I agree and I should have used a different verb than "reach". "Maintain" might be more apt. Maybe I know what you mean: I feel that way when I'm driving through

I agree and I should have used a different verb than "reach". "Maintain" might be more apt. Maybe I know what you mean: I feel that way when I'm driving through my old hometown. My grandparents used to leave the keys in the door – they would never do it now! – and it felt like everyone knew each other. The passage of time was marked by seasonal celebrations like Carnival or Easter. The entire town was involved in one way or the other: some people decorated the streets, others arranged the dancing stage, others prepared sweets and pastries. We used to play a lottery-style board game for Women's Day. In the past the local priest arranged for the construction of apartment blocks: their original purpose was to provide a cheap, temporary housing for young couples. Now it's just a memory. My elementary school closed down a few years ago. The grocery store, the bakery, the dance hall, the stationery are gone. The apartment blocks have become a long-term solution for migrants and low-income residents. There have attempts to revive the community but they didn't catch on.