September 2, 2011 ~ Day 267 Neighborhood

You know you live in the right neighborhood when...

• you take your children to get their "back to school" haircuts, forget your stroller in front of the hair salon (driving blithely away to run other errands) and return FOUR HOURS LATER to find it still sitting *exactly* where you left it in the middle of the sidewalk with all of your belongings still sitting untouched, neatly organized in its pockets and undercarriage. Nice!
• you bring your four year old to soccer practice and end up sitting next to a fabulous mother of three from France, whose son befriends your child instantly, and who generously allows you to practice the rusty high school French you haven't used in nearly two decades as you swap parenting stories with her. Yay!
• the dance studio just a few blocks away from your home appreciates your six year old child's efforts enough to offer him sizeable dance scholarship!
• you leave it up to "Fate" to determine which 1st grade teacher that same child will have at his local elementary school, rather than making requests or writing letters... and discover to your wonderment and delight that he's randomly been selected to learn from the "best teacher in the school" (as per all of the other parents). Wow!
• hundreds to thousands of children descend upon the streets around your house for major holidays - especially July 4th and Halloween - because your neighborhood is known for having some of the best parades, decorations and candy anywhere in the city!
• some of the best surfing and swimming beaches in the state are within walking distance of your home
• you find yourself counting the days until you can meet up with the scores of local mothers at your twice monthly church group, excited to learn and laugh and cry and share and flourish among your supportive new friends
• suddenly you have many local babysitters eager to care for your children so you can go on dates or get more work done!
• you feel strong enough to work again, and happily there is plenty of opportunity locally to expand your career when you are ready :-)
• people comment on how much better you seem and your blood tests begin to show a lot of improvement each month
• you overhear your husband telling his friends on the telephone how much he loves your new house and neighborhood, and how it's been a great move for your family
• you genuinely look forward to coming home every day
• you find yourself walking through the neighborhood dazzled by its beauty... and feeling confident that you'll still be walking the same streets (just as dazzled!) in forty years or so
• you never feel lonely in your house, even when you are alone
• you go to sleep with a smile on your face nearly every night and always awaken feeling lucky and happy to be here.