Patio Pondering: Being a Good Neighbor

Once again, a heavy mist drifts from our pond. The air is cooling, and autumn is coming. I made this morning’s coffee extra strong to kick-start the week.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what makes a good neighbor. We’ve all heard that “good fences make good neighbors,” but what about beyond a bull-strong, hog-tight fence?

Last week, I testified before a plan commission about a proposed livestock barn. My theme was “right place,” but in the back of my mind, I kept wondering, What about being a good neighbor? This new neighbor never spoke with anyone nearby about their plans, a misstep judging by the conversations I had afterward.

This weekend, I noticed blaze orange stakes on the farmland behind our place, telltale signs of impending construction. A few phone calls later, I learned this neighbor planned two chicken houses. Like the other barns, they haven’t approached any of us about their plans.

Then I thought about my own time here, almost two decades on this farm. Have I always been a good neighbor? No, I haven’t. I’m in the middle of a feud with one neighbor that will likely never end. Instead of talking face-to-face, I vented my frustration in an anonymous video. That was a mistake, one I’ll probably carry with me for the rest of my life.

As I’ve matured, I’ve tried to be a better neighbor by doing, sharing, and caring. When there are weddings or funerals, I drive, deliver, and sit, anything to help. But I still fall short when life gets busy. Between family, school events, and farm work, I sometimes forget to slow down, stop, and show concern.

How have you been a good neighbor? And what do you do to stay one when life gets busy?

Sometimes being a good neighbor starts with something as simple as a hello, a sincere wave when passing, or rolling down the window for a quick chat.