Back in, I want to say, 2006, my fiancee and I lived in an apartment complex with nine units around a courtyard. We’d wheel the grill out, and after a couple of times, neighbours asked if they could throw something on. It was an absurdly large grill for two people, so it turned into a thing where almost every night, half of the residents were out in folding chairs, drinking beer and sharing food when it was done.

As a group, the only thing we had in common was our address. My fiancee and I were to the left of the Overton window, while another couple was that classic redneck “I don’t like dem gays, but if they ain’t hurtin’ me, I got no issue” sort. We ended up forming a bowling team that fall.

Seriously. The time when everything didn’t have to be about politics was less than 20 years ago. Hmm … wonder what changed.