To the editor:
Something very interesting and exciting took place at the meeting on Sept. 25 to determine whether or not an exception would be granted to designate a house on the ridge as a tourist home.
The argument for the exception seemed to be based on the fact that, as the people in favor reminded us more than once, our homes on 135 North do not constitute a “neighborhood.”
It made me wonder: What is a neighborhood?
We know the people next door to us on either side and have become good friends with our neighbor across the highway. We mow the ditch for our neighbor to the north when she cannot be here during the summer. We all “share” the same wonderful handyman, and improve our homes so that we might enjoy our lives both inside and outside in all seasons.
We helped to watch over the elderly neighbor across the road until she passed away, and listen to the blues when our nearby musician friend is home from his travels, sitting on the front porch of his cabin.
We know several other people up and down the ridge whom we see at functions in town as well as our occasional “Ridge Runner” party. We have been preceded by a long list of inhabitants in these old weekender cabins, and when we are finished with them (We are starting 20 years here), they will be passed on to other caretakers. We are deeply concerned about preserving our little piece of Brown County history, as well as participating in community projects that are good for the welfare of the entire county.
No, a neighborhood is not just a string of houses that are linked by their proximity. It is a feeling of shared hope for the future and respect for one another and our lives.
We applaud the decision to deny tourist home status to this newcomer, not because we wish him any ill will, but because we like having a sense of permanence up here, even though life holds no guarantees. For now, it is enough just to be a neighborhood!
Jinny Thompson, State Road 135 North
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