11/06/08
Living in community does not mean giving up one’s privacy. Instead, we strive to offer ample opportunities for community interactions while at the same time retaining ample opportunities for privacy. It’s all about being able to choose community or privacy.
One way we maintain that balance is by designating front yards and porches as more public space and backyards as private space. For that reason, we don’t cut through each others’ yards. Please remind kids of that expectation.
The homes were also designed with that separation of public and private space in mind. The more public rooms are in the front of the house (like the kitchen) so you can easily see what’s happening out on the pathway and go interact with a passerby if you want.
When visiting someone’s home, most people have a knock and enter policy, but some neighbors prefer that you knock and wait for the door to be opened. Probably the best way to get to know who prefers which is to simply ask them. They’ll appreciate you being sensitive to their needs. Folks also differ in their comfort with neighbors entering their home when they are not there (for example, to drop off a book you borrowed or borrow an egg you need for a recipe). Again this is something that you’ll learn over time as you get to know your neighbors.
Living in community does not mean giving up one’s privacy. Instead, we strive to offer ample opportunities for community interactions while at the same time retaining ample opportunities for privacy. It’s all about being able to choose community or privacy.
One way we maintain that balance is by designating front yards and porches as more public space and backyards as private space. For that reason, we don’t cut through each others’ yards. Please remind kids of that expectation.
The homes were also designed with that separation of public and private space in mind. The more public rooms are in the front of the house (like the kitchen) so you can easily see what’s happening out on the pathway and go interact with a passerby if you want.
When visiting someone’s home, most people have a knock and enter policy, but some neighbors prefer that you knock and wait for the door to be opened. Probably the best way to get to know who prefers which is to simply ask them. They’ll appreciate you being sensitive to their needs. Folks also differ in their comfort with neighbors entering their home when they are not there (for example, to drop off a book you borrowed or borrow an egg you need for a recipe). Again this is something that you’ll learn over time as you get to know your neighbors.