Other residents are in favor of upgrading services such as electricity and cable. The old building's future remains uncertain as residents determine whether the structure is an asset to the neighborhood or an eyesore that should be razed. Some think it's better to repair and maintain the center, while other residents think the community's limited funds could be better used elsewhere. Despite the sharp differences in opinion among residents, Gunston Manor is still a neighborhood where people know one another and are always willing to lend a hand. It's not like any community anywhere else.
Neighbors get together for cleanup days and snow shoveling for the elderly.
Another of the association's responsibilities, the public beach, is where residents gather to barbecue, swim and fish during the summer. Happy hours, progressive dinners and dancing are also common social events for some people in the area, as are casual drop-bys to catch up on the latest news and gossip. Into the 1970s, Mason Neck was known for its wild biker parties, but gradually the neighborhood has been tamed by newcomers looking at Gunston Manor not as a weekend spot, but as a home. Most of the places were small cottages and fishing shacks. Mason Neck was a little on the fringe then and attracted a certain type looking for a slightly different living experience.