A sense of community

I've never really felt a sense of belonging to a community before. Of course this could well be my own fault - a lack of confidence and willingness to take risks and push my boundaries. I have tried, and recently I have become involved with a few local groups which I enjoy.

But, feeling a sense of belonging to a particular group or fraternity does not necessarily create a 'sense of community' - 'community' encompasses people from all walks of life living in a locality, the social structure, infrastructure, services, events, culture and interests of that locality.

I envisage a 'community' to be a 'network' where everything is either loosely or tightly connected. I haven't found that here. But I have found it in the small township of Baradine where Grahame and I are planning our retirement.

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Perhaps the difference is the size of the community. It's obviously easier to become familiar with people and community structure in a small settlement where faces, names and connections amongst the community are recognisable. People seem to be willing to take the time to interact.

We made a big effort right from the beginning, introducing ourselves to people we met at shops or functions. To our amazement, townsfolk welcomed us with genuineness - they literally opened their doors and hearts to us.

It's such a positive and uplifting experience to feel included - neighbours, shop owners, business operators, service providers, residents, young and old. In a world where distance communication has taken hold, it is so refreshing to have so much person-to-person interaction. Community-building takes time, but it's time very well spent. I intend to nurture this new lifestyle and become a worthy member of the wonderful community of Baradine.

This little fellow lives in my new garden.
I'm so lucky to have creatures sharing my space.
I want to share myself with my new-found community.