Around here, people have a bit of celebrity in them because you probably already know a bit about them prior to meeting them. You may have heard stories about them, or just know them through mutual friends talking about them (not necessarily bad stories, or bad talk -- quite the opposite), then one day you finally shake hands, and you say, "So you are Kurt. Nice to see you, finally."
Just today, I was talking to a guy who lives in Tallahassee. We discovered that he owns the lot next to my house. So, yes, I consider everyone my neighbor, even if they live in a distant place. I have lived, and traveled all over the country, and feel like most of America is my backyard.
I guarantee you that I have seen Kurt and that he has seen me, probably often, but I could not pick him out of a line-up of two people.
I've never met Old Timer either, but I know where the pink house is located and I met his nieces long ago.
Being raised in a small town, I know there are both benefits and detriments to small town living. The bad parts stem from the fact that everyone knows everything about each other. So, I guess I enjoy a little bit of wonder. Today, we are hungry for the knowledge of everything. I like to balance that by using my imagination.