Right Next Door In Bozeman

I heard someone complaining yesterday about how fast Bozeman is growing, and how it is losing it’s small town appeal. (Which I don’t agree with.) I mean it is growing, but it’s still one of the best places on the planet. I’m not a Bozeman cheerleader, I’m a guy that just got back from a week in Minneapolis. It’s easy to forget how good we have it here. When my wife and I became empty-nesters a few years back, we contemplated moving because we felt like being childless gave us the freedom to go anywhere we wanted to go. Our conclusion was that if we were having the same thoughts and lived somewhere else, we probably pick Bozeman. We laughed, and stayed.

What makes a place seem “small,” tight-knit, and close is directly related to how good of a neighbor you are, and how good the rest of your neighbors are at being good ones. Few things in life are as important as the quality of your neighbors. (Which also means you are equally important to them.) These people can end up being important parts of our lives. They are the borrow the shovel, lend a cup of sugar, watch your kids, feed your dog, take you to the hospital, help plant the tree, have a beer, watch the fireworks people that your own family might not even be a lot of the time.

Or…

They can be the biggest pain in the butts in the world. All you have to do is experience bad neighbors once, and you will appreciate good ones forever.

I am lucky enough to have fantastic neighbors. I hope they feel the same way about my wife and I. Being good neighbors is a simple little thing to do, but is the essential ingredient in keeping our town the special place that we love to call home.

What kind of neighbor are you? Are you the borrow the shovel, lend a cup of sugar, watch your kids, take you to the hospital, help plant a tree, have a beer, watch the fireworks people?

Or…