Property Lines
   Human nature sets property lines.  We don't want 
people crossing into our business.
   It's not a matter of anything nefarious or 
illegal.  It's a matter of having time and space to 
ourselves so we don't have to put up facades and 
where we can invest time in what we want and where 
what we think is important.  People crossing into 
our space interrupt our control of our private 
realm.
   The borders humanity sets up range from subtle to 
militaristic.  Crossing a border can be anything 
from provoking to helping someone in need or from 
awkward to life threatening.  Crossing a boundary 
can be a serious business and not all of us bother 
or take the chance.
    I wonder then, would civilization ever have 
evolved if some of us had not dared to cross borders 
at one time or another.  Sure we all have, but many 
of us resist and hesitate.  If a property line is 
state sanctioned, such as a surveyors mark or fence 
post, it can be a criminal offense to cross the 
line, not to mention borders of countries.  If we 
are in a room, however, with a group of people, we 
respect each others 'space' but are expected at 
times to cross over into that space and converse or 
interact.  Then again in a public setting it can be 
a disfiguring infraction to invade someone's space 
unless invited and few of us will take the risk.  
So who then was first to cross the line?  Who was 
first to reach over the fence and introduce 
themselves.  Who was first to cross the bridge and 
shake hands.
   It seems to take a certain, rare, type of 
individual who can reach across boundaries and build 
trust.  My father was such a person.  He always made 
it a point to put others ahead of himself.  He 
always seemed to take it in stride that others were 
there to say hello to, or shake their hand, or give 
them a place in line while still respecting 
boundaries with the right amount of impetus to cross 
into their space.  He easily broke down property 
lines.  All neighbors were friends.  He could easily 
strike up a conversation and developed an extended 
trust between himself and others and brought groups 
together in the same manner.
   So my question is, back in the olden days, when 
two people were walking down a road, and a stranger 
came up, who was the first to put out his hand or 
sword?  And if we didn't have the first, would there 
ever be civilization as we know it?
   
   
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