NeighborHood

When we left our old house and moved back to Santa Barbara, I was sad to leave behind our Annual 4th of July Block Party. It occurred to me, though, that I wasn’t sad to be leaving my neighbors (even though they were perfectly lovely people), but I was sad to be leaving the excuse for a built in party every year. I love to throw parties and socialize, and it was my excuse.

I didn’t know if, coming to a new area, we’d have the opportunity for the same social gatherings. What if we didn’t have a neighborhood that supported get togethers? What if we didn’t like anyone around us? What if our neighborhood was full of fuddy duddys? WHAT IF?!

So when we found this house and it was in the same area as a few friends we already had, we were excited. We knew we’d have built in friends, and the ability to walk between houses after an evening together was a major bonus. No more designated driver status for someone! Yippee! Sadly, they are on “the other side of the tracks,” or creek as the case may be. Which is a little over a half mile away.

A Creek Runs Through It

Which is great because it’s close, but not quite close enough for cup of sugar borrowing, or early evening front yard gatherings.

But then we found out that friends of DJ’s from high school live almost right across the street (Hi Ashley!). And they have kids! And they’re social! And we like them! And our kids get along (usually)!

And the other across the street neighbors, on either side, are wonderfully kind grandparent types, both named Karen, one of whom makes the most incredible chocolate chip cookies EVER.

And last night? There was a block party! And we met the rest of the neighbors. And they were all lovely. And they have kids and pets and they like to hang out together and chat and drink lots of booze!

It’s as if it was meant to be!

We have found our place.

And we’re going to like it here.