Yesterday I wandered out front and ended up talking with some neighbors for an hour or so. As I walked out I had a head full of publishing/writing concerns and the knowledge that Howard had been nominated for a Hugo. But within minutes of starting the conversation I realized that my head was full of things which had no relevance at all to my neighbors. Their days do not include contracts or printers or shipping. Instead the conversation revolved around community affairs in our neighborhood; concerns about a neighbor who is having a rough time; discussion of things at the school where all our kids attend; that sort of thing. It would be very easy for me to develop a feeling of alienation. There is this whole huge section of my life that is outside my neighbors’ experience. Instead the conversation was refreshing and good. Such conversations bring me back to ground and remind me that there is a community here that needs my attention just as much as the communities online.
My attention is so fractured these days. I do not pay as much attention to local things as I used to. These wonderful neighbors of mine are why I don’t have to. You see I know that they are all paying attention. I trust them to keep tabs on the school and the neighborhood. This frees me to put much of my attention elsewhere. However like any good community member, I also need to take time to come back and really contribute. After talking with these women I have an idea of where my contributions are needed most. Communities thrive best when there are lots of people paying attention and really devoting themselves to making the community work. Often these devoted people are the quiet ones who work behind the scenes. I used to be a person like that. Increasingly I am becoming more visible. Having visible people is also necessary. All the different people with different interests and specialties working together is what makes a community strong.