The debate about whether or not living in high-rise apartment blocks is a lonely experience has two chief points of view. Some argue this is the case because of the lack of community sense. Others say this is not so and that people who live in houses lack community spirit.
I believe both statements are wrong or, in the best case, limited. Both utterances talk about the absence of neighbours’ affinity and state that it only depends on the place you live. In my case, none of the statements apply. I live in a high-rise apartment, and there is a WhatsApp group to which every building member belongs. People in the group are friendly and cosy. Every time someone needs something, e.g., candles, a tomato, etc., there is always a person willing to help. So, living in an apartment does not necessarily mean any scarcity of community spirit.
For people living in houses, the same conclusion holds. I used to live in my parent’s home in San Roque. The town is small, so everybody knows each other, and in the face of adversity, neighbours are ready to help. I remember when the hills nearby were on fire a few years ago. All the neighbours worked together to protect the houses from the fire. It was madness. Most people risked their lives to save houses whose owners were unknown. In the end, everyone was happy.
In conclusion, there is no clear connection between community sense and the place where people live. I think it has to do with people per se and their attitude to their neighbours. After all, isolation can take place no matter the place you live.