When I arrived to Florida from Pennsylvania, I was the youngest person on my block. Now at 70, I'm the oldest. I've been retired for a handful of years, and I fill my time by looking after a dozen yards in the neighborhood - lawns, estates, whatever needs doing. People saw my place and asked if I could help with theirs.

Growing up in a family of eight outside Philadelphia, you learned to notice what needed doing and just do it. You respected your elders. You knew everyone in town, and that kept you honest. I think we're losing that sense of connection, and it matters. When neighbors know each other, when they look out for one another, and communities just feel like home.

I put out flags during holidays, hang Christmas lights, propagate plants from cuttings, help with whatever comes up. If someone needs a hand, I'm here. Everyone on this block has something in common, we all live here, and finding those connections makes this a place worth living. I retired five years ago due to illness, but I didn't stop. I'm spending time outside, still doing things I did for my community as a teenager. Taking care of this street isn't a chore or a burden. It's just being a good neighbor.