One way of understanding the nature of a cohesive community is as a web of relationships. People relate to each other face to face in multiple aspects of their community. They rub shoulders with each other in many ways and settings over time. Both formal and informal roles evolve, and people tend to occupy those roles for extended periods. They tend to become known by their patterned behavior.
Predictability becomes identity.
She always brings the beans to our potlucks. The web of relationships begins to form around her to create norms of expectation. On the other hand, unpredictability can also become identity. Oh, that was probably Jerry. You never know what he's going to come up with.