How much are you a part of the community you live in?

I guess it depends on how you define “community”. I do community theater in my county, not my city though.

- “So, where did you move in from?”

- “Excuse me?”

- “Before you moved in here, where did you live?”

- “I didn’t move in.”

- “What?”

- “I live here my whole life. I’ve never moved in from anywhere.”

- “Really? I thought you moved in from somewhere, I’ve never seen you in the village before”.

I’m that included in the community.

I occasionally send blistering letters to the editor section of the local paper.

Do you volunteer in the community?
– No, not currently.

Do you attend a religious institution?
– No. I’ve considered attending a UU service just for the experience, but haven’t done it yet. I tried the local Humanist organization, but didn’t have much in common with the other members.

Do you help your neighbors?
– I mean, yeah, I’ll lend them my jumper cables or something, sure, but we’ve learned our lesson with larger favors.

Do you go to the library, town concerts, etc.?
– We frequent the library and attend events within our niche interests.

Do you shop in the community?
– Well, yeah.

Have you ever run for political office in your community?
– No. I considered applying for a seat on the Democratic party advisory committee in my county, but a condition of accepting the seat was guaranteeing support of and voting for any party member on the ballot. Since I’m a Democrat-of-convenience, that requirement didn’t sit well with me.

Do you know your local politicians?
-not personally.

I shop in town, but that’s it.

I’m trying to get more involved. We have community centers and this weekend is a HUGE flea market to benefit the maintenance of the buildings. They’re getting a bit old, especially the large hall the flea market will be in. I always frequent to flea market and run in the neighbours and say hi. I live in a small village now and it’s much more friendly than the ‘big’ city of Trondheim.

I don’t think I’m allowed to run for office because I’m not a citizen.
I don’t know the local politicians, but I have met the mayor of Trondheim and she’s really nice. She supported my step son for his little art gallery opening he did.

I shop sometimes in the neighbouring villages, but not at the local hardware store. I tried, but their prices were just out in cray-cray land.

The local welfare committee is meeting in about a week and I’ve been meaning to get involved with that. They open up a little cabin along a trail in the woods here and serve coffee and waffles for people hiking the trails. There is a small community house that is rented out for parties and functions and then there is a big old hall down by the beach and then the beach itself so they need volunteers to help out with cleaning and gardening and serving in the kitchens when it’s hired out. I think it will a good way to network. I want to sell my idea of holding crafting workshops in one of the community halls. (both are THANKFULLY walking distance from my house.) The welfare community is very local. It is literally just run by folks who live in the subdivision closest here to the beach. I guess we feel so lucky, we feel a responsibility to make the area welcoming and attractive to visitors. Fair enough.

If anyone is curious about the area I’m talking about and the facilities we are lucky to have here, here are some links.
The ‘Messe’ building with the flea market stuff.. http://www.midtsandvel.no/images/stories/loppemarked/2013/20130420_084600.jpg

The ‘Grenda’ house closer to my house on the other side of the road. Ideal for crafting workshops. http://www.midtsandvel.no/images/stories/grendahuset/grendahuset-utvendig.jpg

And the beautiful beach and park area: http://img0.custompublish.com/getfile.php/2651414.1760.uxccwudfbq/600x0/5514037_2651414.png

Other than shopping at nearby stores, not at all. I’m friendly with my neighbors in a “Hey neighbor” kind of way. We’re very much commuters.

We are involved in our daughter’s school community. I am involved in the community where I went to grad school.

Where I live though? You could pick up my house and move it to any surrounding town and I wouldn’t care.

Not at all.

Do you volunteer in the community? Sometimes. There are two events that I volunteer for, Bluegrass and a new Kansas event.

Do you attend a religious institution? No.

Do you help your neighbors? If they need it. And they were all here the instant our chimney caught on fire about 8 years ago! I was sitting on the couch, my back to the window, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a big black guy vault onto our porch railing and on to our roof. I ran outside and all the neighbors were there, turning on hoses and stuff.
Other than that we don’t mix much.

Do you go to the library, town concerts, etc.? I love the library, but haven’t been in years. They have all kinds of stuff going on all week during Bluegrass. Corner concerts, bar b ques. We go to those.
We also go to the auction quite a bit.

Do you shop in the community? Yes and at locally owned businesses when I can afford it.

