Front Porches

I know most of you are thinking, what do front porches have to do with anything? A lot actually, at least with society. Do you have a front porch? When was the last time you sat on it? When was the last time you had your neighbors over?

Several things brought this thinking around. For one, I was driving around aimlessly (yes I do that) through Bozeman. I noticed that the majority of house do not have porches. Most only have steps to a front door, or at best a concrete pad out front. Seems that most houses have a nice deck out back inside the privacy fence. People want their privacy. The other occurred today. I was sitting on the porch looking at the Bridgers off to the east, and watching the cows wander around the field. As I sat there, the neighbor came riding up on the four wheeler, hopped off and came up on the porch. He has seen the smoke from the fire (I was burning the garbage). He was just checking to makes sure all was fine. We sat and talked for an hour or so.

Growing up, our house had a front porch. I can remember neighbors coming over and sitting on it with my parents. We new all the neighbors, and most of the families for several blocks. Every one said hello, or at least waved in greeting. If a neighbor needed help, they got it without asking. I see that same thing out here in the farm country. You neighbor may be a mile away, but you know who he is, and you can count on him.

It seems to me that cities and busy life do away with this. You don't trust you neighbor, and think you are too busy to get to know them. I would dare say that if you would take the time to shut off your TV, walk over, and knock on the door, you will probably find a nice person. And with time and effort, you will develop a trust and a friendship.