What is a "Local?"

            We've heard or read that term as it's bandied about in municipal meetings, on social media and in general conversations. It seems like it is usually in a negative context like, "the locals don't want that here" or "the locals complain about everything they don't understand" or "the locals will fight any change."

            But, what is a Local?

            I've looked around hoping I might find one wearing a T-shirt with a logo on it or wearing a badge letting everybody know their status. I didn't see any.

            I looked for a clubhouse in the community that might have a sign over the door "Locals Only."  Nope – couldn't find any.

            I asked some folks, new to the community, and they told me that their neighbors were locals because they lived in their house for about a year.

            I asked some older folks and they told me that locals were born and raised in the community and attended the schools here.

            I asked even older folks who told me that locals were people whose family have lived in the community for more than three generations.  By the way, that alone says a lot about the community. 

            Then it came to me that the folks complaining most about the locals were those who recently moved into the community. Aha!  Maybe it will help my search for the definition of a local if I inquired of those who are seemingly most critical.

            So I asked the newer residents – why did you move here?  The answer was a resounding, "because I like it here."

            Well, that didn't help me in my search for the definition of a local.

            My next move was to check with Webster to look up the word.  There it was, local – belonging or related to a particular area or neighborhood, typically exclusively so.  Whoa – it's an adjective not a noun!  You know, a local is a local person. 

            It was a term that was around here long before texting on a hand-held device, and it's plethora of abbreviations, was invented.

            So, if you live in a community, you are a local person of that community.

            None of us are perfect, but if we work hard every day to earn respect and respect others; if we learn how we can make our community better and work hard to do so; and if we take our responsibilities to the community seriously and endeavor to do the best we can, we are locals.

            We might not always agree but if we reach out to our neighbors and promise to listen and weigh their opinion before making our community decisions (whatever they end up being), we can be locals.

            When folks move into the community, the first thing they have in common with their neighbors is – they live here too, and now they're all locals.

            We are all locals – how best can we grow that connection into a strong bond that resonates in the community and helps to make it better?

            It's easy to blame the locals for all the wrongs in the community.  But, have you looked in the mirror lately?

            You're a local, too.