Being Neighborly

I have lived in my current residence coming up on 3 years in April.

The amazing conglomerate of people that reside here has found me to be nice and charming, but I don't really connect with anyone. By the large majority people here tend to be older in a very different place in their lives, or they just aren't social.

I live in a specific area where my immediate neighbors are approachable and friendly and we keep up to date on each other in the parking lot, the hallways, elevators, mailroom etc. But we don't socialize.

Now I have borrowed Ice from the couple across the hall, I have watched the kids of the couple next door one or two times and assisted the lady down the hall with her cats when they are ill. My neighbor next door is wonderful as well.

So two years ago, a woman moved in across the way. We've been friendly and somewhat social when we see each other until this year. I would say the last 4-5 months.

We know a lot of the same people. She grew up in this town and so did I ( to a point). We are the same age, but did not attend the same schools. Consequently, unless I was a regular at the public library ( which I am not - though I am an avid reader - I buy my books), our paths would not have crossed if we hadn't moved into this building.

We had exchanged phone numbers around Thanksgiving in the event of an emergency and found ourselves talking on the phone more and more frequently. We both attended a wake together as the family were friends of mine and she grew up next door ( and no we still didn't meet). She is active in the community and so am I, though ironically not as much in my own community as others....

We have a ton in common. We are the same age 3 months apart - ( I won't tell ou which one is older). We have opinions in common that are not in the mainstream either which is funny. And we tend to blurt those things out when we least expect it. It's always a trip.

We have the condo's best interests at heart and we do a lot of talking and sharing of ideas on h ow to keep the building nice and how to improve it cost - efficiently. We talk about heating, extermination, snow removal, additions of a fence, better parking, new superintendents, the new lobby ( stunning by the way - I'll try to take pictures and upload). We then select the most reasonable top three and bring those to our semi annual owners meetings.

By now you must know that I am not shy. Neither is she. librarianchic is a blast to hang out with and I really was truthfully surprised. This year I have made 3 new good friends. Out of the blew...... My Voice Twin, The "good" girl and Librarianchic.

I was the child that had the report cards come back to my mom saying "Good social skills.... sometimes too good. makes Friends easily. talks too much in class" But in more recent years I have been paring down my circle rather than enhancing it. No good reasons why, maybe dynamics change, lives go in different directions, or the universe just decided this particular relationship has served its purpose and time to move on.

So it delights me to no end to have these three women in my life in their capacitys. I have amazing fun with all of them. Laughter is so important to me. If we aren't having fun - what's the point?