Good neighbors

Since I have been staying in Upland for the past 6 months, I have really come to enjoy the neighborhood that we are in. Everyday after school and now all day since summer has begun, all of the kids in this neighborhood go in their front yards and play together, or swim in one an others pools. I have lived in so many neighborhoods in my adult life and have never had the experience with neighbors that I am having now. The boys all play baseball in the front yard or throw a Frisbee or have races on their bikes. The girls too, join in on the racing, or sit in the avocado tree in my parents front yard and play dolls, or house or color. One of the parents, including myself pulls out the slip n slide and all of the kids spend the afternoon having a ball. The neighbors with pools, share and all of the kids swim until they can't swim anymore. Even the parents chit chat. We all sit out front and watch our kids and exchange pleasantries. We all know each others names and we all take turns having the kids in our yards. It's been such a nice change. We have lived in places where no one ever talks to anyone or waves or smiles. Kids don't play outside and you would never feel comfortable letting your kids spend time in a neighbors house because you just don't know them. Here, kids are in and out and all around and I simply love it. It's how all of the world should be!