Everything old is new again

When I was 6 years old, my grandmother walked to the neighborhood market to get some staples for the kitchen, had milk, butter and cheese delivered to the front door and was on a first name basis with her neighbors and the people who ran the local businesses. When I left CA 4 ½ years ago, the neighborhood markets were a thing of the past, home delivery didn't happen for food, unless you ordered from Safeway over the internet, and I didn't know most of my neighbors or the people who waited on me at the bank, the market, etc.

Here, I shop at a neighborhood store, Christine's, for household staples, have milk and fresh fish delivered each week to my gate and know many (not all) of the people around me. However, my staff and housemates do know all the neighbors and what is going on in the neighborhood. It is a very good way to live.