For years, the State Farm Insurance motto has been, “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.”  In our increasingly transient and secluded society the value of being a good neighbor is something that seems to be disappearing.  Today I wanted to look at the value of being a good neighbor.

Our neighborhood is unique.  We live on a one-block street where many of the homes are set on large lots and have been owned by the same families for years.  We re-platted part of my parent’s land in 2006 and built a house next door to my childhood home in 2007.  Many of the people on our street have known me since I was a kid and are now watching me raise my own children.

Walking to school through the gate that our neighbor built in his fence for our daughter.

Let me give you an example about the kindness of our neighbors.  Our daughter recently started elementary school.  The school is on the next block over behind the homes of our neighbors across the street.  Without us asking, one of our neighbors put a gate in his fence so we could walk our daughter to school by simply walking down his driveway and through the gate onto school property.  This act of kindness saves us a huge amount of time every day!

This got me to thinking about the value of being a good neighbor.  Let me give you a few more examples to illustrate my point:

• It is not unusual for neighbors on the street to borrow tools, trailers, or other items from each other.  Several people have different types of trailers from enclosed utility trailers like mine to heavy-duty flatbed trailers.  I’ve lent and borrowed trailer with neighbors.  Renting a trailer could cost $50 to $100 a day so these relationships of trust have financial benefit.
• One of our neighbors down the street recently passed away.  When the neighbors find out about a death in the family they typically take up a small collection to buy flowers or make a charitable donation.  There is thoughtfulness and concern among the neighbors.
• There is a great wealth of knowledge among the neighbors.  The folks who live next door to us can fix or build just about anything.  When I get stumped on a project they can usually point me in the right direction.  My parents, who live next door to us, are known for their knowledge about antiques.  Many neighbors have asked them for pricing or help in selling an item.  I’m known for my technical skills and have fixed computer problems for several neighbors at no charge.  There are a lot of folks with knowledge and resources to share in our small neighborhood.
• There is security in knowing your neighbors.  I can’t tell you how many times over the years I have received a call from one of my immediate neighbors about something suspicious around our house.  From house sitters we forgot to tell them about to a smoky grilling session that was getting out of hand, our neighbors help keep an extra set of eyes on the things going on around our house and on our street.  With young children at home, I especially appreciate the watchful eye of our neighbors.  There is great value in the added security of being a good neighbor.
• I have also been known to make deals with neighbors.  One of our neighbors borrowed our travel trailer over the summer for a family vacation.  He runs a lawn care business and I asked him to keep our lawn in shape while we were gone for three weeks during the summer.  Being a good neighbor is a give and take relationship.

I know we live in a unique neighborhood, but I am sure we are not the only ones who have good neighbors.  Like any neighborhood there are those people who choose to keep to themselves and there are one or two homes with problematic people, but for the whole our neighbors are an amazing group of people.

When I first started writing this post I had planned to attach a cost benefit to each of these special relationships and benefits of being a good neighbor.  As I was writing that just seemed to belittle these special relationships.  Let me just say that the goodness of my neighbors has helped us save lots of money.  It would cost a pretty penny for all the pet-sitting, childcare, borrowed tools and equipment, and technical expertise from my neighbors.  Then there are special things, like the gate my neighbor built, that can’t have a price put on them.  Special relationships with neighbors and friends are truly priceless.

So what will you do?  Here in Texas we tend to hibernate in the winter and now in the summer too.  With temps still in the 100+ range, we hang out in our air conditioned ‘caves’ watching TV and surfing the internet.  Opportunities to be a good neighbor exist but you have to get out there.  Strike up a conversation while going out to get the mail or offer to lend a hand to a neighbor who looks like they could use one.  We’re not going to recreate the neighborhoods of “Leave It To Beaver” where the kids roamed freely, but we can make safe, friendly places for our families to live with people we know and trust.