So, after the situation on Tuesday, I wrote to the president of our HOA. I just wanted to touch base and express my concern that our street is such a hazard. Really, I just wanted to take the opportunity to get involve a little in my community. Our subdivision desperately needs some “community feel” and for residents to take some ownership of, and pride in, their community. I always have big thoughts and then, be it my strange work schedule or commitments to my family or fear that nobody will follow me, I always sort of back off. This time I went ahead and connected with somebody who could help. The response was fine, just a “thanks for writing. you’re absolutely right, something needs to change”. But there were no solutions, no action. I thought that maybe I’d try to get the people on my street together (an idea I’ve been toying with)…..you know, sometime.
Today I checked my email and I had a message from the HOA president. It said (basically) “I’ve been thinking about your email and your offer to help, and I was wondering if you might consider being Street Captain…..”
Street Captains are a concept they introduce last year to get each part of our giant subdivision to have some community spirit. I think her offer to me came from my mention that I’d like to get everyone together to meet, get a dialog going and come up with some ideas about how to slow down traffic. I guess I can see the connection.
So, after a little thinking (I know it’s going to come with some drama), I decided to go ahead and give it a try. After six years living on this street, I’ll finally have a legitimate reason to knock on my neighbors’ doors and introduce myself. And, quite frankly, I’m ready to get people together to do something other than complain. So, I’m offically a Street Captain. How very suburban of me.
I have to admit…I’m a tiny bit drunk with power.
Simplyjess 