Have you ever run for political office in your community? No.

Do you know your local politicians? I know Ed Trimmer and he knows me, but we only say Hi when we happen to see each other. But I kinda think he knows everybody. He used to be a teacher at the high school.

Rick moved in with me 7 years after I moved to town. Within a month he knew 10 times as many people as I did! He’s that way. And I’m not. I’m all, LEAVE ME ALONE!!
Rick’s all, “You are my best friend!”

Yesterday I threw away a fast food takeout bag and soda cup that someone had left behind as litter in front of my gym, so I’m basically the backbone of my community.

It feels harder in a big city to be “a part of the community.” I feel like, even if I were to get involved, that I would be just one drop of water in a sea.

Since the election I’ve been going to more local activism events, and that has helped me feel more involved, although because you never see the same people twice, it’s hard to have it result in a feeling of “community” or anything of that sort. It’s something I miss a little bit about being in a smaller town.

That’s not quite true. I’ve been seeing Elizabeth Warren at many of the events I’ve attended lately. That lady never quits.

Am I a part of the community?
Maybe too much so because my family was here for generations and I grew up here and own property here, but sometimes I go out of my way to shop in other communities just so I can have a little space, anonymity and privacy.
No, I guess I’m not a big part of my community these days.

Do you volunteer in the community?

I help with the Porsche club here. I set up their Facebook Group and showed the club president how to use Facebook. I’ll be helping him plan events.

I’m hoping to have my own Zumba class soon. That would be volunteer, I wouldn’t be paid for it, and it costs me $35 a month to be an instructor.

Do you attend a religious institution? No. But, I go to the candle lighting in the community for Chanukah, and the tree lighting for Christmas.

Do you help your neighbors? Yes. Very happy to.

Do you go to the library, town concerts, etc.? Yes. I love the local performing arts here.

Do you shop in the community? Yes, but I don’t shop much. Not including groceries. If I wanted to do a big wardrobe overhaul it wouldn’t be here though. I shop here for work out clothes, comfy shoes, t-shirts, electronics.

Have you ever run for political office in your community? No, but I’ve been asked too. Politics is such a mess, and people want to know your private life. I don’t want to be so exposed, even though I’m fairly much an open book.

Do you know your local politicians? Not where I live now, but I have in the past in some towns I have lived in. Most of my life no though. Most of my life I haven’t been “involved” in politics.

Any other ways you can think of, please feel free to discuss. I’ve organized reunions for places I have worked. That’s not about the community I live in, but is about that work community/family staying connected.

There are four units in my apartment building. I have bough beer for all the other units since I am the only person old enough to buy it in the building.

Do you volunteer in the community? Yes Master Gardener volunteer for state university, acting in county.

Do you help your neighbors? Yes

Do you go to the library, town concerts, etc.? Yes

Do you shop in the community? Yes

Have you ever run for political office in your community? No

Do you know your local politicians?
Mayor knows me on first name basis (City is over 50,000 people). City council members also know me.
I know several of the Judges in the county and city from civic activities in the city.(Also know several of the members of the Sheriff’s Department and City Police Department for the same reason).

I volunteer my time at the school, help my neighbors and defend people who are unjustly persecuted. I’m supporting the accused at the moment against this slanderous article. He is a good man who cares about the community and our children. The people accusing him of wrong doing have hurt several children in the community for their own gain, including my daughter. They have messed with the wrong woman.

I must admit that I am not actively participating in community-based​ efforts. The nearest thing to this would be keeping my front yard clean, not contributing to noise pollution, and not gossiping with my neighbors.

My family and I keep to ourselves as much as possible. Life is peaceful that way.

I pretty much mind my own business, unless it involves stopping a wrong. I say hi in passing, but I don’t set out to see people. I shop at the local stores and go to the pharmacy. On my good days, I’ll shovel the walk of my neighbor. When he mows his lawn he mows this one. Me run for office? OMG excuse me while I LMFAO. One time while addressing the crowd Some woman shouted out: “Dirty Harry for President. Eastwood replied: “America is not ready for Dirty Harry.” This town, this state is not ready for the RabidWolf. Damnit, Jim, I’m an asshole, not a politician. I do watch out for the kids in the neighborhood, but only when I step out with my dogs, or to go someplace. Some people drive crazy on this street, and some ignore the STOP Sign.