An original article. How refreshing. It is weird to borrow from neighbors but it can develop over time. It helps to stay in one place for a while-moving every one or two years is not conducive to developing a borrowing relationship with neighbors. I have a neighbor that asks me to watch her cats when she has to stay overnight somewhere for work and in return I borrow her stepstool/ladder from time to time. I could buy my own, but the only time I need to use it is when I need to go in to the attic maybe 6 times a year for holiday decorations that I keep up there. This neighbor also knows she can call me if she gets sick etc. to help out. I borrowed a couple cups of sugar from another neighbor on thanksgiving day (!) because I didn't want to have to run to the store again. I returned the sugar a few days later and hope that my neighbors will feel free to ask me for something sometime. It really does make you feel close to neighbors when you are helping each other out. In the case of a natural disaster, neighbors looking out for each other probably have a better chance of survival.