answer:I love the community in which I have, surprisingly, ended up for my golden years. Having lived in the major cities in the NE for most of my life, I moved to small-town, rural mid NE NYS in 1986, almost by accident. It has clean air, clean water, one stop light in town, no traffic jams, a diversity of population, no visible homeless people, one small movie theater ($5) and a main street where everyone knows your name. I do what I can for the local environmental, conservation and political organizations. When a cement plant tries to muscle in and wants to spew particulate matter into the air, I do my part. I volunteer actively for the Dem. party and work during local elections. I also help out with local cultural and arts-related activities. There are sharply divided views on political issues but we are all courteous to each other and gnash our teeth mainly in private. I would never discuss politics with the guy who mows my lawn or plows my driveway. I do most of my food purchases at the local coop, which sells seasonal and local fresh produce, dairy, baked goods, jams and honey, and free-range meat for those who are still eating meat. Now that I am retired and have the time and some energy left, how can I not try to help keep this community beautiful, healthy and worthy of the next generation?