"Neighbors that can make or break your living space..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York

( A suburb of Buffalo, N.Y.)

 and has worked in the ophthalmology

 field of medicine for over 30 years

Neighbors that can make or 
break your living space

We have moved a few times in our married life and have been pretty fortunate to get “good” neighbors on either side of us. The definition of “good” neighbors in my book are people that are
pleasant to talk with, look out for each other when something doesn't look “right” in the area and share some thoughts and fun times during neighborhood functions such as annual garage sales.

We moved into this “young” neighborhood several years ago, actually we were the seniors then being in the age range of the 40's .

 Most couples were starting their families and were no more than 25
years old. Fortunately for us we had more mature neighbors on both sides of our home, neither were novice homeowners and were coming from previous neighborhoods.

We really lucked out 15 years ago when we built our home. We are not the kind of people who live in each others “pots” as the saying goes. We don't get involved in the “he said, she said” minutia of
people and keep it light with conversation. We have found this is the best way to keep good neighbors happy.

"The birds, chipmunks and deer are almost
 tame around us and almost stop
 to pose for a photo of which I have many."
Judith Whitehead

 

Many homes over the last 15 years have turned over owners; we started out as “wisteria lane”and many neighbors got a little too close and that turned ugly. Several homes on the street are on their third owners. Some were transferred for their jobs and careers and some by choice.

Through all the years my neighbors on either side of us have been the originals; we are the last hold outs of the street. We confer with each other off and on and reassure each other that we have no plans on moving any time soon. It gives us comfort like an old shoe, that our consistent predictable families remain the same. Sure their children have grown up in that time and moved on to start their own lives but the basic homeowners remain. We enjoy watching their children return home for visits and look in amazement how time has whizzed by – how could they have grown up so fast before our eyes. We feel the same in our minds, but don't exactly look the same. We exchange pleasantries that “we haven't changed a bit” but we know better; 15 years takes its tole somehow.

No longer do we mow our own lawn or shovel our driveways; it's too much of a workout at times and we have lost too many friends and associates having health outcomes that were unnecessary and with dismal outcomes.

Coincidentally our neighbor is also the “snow plow guy” and we get first dibs after a snowfall which is most appreciated. Each neighbor is always around to lend a hand if we need a stump chopped or a
bush trimmed; they seem to have all the tools necessary for the job.

We take in packages for each other and alert one another if we are going to travel. We have lived in this home the longest of all our other homes and have watched the area populate greatly over the years.

No longer is the main street that enters our area quiet; it has been built up with businesses and brought much more traffic into the
 area.  I guess they call that “progress”, although I am not so sure.

At least we can still come into our development and escape the traffic and madness out there. 

We spend many hours sitting out on our quiet porch in the nice weather and watch the many critters that have moved in with us as well. The birds, chipmunks and deer are almost tame around us and almost stop to pose for a photo of which I have many.

Our friends stop and pose for a photo
and say hello!

I guess there is comfort with familiarity and for now I will continue to enjoy my neighbors and take comfort in our safe haven.

"Judy, Judy, Judy!"

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