The Working Neighbourhood

Guess that's just what happens when a society is so developed, so enterprising and forward looking, so wealthy. When, after all, bare necessities are well in hand and disposable income is such that a minuscule portion of it is expended on needs, leaving a whole lot more weighing down peoples' pockets, begging to be spent.

Yes, there's always a demographic everywhere that is far less entitled and capable of providing for itself. That's why we have a good, solid welfare system that allows those unfortunates to eke out an existence-level lifestyle for themselves.

As for the others, they are in the enviable position of acquiring whatever their little hearts desire. Costly day-care for the offspring? No problem, there are ample resources available for those given to paying surrogates for parental responsibilities. Leaving the parents free to pursue other avenues of satisfaction.

And no home could be really complete without one of those ubiquitous swimming pools for two months of summer delight in our winter-heavy environment. Those of our neighbours who can afford in-ground pools simply install living green fences to hide the unappealing shape of their back-yard neighbours' above-ground pools.

Feel like spending a little time in your house, finding shade in there and a deep cool reprieve from the hot sun because you are one of the rare ones without a pool? Fling those patio doors wide open and breathe in that fresh clean air.

Or slam them shut because the neighbours are puttering about on their deck with that greasy barbecue at lunch time. Oops, too late; the house has been irredeemably invaded and will reek from that greasy odour for the remainder of the day.

There's always the option of going out to your own back deck, lolling about on the glider, your little dog beside you. You've got the day's newspapers spread out, and you're deep in the day's news. And what on earth is that ungodly racket?

Well, it's an industrial-size tractor-mower cutting the small backyard grass directly behind you, its owners having contracted out the pleasure of lawn management. In the tractor's wake is another crew of two, each with an industrial-size weed whacker.

Why it takes so long to mow and trim a middling-sized backyard is beyond your understanding, since with your own modest instruments of lawn care you've been capably able to perform those functions in a far less space of time. Life offers many conundrums.

Like the intelligence of those neighbours who persist in contracting with lawn-care companies to spray pesticides and herbicides on their lawns. These being the very people, with pets and infants who then run about on the lawns, seemingly oblivious to harmful chemical use.

Who observe you blankly when you suggest it mightn't be too healthy to allow the children and the pets to romp on the turf that has just been sprayed. Reasonable, since you took great haste to close all your open windows, lest the spray circulate within your home, let alone your outdoor spaces.

It's the grubs, they explain, they can't stand the grubs, they make a mess of their lawns. You ask them then: is it really such a reasonable trade-off, health for facade? Besides which, you have no problems with grubs and you've a healthy lawn.

And what's with these people whose exterior spaces always seem so neglected, yet they bring in contractors to rip up perfectly sound paved driveways in favour of installing costly interlock?

For that matter, how about the householders who can't bother ensuring that their exterior window woodwork is in good shape and regularly painted to protect it against the elements. When rot sets in they simply contract for replacement windows.

Those are the questions; the answers elude.