Building community in Idaho
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Saw a wonderful segment on Ask This Old House. ATOH traveled to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to do a project with a resident who hosts what he calls the Monday Night Dinner. He started it when he was new to the town and wanted to meet his new neighbors.
Jenn Nawada heads to Idaho to transform a backyard that hosts massive potluck dinner parties, accommodating 100-200 guests in a space not designed for crowds.
Episode here:
https://www.pbs.org/video/e10-idaho-backyard-makeover-ask-this-old-house-8WBhG0/
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I, when I buy my first home that is mine and mine alone, will definitely have no guests, at least, for a long time.
I live in a community.
We have communal spaced. We help each other in times of natural disasters. We have many social events. We have games. We have activities. We have a monthly food pantry. We celebrate holidays. We have a yearly community sale of furniture, clothes, kitchenware, tools, and household goods. We have swimming lessons. We have exercise classes. It's a seemingly endless list.
We even have a volunteer library.
And of course we have a monthly newsletter.
But I've never lived by myself and I'm not having anyone in my home. I'm not even getting a cat and that wouldn't be for at least six months, would only be if I decided in favor of it, and definitely only if I found the perfect (sic) one for me.
I don't know if Garbo did or didn't say I want to be alone but I'll say it. I want to be alone.
I plan to stay here at least for a few years. I'm fond of the manager and she's fond of me. We have a great working relationship and she always asks me how I'm doing. I say I'm fine.
I saw her yesterday. I was walking and she stopped her car. We talked business for less than a minute. Then she told me you have my cellphone number; call me if you need anything.
But my home will be my own sanctuary from the world. That's what I want. I've had to live with, answer to, and take care of people my whole life. I plan to have a private life based on healing myself, taking care of myself, and decompressing from stress.
"In the event of an emergency oxygen masks will drop from the ceiling. Place one on yourself first and then assist small children.'
I feel and believe there's an important lesson to be learned in this well know instruction we've all heard countless times.
