Community and The Neighbours

I have fanciful dreams of "living in community"; you know - it's the Christian thing to do and even the greenies think it's a good idea for the environment etc. A month or so back I posted my dream - something I'd love to do in the future. Creating community, but farming at the same time, and helping folk out toward a better future. Dear little idealistic me!

So I'm washing dishes over lunchtime, kitchen window open, and my neighbour walks by. We have a nice little bilingual chat through the window, and he goes his way.

And it strikes me:

I've been moaning about having to live in the neighbour's pockets, about hearing their every move (can tell who is going to the toilet by the weight of the footsteps...) and argument, and having them watch me when I'm out in the garden. I want a place far from the neighbours!

BUT -

If I can't live happily in a small block of 6 flats and get along well with the neighbours, what makes me think I can live in community with others and make a success of it?

I gotta stop being hypocritical and take a good hard look at how I'm living now. Get my head out the clouds of the future, and see what I'm doing NOW to create that community spirit I dream about.

Sure, two of my neighbours are fellow-gardeners and we're constanly sharing produce (and the odd freshly-made donut or sticky bun from my kitchen). One flat is standing emtpy, but I never got along with that old bird (a bit nutty). The other is occupied by FIVE folk in a one-bedroom flat above me. A married couple, the wife's kid, a student and an unknown lady we only see now and then. They're the ones that come and go at odd hours, that enjoy their music at "live" volume, and whom I don't really know or get along with.

I think I may have a bit of community service cut out for me! It's time to dig a bit deeper and practice what I love to preach on my soapbox.