It's 110°F right now--I'm waving farewell to spring from the Valley of the Sun.
What do I do in the summertime when most anywhere else is green? I hide out in air conditioned places, that's what I do. A friend who moved here in August discovered lots of people do the same. "There isn't anyone outside in my neighborhood," she told me. "How am I supposed to meet anyone or make friends when people are holed up in their homes?"
She had a point. Bringing freshly baked cookies or bread to a new neighbor wasn't going to happen until it was oven time indoors instead of out. There would be no casual greetings while getting in or out of the car--everyone wants out of the sun and the faster the better.
In places where there are four seasons, opportunities to greet neighbors aren't few and far in between. Does a greater variety and quantity of service projects lead to a better sense of community?
Traditional winter projects can connect neighbors in many ways. Take snow removal, for example. One could grab a snow shovel (or plow) and clear off sidewalks, steps, porches, driveways, paths to mailboxes, even dig a car out from a drift, etc. Others might scrape ice and snow off a windshield, shake snow from over laden tree branches, or prevent roof damage by clearing off the tops of homes.
More winter examples: taking screens down and putting storm windows up; wrapping pipes to avoid freezing; chopping firewood; cleaning out chimneys; inspecting the furnace; providing the clothing, boots, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, etc, needed to stay as warm and dry as possible.
The prevalence of xeriscaping--great for the desert environment here-- also decreases service projects. There are fewer places here in the valley where raking the leaves or mowing the lawn would be necessary. However, palm trees need trimming, citrus fruits need gleaning, roof rats who love surplus citrus fruit need trapping, and some gardens may need tending during the short growing season. (Maybe someone out there would love a Zen garden creation in the rocks and sand?)
Living here would produce more projects connected to backyard pools, cactus removal, or air-conditioning repair. But I still don't see the area yielding a comparable number overall. Does the Metro Phoenix climate generate fewer service projects? Or did the concrete jungle's radiant heat melt a bit of my cognitive ability this afternoon?