?

Has answering those two questions changed your initial thoughts?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"When I was first asked this question my immediate thoughts were how few people I actually know to talk to on my street… probably a dozen out of close to 200 houses and that didn’t seem a lot.

But then consider the following:

When you go to the nearest pub, how many people do you know?

When you go to your local shops/high street, how many people do you know to talk to and how many people do you recognise?

Has answering those two questions changed your initial thoughts?

Hmmmm..... don't go to the nearest pub as it's a dive....

But.. at my truly-local shop, I know most of the staff by name (and unfortunately they know me too....

Lol) and I am nodding terms at least with up to a dozen of the regular customers... although I think that's probably a bit unusual these days in a non-rural area..

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

very, very few and I love it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Been living in our road for 15 months. Still haven't seen half the neighbours.

so not very

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By *ust_for_laughsCouple
over a year ago

Hinckley

Had a street party for the Jubilee and realised we didn't know half the people in our street (about 80 houses).

Know quite a few people in the local pubs, daughter works in one, we've bought up 3 daughters in the area, do quite a bit of volunteering work, my job means I meet a lot of locals.

Don't know anyone in the supermarket, unless they live in our street, or go to the pub !

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

think i know everyone but then it is a small town

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

Having recently downsized into a smaller place over here I know just about nobody where I have moved to, in fact having spent even less time in our newly refurbished place over in Spain we probably know more of the locals there....but then again the Spanish, and my Dutch and German neighbours in Tarragona are probably far friendlier and more community minded than here in the West Country.

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By *xodussxMan
over a year ago

sheffield

There is a social club not far. I go there once a month to teach the OAP ( 16 of them ) french and spanish. I got no clue what they want to do with it. It started just as a joke when one lady over heard me talking to my mum over the phone. I've been doing it now for 2 years

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By *WLondonMixMan
over a year ago

Willsden/DollisHill

I live near the center of London and have lived in my area for around 18years. Having grown up in the area I know a fair few faces, also have helped in kids clubs and also run a skateboard school during summer and when i have time off work and raising my daughter. Like to believe I am active in my local community but I have noticed over last few years there are fewer and fewer people I reconise. Naturally it isn't surprising living in London however it is still a shame

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When i lived in Dorset new everyone in the village if not by name by face.

Everyone you passed you used to say good morning to.

Here we are on nodding hello's with a few of the neighbours.

A few of the other parents at school but that's it.

Sad eh?

Different parts of the country different people

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I live on an estate close to where I grew up so I kknow a lot of people from old plus I have family very close too. I'm good friends with the daughter of the landlord of my local and have been more than friendly with the landlord of my other local

I'm very good friends with my neighbours there are 6 houses in our row and 4 of us sometimes go on holiday together. I hate the town I live in but I wouldn't change my community if that make sense?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i try not to know the people where i live

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By *WLondonMixMan
over a year ago

Willsden/DollisHill

FORTUNES ALWAYS HIDING

Sounds like you live in a very rare part of London. I guess its the cultural differences that have attributed to people in many communities in London becoming more estranged.

I'm not saying that is the only factor however I believe it is a large part of it. Which is why so many boroughs are celebrating different cultures all year round to introduced people in the communities to what's dearest to our neighbours hearts and have noticed it has brang a lot of people together.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Of the 5 other flats in my block I say hello to the family in one.

There is one neighbour that we chat too.

In the 17 months I've lived here I've been to the pub a handful of times.

There is one local couple we socialise with, but only in London and never locally.

Chat to the couple that run the local newsagent.

Suits me down to the ground!

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By *rightonsteveMan
over a year ago

Brighton - even Hove!

We know our next door neighbours both sides and opposite, other than that no-one.

Although living in Brighton for so long it easy to see friends, work colleagues and people you recognise in town including the woman with the tattoo I chatted to whom I had seen on an adult website. Good job she had a distinctive tattoo as I didn't really recognise her with her clothes on.

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By *aucy3Couple
over a year ago

glasgow

i live in a small village,i know most of the neighbors.

if i use a shop on a regular basis,i'll chat with the staff.

i dont use the local pub,though i do know most of the regulars.

we've been here a long time,so it's only natural we know a lot of people.

most of the time it's lovely,some times it's a pain in the ass.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I chat to my immediate next door neighbours from time to time, and would say hi and bye to those in the neighbourhood.

I would chat to the regular staff at my local supermarket, petrol station and pet shop.

On my walks with the dog, I would say hi and bye to the other dog owners, and may chat to a couple that work at the vets who live near me.

By nature, I am a bit of loner, and like to stay that way.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

3 and a half but I am a bit rural here. The local well I know about half but that doesn't say a lot.

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

I live in a fairly small place, only a couple of thousand. I know a fairly large number of these as i am involved in the local life and also do some voluntary work. Unsurprisingly I know everyone in my local

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By *aceytopWoman
over a year ago

from a town near you

i know everyone of my 26 neighbours,i know just about every dog walker in the area,im on first name terms with most of the shop keepers,and because of my job i know most of the Drs,nurses,paramedics,local housing officers,social groups,and local Government

i cant so much as break wind without everyone knowing it,most times its good,but there are times i wish i didnt know everyone

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By *londeCazWoman
over a year ago

Arse End of the Universe, Cumbria

"I live in a fairly small place, only a couple of thousand. I know a fairly large number of these as i am involved in the local life and also do some voluntary work. Unsurprisingly I know everyone in my local

And in your Maccy D's where you have your own chair too???

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By *londeCazWoman
over a year ago

Arse End of the Universe, Cumbria

Majority of my neighbours, damn near everyone in the boozer, all the staff at the local Co-op (including the pillock that does his running training on the beach racing the tide and has had the Inshore Rescue called out for him 3 times unnecessarily). Going to the shop for a dozen eggs can turn into an afternoon out as often stopping for a chat with any number of local yokels. I'm very involved with the local community therefore - often a pain in the arse with the twitchy curtains, but just as often a blessing as I've come to appreciate more since I've had arthritis and been struggling to get about

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

And in your Maccy D's where you have your own chair too???

It's also a high one

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm not

I have lived here six and half years.

I speak to no one other than my landlord and say 'morning' to an old man who goes to get his paper at a similar time that I leave for work.

There is a shop a few doors up that I go in maybe once a month, there are 3 pubs within 5 minutes walk and I have never once ventured into any of them in 6 and half years.

I think I have spoken to the neighbours once other than the occasional 'hello' if our paths cross.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When I was first asked this question my immediate thoughts were how few people I actually know to talk to on my street… probably a dozen out of close to 200 houses and that didn’t seem a lot.

But then consider the following:

When you go to the nearest pub, how many people do you know?

When you go to your local shops/high street, how many people do you know to talk to and how many people do you recognise?

Has answering those two questions changed your initial thoughts?

I am being cared for in my community........does that make me connected?

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