You know, something I plan on doing when I get home is throwing a big "Back from Irak" party and invite my neighborhood over. I will show slides and tell tales, and we will eventually discuss how our little community can help each other and come together. The propensity for catastrophic action is not that great, but great enough that it should be planned for at least minimally. Plus it is a great way for folks to start socializing. I really don't know any of my neighbors back home that well, and that is a shame. These could be people I might turn to in an emergency, but I won't know if I can rely on them or not until I get to know them at least a little.

Of course, when I move out into the Thules some day, I won't have much of a community to deal with. I guess I better plan on being better prepared on my own.