The next thing is for you to then invite them over informally when you see them. Have them sit on the porch and talk with you. They will start seeing how enjoyable that is.

The hope is, of course, that they will start sitting out on their porches in the future, too.

We did this with some success, but many have moved away from our 1/2-block street. When there are more people on our street in the future, we’ll try again.

My roommates and I spent much more time out on that porch than we ever did inside. We met hundreds of people and some of these passers-by turned into good friends. Everyone knew that they were welcome on our porch and there were many a night an impromptu party broke out simply because we had so many people stop to hang out. I have very fond memories of that house and I hope your attempt to bring the community out of their shell pays off.

I remember when I was first married we lived on a side street just to the west of the YWCA, on North Wells. My young bride and myself spent nearly every evening on the screaned in front porch. To be honest, is was our family room that we loved and enjoyed!

Many of a time, I wish I could have spent the tens of thousands of dollars it would have taken to put in all new windows and insulated the walls. Being young and starting out the money was just not there to untake such.

We have driven by the place many of times and now the front porch has been enclosed. The great porch to the neighbors and communty is now closed.