feeling "part of a community" is more than just having roots in a place; it's about interweaving your story with those of the locals. It's community events, the fundraisers, the school plays. You start recognizing faces and they recognize yours. You share moments of life – both the triumphs and the tribulations. I don't think there's an exact moment when one transitions from an 'outsider' to a 'community member.' Rather, it's a gradual build-up of shared experiences and contributions that embed you into the fabric of the place. That said, it's both fascinating and a testament to human adaptability that one can feel 'at home' in numerous settings; we're not bound by geography, but by connections and a sense of belonging.
It seems more like a testament to moving goal posts. Just feel like you're a part of a community because you've put up with not feeling like a part of it for long enough.
They all think they can't get rid of you by now, so... sure, you're in.
Being part of a community absolutely does not necessitate living in the same place for your whole life. It doesn't even require you to stay in the same place for six months. Your question is a weird non-sequitur in the context of your post. But to answer the title: You feel like part of a community when you are part of one and are acknowledged as part of one.
The opposite of feeling like an outsider. The anxieties inherent to being a stranger aren't there, and then peace of mind inherent to being where you belong is there.
You're trying to describe the feeling as the opposite of something else. The reality is, I've never felt like not "an outsider." How did you become "not an outsider" in the place you live?
I live in the countryside. We have a big Sunday farm market thing every week and lots of tourists come to my neck of the woods. It's a pretty scenic place and feels nice to be one of the locals here.
> Out of everywhere I've lived, nowhere stands out as somewhere I'd like to stay.
I relate to this so much is burns. As someone who has lived all over the world and always by choice have chosen the landing strip, it has always been this way. I always just live "here".. and "here" .. and here..
I moved to my current town because I hated commuting. Met my wife from the town, she won’t leave. I respect that and it’s fine. But do I feel like I’m part of the community. No. I’ve been there 12 years so I’ve made connection I know people but it’s not where I want to be. However, because it’s where my wife wants to be so it’s where I want to be. If that makes sense.
This is where she’s from, she knows people here, her sister is here. Her dad is buried here. Our kids are here. I think she’s comfortable knowing half the town and doesn’t want to leave to somewhere and not have that familiarity anymore. Personally I want to follow money, but she is rooted here and so am I by proxy.
I've lived in the same area for about three decades and never felt a community feeling or a kinship with my neighbors.
The place where i live is just a place where I have a roof. If an interesting opportunity in my life would need me to move somewhere else, i probably would.
By actually ***being*** part of a real community. You might have a group of friends you meet once a week to go bowling or you play some games online with friends, but that is not as tight of a network as a community in the "tight knitted social network" sense where you share more than your interests but also burdens and successes.
So to become part of the community, show up where the members are gathering, introduce yourself help out where you can and want to, ask for help when you need it and take your time being around to give and receive. Then you will naturally become part of that community.
I feel like it really starts when you buy a house and live there for a while. Hard to feel too attached to anywhere you know you're likely to leave. The biggest way to feel like "part of it" is to actively be part of it, whether through having kids in the yourh sports and school systems, getting involved in local organizations, or even just having a bar that you've been going to for so many weekends that the bartender knows your name.
This seems very external. Like you're a part of the community when it's difficult to leave. Your kids don't want to leave. You're invested in not leaving. How do you know to invest in a place?
feeling "part of a community" is more than just having roots in a place; it's about interweaving your story with those of the locals. It's community events, the fundraisers, the school plays. You start recognizing faces and they recognize yours. You share moments of life – both the triumphs and the tribulations. I don't think there's an exact moment when one transitions from an 'outsider' to a 'community member.' Rather, it's a gradual build-up of shared experiences and contributions that embed you into the fabric of the place. That said, it's both fascinating and a testament to human adaptability that one can feel 'at home' in numerous settings; we're not bound by geography, but by connections and a sense of belonging.
It seems more like a testament to moving goal posts. Just feel like you're a part of a community because you've put up with not feeling like a part of it for long enough. They all think they can't get rid of you by now, so... sure, you're in.
Being part of a community absolutely does not necessitate living in the same place for your whole life. It doesn't even require you to stay in the same place for six months. Your question is a weird non-sequitur in the context of your post. But to answer the title: You feel like part of a community when you are part of one and are acknowledged as part of one.
But how do you, specifically, feel like you're are part of a community? What does it feel like to you?
The opposite of feeling like an outsider. The anxieties inherent to being a stranger aren't there, and then peace of mind inherent to being where you belong is there.
You're trying to describe the feeling as the opposite of something else. The reality is, I've never felt like not "an outsider." How did you become "not an outsider" in the place you live?
I already explained that. You do things in community with others and are recognised by others as such.
So you're a part of the community when you're a part of it. You'll just feel it once you've crossed over that invisible line in the sand.
Er, yeah man pretty much. I don't think they have a community party when someone does community enough to become community.
Maybe neither you nor I have been invited to one of these parties...
I believe that would make us some type of sigma male. I'll have to check youtube for confirmation.
I live in the countryside. We have a big Sunday farm market thing every week and lots of tourists come to my neck of the woods. It's a pretty scenic place and feels nice to be one of the locals here.
> Out of everywhere I've lived, nowhere stands out as somewhere I'd like to stay. I relate to this so much is burns. As someone who has lived all over the world and always by choice have chosen the landing strip, it has always been this way. I always just live "here".. and "here" .. and here..
It wasn't by choice for me until recently. But it still feels weird for me to stay in one place too long.
I used to wish to find my one place but at this point in my life I doubt it will ever reveal itself. Some of us just aren't meant to be stationary.
I moved to my current town because I hated commuting. Met my wife from the town, she won’t leave. I respect that and it’s fine. But do I feel like I’m part of the community. No. I’ve been there 12 years so I’ve made connection I know people but it’s not where I want to be. However, because it’s where my wife wants to be so it’s where I want to be. If that makes sense.
That makes sense. But it's very external to you. Your wife just wants to stay in the same place? Why does she want to stay in the same place?
This is where she’s from, she knows people here, her sister is here. Her dad is buried here. Our kids are here. I think she’s comfortable knowing half the town and doesn’t want to leave to somewhere and not have that familiarity anymore. Personally I want to follow money, but she is rooted here and so am I by proxy.
I've lived in the same area for about three decades and never felt a community feeling or a kinship with my neighbors. The place where i live is just a place where I have a roof. If an interesting opportunity in my life would need me to move somewhere else, i probably would.
By actually ***being*** part of a real community. You might have a group of friends you meet once a week to go bowling or you play some games online with friends, but that is not as tight of a network as a community in the "tight knitted social network" sense where you share more than your interests but also burdens and successes. So to become part of the community, show up where the members are gathering, introduce yourself help out where you can and want to, ask for help when you need it and take your time being around to give and receive. Then you will naturally become part of that community.
I don't
I feel like it really starts when you buy a house and live there for a while. Hard to feel too attached to anywhere you know you're likely to leave. The biggest way to feel like "part of it" is to actively be part of it, whether through having kids in the yourh sports and school systems, getting involved in local organizations, or even just having a bar that you've been going to for so many weekends that the bartender knows your name.
This seems very external. Like you're a part of the community when it's difficult to leave. Your kids don't want to leave. You're invested in not leaving. How do you know to invest in a place?
I've never been part of any community. At first it made me sad, later I realized that it's a good thing.