The actual El Guapo

When I thought of the title "Mrs. Martinson's Neighborhood," it seemed like a useful metaphor I could use to map out the different corners of my life - you know: work, kids, projects, etc.  It appealed to me because I am very much connected to circumstances and like to know how I am "situated." Part of my situation is, of course, my actual neighborhood.  Without further ado, then, I'd like to introduce you to my literal neighborhood, the one with driveways, gravel, and mailboxes.

I'm lucky to even have a neighborhood, I think.  These days, few people seem to be on a first-name basis with their neighbors; it's not like the way things used to be when if I needed a cup of sugar, or someone to watch my kids for an hour, I could stand in my house-heels on the next-door welcome mat and just ask.  I wish things were different everywhere, because wouldn't it be a relief to know you were living around people you could trust?

Here are the top four things about my neighborhood.

4. The size and location: there are only 64 houses on five little streets in our rhombus-shaped grid.  The community is gated, so even though it abuts another neighborhood to the North, we feel like our own little thing.  Also, our little neighborhood is adjacent to the community lake, with a private gate to the lake park.

3. The Facebook group: we  have a group just for our residents, so that if anyone sees something strange, or anyone's kid is selling stuff for a fundraiser, the whole block can get the heads up.

2. The parties: Our neighborhood Halloween party is coming up.  We've been twice in the almost three years we've lived here, and it's been lots of food, games, music, and meeting people.  There have also been parties for Christmas, New Year's, and Independence Day.

1. The kids: there are oodles of kids in our neighborhood, and they are so sweet.  We are at the "Can ___ come out and play?" stage of  life now, and it's blast to have all these sweet kids riding around on their bikes and scooters, asking others to join.

It's not perfect, and we are all so busy that we don't know each other, which is sad.  Of all the places I've lived, though, it's the most idyllic, and we enjoy it.

Neighborhood is a happy thing for me.