All Neighbors in Phoenix's Moon Valley
Top Neighbors: The magic behind the mirrors
You will never have to pay to be listed as a top neighbor. Period. That important detail clarified, let's discuss how we arrive at two "top neighbors" for a given region:
Localism is a bustling collection of hyper-local communities, and the top neighbors should reflect those members who are most active. When ranking users in a given region, several factors are considered. To get your foot in the proverbial door, you need to have posted at least one "Localism" article or photo for the region.
The very best way to quickly rise to #1 is to post high-quality local content. Keeping a steady strem of incoming posts and photos will massively tilt the scales in your favor.
What doesn't count toward the top neighbor ranking? ActiveRain points and community sponsorships. The top neighbor spots will always go to the most active members in a region. We want to create a level playing field that encourages the growth of communities — talent and dedication are required to win the day.
The most adorable little guy was Samuel. I saw him from afar 'throwing rocks' much like every little boy loves to do. His Mom was resting in the shade just watching her little guy throw rocks and enjoy himself digging in the dirt. She didn't look like she was up to hiking up and probably didn't walk much but she said she wanted to 'teach him' about the desert. How cool it that! I left them to play and continued on my walk-a-bout. 
