Keller @ Large: Grateful For My Neighbors

BOSTON (CBS) - Summertime is party time, and when the weather is nice like this, it's a great chance for neighbors to connect.

Which is usually a good thing. Unless you live in the neighborhood of Freetown that was swamped by an estimated 1,000 "rowdy party-goers," as the website SouthCoast Today put it, who showed up at what had been described in advance as a "small family reunion."

The party reportedly started about 9 p.m. Saturday and didn't wind down until close to four in the morning. Allegedly there were multiple disc jockeys, seven security guards, deafening noise and the usual delightful behavior that accompanies binge drinking.

Gosh, the old family reunion sure has changed.

Hey, sometimes parties get out of control. But the Freetown police chief says when the cops asked the hosts to lower the volume, "They declined to cooperate with us. They said what happens on their property is their business….It was a party and it was damn the neighbors."

That isn't very neighborly, and we can only hope that someday soon the perps need a neighbor's help with something.

A useful life lesson awaits.

But this pitiful story also makes me grateful for my neighbors.

We are considerate with each other, and the rare issue that comes up is quickly and amicably resolved.

That's the way it should work. I'd like to think that's the way it does work most of the time.

My sympathies to those stuck living next door to the exceptions.

Listen to Jon's commentary: