Well, nobody's home, so the computer's available!

I see our neighbor's house is up for lease. I don't know him very well, but he was very nice in the brief exchanges we've had, and it's nice at least feeling like you like your neighbors. And thinking about who might be moving in, I couldn't help but think of my online neighbors. It's quite possible you will be my neighbors for much longer than any offline neighbors the way people move around these days. At least if you move, you can take your computer with you.

When I was growing up I was lucky to have the same family with a boy my age living next door to us the whole time. And I had a church friend who I knew all through growing up and still keep in touch with from time to time. Then there were a couple friends on the same floor in college. But since I've been out of school I've not really had a close friend as my physical neighbor. The nostalgic part of me regrets that loss of connectedness. And that's all the more reason I give thanks for this online neighborhood.