Changes in neighborhoods

Life is so different now from what it was before...that is nothing new to us. Our bushes and fences are higher to block out our neighbors. To hide from them and so they cant see what we are doing. We walk into our doors barely evening notice these people we live next to. We are afraid to even look at each other when we are on an elevator together or standing in line waiting to pay for our groceries. It is so sad and pathetic. I remember as a kid, walking by myself to the little market 6 blocks away, at the age of 6. I knew almost all the neighbors and the people employed at the market. My mother always shared tea and meals with our neighbors. They use to play cards together. We had cookouts and shared each others pools and yards. For fourth of July, the nieghbors all pitched in and bought fireworks that my stepfather set off for everyone. We gathered together. We enjoyed each other and we got along. It was fun. Why did that all change for most neighborhoods? Fear is what I think. And that is a shame that we have this fear of whether or not we could trust our neighbors because of a few greedy people. Most people, I believe, have good intentions and it is sad that we allow those few that are greedy keep us shut up hiding in our homes and behind our sunglasses.