Social Capital

I've been thinking about social capital a lot over the last week. In doing some research for my 409 paper, I discovered the immense benefit of utilising social capital, not just to facilitate large-scale change and decision-making processes, but also in our everyday lives.

All this talk of community has got me thinking about my life 20 years ago living on a dead-end street in Saanich. As a seven year old, I remember being friendly with the neighbours on my street. I remember playing with all the neighbourhood children. I remember the days when my mom would ask me to go next door and ask to borrow a cup of milk so she could finish her cookies. I also remember neighbours helping neighbours with things like car repairs, mowing lawns, etc. Sharing social capital for the benefit of your neighbours/neighbourhood was everywhere.

I am trying to figure out why we don't do that today. Why not share the wealth of social capital? My parents still live in the same house and the neighbourhood is nothing like that now. There's neighbourly grudges, bitterness about barking dogs, and if you need some help with your car, you're better off paying a mechanic.

I live in an apartment now, where I make an effort to be a good neighbour. The elderly lady next door has trouble assembling her oven after she takes it apart to clean it; I happen to have the knowledge to put it back together for her. Why wouldn't I offer my services? In return for my help she bakes me cookies and delicious desserts. How often does this happen in other communities? It makes me feel more at home and happier to live where I do. That also might have to do with my full belly of homemade cookies from nextdoor.