[cats3]

I agree: the way houses and such are built these days (at least in Essex County, NJ, USA) there is less and less social interaction being promoted. It seems that more people hang out on their back decks rather than a front porch (if they have houses).

Personally, my father used to warn us kids not to hang out on the front porch where we could be seen by others since it "might bring property values down". I think it has something to do with going through poorer neighborhoods where people are hanging out because-lack of employment, stifling apartments, no parks/playgrounds etc.

I love to hang out and chat with my neighbors. We keep abreast of the news and help each other.
I also enjoy volunteering as I learn new skills and meet great people.

Some folks live in neighborhoods that are not safe or conducive to interaction.
Some people prefer to be quite private for a variety of reasons.
I suggest that they can volunteer in the privacy of their homes - for example, by sharing on a sote like this...(if they have a computer and are computer literate). I do have to say, that, around here, the kids are more literate than their parents at leasti n terms of computers...

I do know wealthy people who live in the kind of houses that are spread way apart and folks don't meet at home but they do meet at community events or at houses or worship where they work together...