"As our cities have developed, they've built sometimes small villages or communities that were in place. And we've taken for granted all of that child care, the neighbourliness, the help that you get from people nearby"

Susan Oliver's quote highlights the improvement urban development has actually brought upon social characteristics within neighborhoods. At its core, the statement reviews how contemporary urbanization, with its sprawling cities, has actually overshadowed the intrinsic worth of smaller sized, tightly-knit neighborhoods that traditionally offered a robust support group.

Oliver starts by acknowledging the advancement of cities, which often involves overtaking or covering pre-existing small towns or communities. These smaller sized entities were not simply geographical areas but lively social environments. The heart of these neighborhoods depended on their shared, synergistic presence, where the lives of its homeowners were intertwined. As cities expand, they inadvertently compromise these intimate social materials, focusing on facilities and financial development over neighborhood cohesion.

The quote regrets the loss of "childcare, the neighbourliness, the assistance that you obtain from people nearby". Historically, such communal living meant that child-rearing was not entirely a parental obligation but a cumulative effort, often summarized in the stating, "It takes a town to raise a child". Neighbourliness involved more than proximity; it promoted a culture of mutual assistance, where individuals readily provided and got assistance, be it through shared tasks, psychological support, or emergency aid.

Oliver suggests that in our pursuit of modern cities, we have actually taken these common advantages for approved. The implicit warning here is the danger of isolation despite population density. As buildings rise and populations swell, the essence of connected living can reduce, leading to a loss of neighborhood spirit as soon as considered approved.

To combat this, there's an implicit call for urban planners and locals alike to support and re-establish these neighborhood connections, ensuring that as cities grow, the values of cooperation, mutual aid, and communal caregiving remain intact. Oliver's reflection prompts a reconvergence with the principles of past towns: to appreciate and cultivate the human connections that sustain us beyond the simple constructs of city living.