Who are the people in your neighborhood?

As a nine-year Pocket area dweller, I grew accustomed to having my 95831 brethren say “hello” or give a smile and a wave as our paths crossed while I was out running and they were running, walking dogs, or pushing kids in strollers. One of my Pocket “friends” sits in a folding chair in his garage and watches the activities at Garcia Bend Park as his American and USMC flags billow in the Delta Breeze. I’d worry when I didn’t see him out there, and we always exchanged pleasantries as I trotted by. I have no idea what his name is, nor he mine, but it feels like we’ve known each other forever just from our ever-so-brief exchanges.

I feel the same way about the people who work at Bel Air on Rush River Drive — it was sad to leave, as many of them have worked there the entire time I’d lived there. Everyday was like the “It’s a Small World” ride at Disneyland, complete with the line of, “There is just one moon and one shining sun, and a smile means friendship to everyone.”

Now that I’m living and running in a new ‘hood, I’m disenchanted that the people aren’t nearly as friendly.

My quick “hi” or smile and wave as I approach others is usually met with a blank stare, a sniff and scornful look, or the person averts his or her gaze while growing suddenly interested in picking burrs out of a dog’s ear. I now run mostly in the Sierra Oaks Vista neighborhood, going over into Sierra Oaks when the spirit moves me and crossing Fair Oaks Boulevard doesn’t seem terribly daunting.

I’d just assumed that everyone who did outdoorsy stuff would be friendly and polite — not like we need to compare hydration bladders or Injiji socks, but a slight attempt at politeness would be appreciated. We bike trail users are a friendly bunch, giving thumbs-up to each other or the requisite “Looking good! Way to go, runners!” So, what is it about the 95864-ish people who can’t even muster a smile or hello?

This makes me wonder what’s it like in your neck of the woods?!

10 thoughts on “Who are the people in your neighborhood?”

  1. I’ve found the “64” a tough nut to crack, too. Not nearly as friendly as Tahoe Park was. No explanations for it, but I promise to wave and smile if I see you.

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  2. Well, I’m in 95831, and people still say hi…but our lease is up soon and we’re looking. Thanks for the heads up on another ‘hood, though.

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  3. I decided to bike to work today. While on my way down Truxel Road in Natomas, a topless jogging man in his late 20s to early 30s waved and smiled as I passed by, he going north, me south. I responded by nodding my head with a smile and saying “hey”. Joggers on busy streets in Natomas are rare, and even rarer in Natomas are friendly acknowledgements from strangers (you may note that I responded to him, but I probably would’ve ignored otherwise). Maybe he and I were able to relate to the lack of people friendly trails in that area, or he is just plain friendly, reminding me that I haven’t been as much.

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  4. We Tahoe Parkers (what up 2-oh!!) are a pretty reserved bunch. It’s a small enough neighborhood that all the commercial stuff is on the edges and I think that cuts down a lot on the public encounters. The Tallac Village Donut Shop though is always hopping, with tables full of old-timers chewin the fat.

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  5. Have lived in “64′ for years in GOG (garden of the gods)and we are a friendly bunch and we love our Bel-Air but I don’t think they play Small World as backround music!

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  6. I’m a newly transplanted resident of the newer area of Elk Grove and I was astounded at a similar phenomena when I got here.

    The long walking trails through the monopoly board houses are virtually empty most times of the day and no one smiles, waves, says, “hey, go f yourself,” when the slight opportunity of passing another person on the path.

    Not to say that NO one gives a nod but I’ve had more than a few people actually cross to the other side of the street in order to avoid human contact.

    Not to mention that people stay closed up their houses so tightly I often doubt that live people actually reside in these homes. Due to strict C&R’s, cars must be kept in garages and the houses are shut down and silent most times of the day. I don’t even hear dogs going crazy at 11 pm… What kind of stuccoed craziness is that?!?

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  7. “The Country Day mom who spends her mornings with her fellow Country Day moms at Peet’s (Lyon Village location), and she is proud to report how much she loves her new BMW wagon but can’t get little Noah to eat his gluten-free muslix.”

    or was it…

    “The Country Day moms and stay-at-home-non-moms at Peet’s are especially caustic and condiment-counter-hoggy to such hard-working folks.”

    Perhaps we 95864’ers have read too many of your postings/comments referring to us as “Country Day Moms” as if that is a bad thing? I find it amusing that the people you so clearly “dissed” before are the same people you are expecting to befriend you now.

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  8. Actually, it’s just two of the regular moms at Peet’s who speak about Country Day quite frequently for all to hear, not everyone in the 95864 — didn’t mean to lump everyone in the ZIP into this category. It wasn’t meant as a stereotype, but in fact a direct reference to two specific people.

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  9. I think the more important point 95864er highlights is that The Rag’s popularity in 95864 has reached the point where you’re actually getting recognized *and* snubbed! Way to go RG!!

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  10. I grew up in the 95864. The Arden Hills/Arden Park Moms are nothing more than board out of their minds. It’s not that they aren’t friendly, they simply cashed out for the easy life early and now that they have their Coach Bag and diamond tennis bracelet they have nothing more to say or do. These mom’s will argue that they do hard work staying at home or working part time while taking care of the kids. Most of them have nanny’s, country clubs, housekeepers and so on to aide in their oh so difficult task of vacumming during the 6 hours their children are off at school. Right… I have close friends and family members in this situation and I love them because they will straight up admit that they have the best situation in the world – and are COASTING while so many are barely getting by. I am generalizing rather harshly because as I mentioned, I’m from here. These are my friends moms, my neighbors, people I’ve known my whole life. They have redeeming qualities, but for the most part, they are empty, and unless there is a clear reason they should be smiling at you, it isn’t going to happen. Either join up with the modern day stepfords or run for your life!

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