Sprinklers

I have noticed that during the times that I go out to the front yard to fix a broken sprinkler, which is about once or twice a year, either of my neighbors goes out to do some chore like get the mail or get in their car. From that small conversations have started. Simple ones, but enough to get a glimpse of their lives.

I am taking back to the times in my childhood when my grandmother Etelvina went out to her small small patch of green grass and flowers located in front of her house. She would dig out the hose and water the plants and stood there, for hours it seemed, until the job was done. At times I would notice that during the time she was out doing this chore other neighbors would come out and head to the store, get their newspaper, or get in the car. Some of them took time to start conversations; from small chats to 'chismes' the conversations appeared lively and the stories began to take shape. I am wondering if sprinklers were never invented, would our neighborly life be different today?

I am wondering if sprinklers are to blame for the lack of social interaction that used to take place between neighbors. Sure, they help us water the grass so that we can be involved doing other things, like sleep, or work, or cater to the needs of our children. But what we have given up to save time is now costing us more as a community. The regular face to face interaction with our neighbors is priceless. Facebook won't replace it. A summer neighborhood block barbeque won't substitute it. Hoses gave us more opportunities to know our neighbors than sprinklers ever will. Don't get me wrong, I am not Ted Kazynski. Nor I am making a case for getting rid of sprinklers. I am making an observation to make a point. Sometimes when you get something that you think it will save you time and money you could be given up something that you could later regret.

Now, off to fix my sprinkler.