There’s nothing more civilized than a front porch in the city, provided you actually sit on it. You’re not peeking apprehensively from behind the curtains. You’re not hiding in a gated community, safe from the “urban” types. You’re not all condoed up on the 23rd floor. By sitting out on your front porch, you’re announcing that you’re a member of your community, and you’re acknowledging that your community is not limited to people who look just like you or who go to the same church or who belong to the same political party. They’re everyone who comes into view as you sit on your front porch, taking in the scenery and sipping your coffee.
