Community-a word that evokes happy gatherings of people at parks or working together to clean up the town. When we moved, over a year ago, my husband quickly became a volunteer firefighter. We helped with fundraisers and such. It is great to be a member of a community. I have always lived in big cities and this has never been an option for me.
What I have learned is that some communities are more accepting than others to new blood. My hyper-local community accepted us with open arms, whereas, an attempt to get involved in a larger area made me feel like an outcast. Not to say everyone was closed off, but there is an obvious close-knit clique who aren’t as friendly. I am assuming you have to be born into it or give blood to join. That’s fine. I met some nice people and will stick with that.
It’s amazing to me that one would not want to embrace new people who are coming in: offering to lighten your load, wanting to help and being fresh and full of ideas and energy. Letting them take up the mantle for a bit would make life easier and make the work lighter for all.
That said, I will take it for what it has been: a learning experience. Any lesson in life is worth learning even if it is seeing what some people think the meaning of community really is!
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