How Has Your American Dream Changed?

Every day, the media is full of stories about how American families, businesses and neighborhoods are adjusting to these trying times.

Our world is changing so fast, it's dizzying—national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, immigration, crime, religion, government and private enterprise fill the airwaves, and those issues all have impacts here in Southampton.

At Upper Southampton Patch, we want to be part of that conversation so we can better understand how our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities of our changing nation.

We don't think there is just one American Dream, but a multitude of dreams that a multitude of people are working toward. Looking out across our national network of Patch sites (closing in on 1,000), we see businesses holding their breath deciding whether to expand. We see college graduates returning home because they can't find jobs. We see senior citizens bringing boarders into their homes to help pay their bills.

We also see bold new volunteer efforts, inspiring stories of local businesses that succeed because they innovated, and locals who've taken these trying times as a signal to engage more, not less, in their government.

Here in Southampton, we want to know where we are. How does Southampton fit into these conversations?

Nationally, the struggling housing market makes headlines almost daily. Locally, we know many in Southampton are struggling to find ways to stave off foreclosure and make ends meet in the face of dramatic increases in property taxes.

Our "Dispatches" feature will be built on the compelling stories and snapshots we find across all of our Patch sites, but we want to hear from Southampton. Tell us what issues and what stories go to the heart of your American Dream.

So let's start the conversation. What do you think the American Dream is these days? How is it different in Southampton? You can tell us in our Comment section or if it's too big a dream for such a small space, send us an email, and we'll find a way to make your dream fit into Upper Southampton Patch.