Photoessay #801 - Very Best Neighborhood

My neighbors are selling their house. They've lived here a year or so longer than we have, 23 years? They raised their kids in this neighborhood, ourselves also. My next door neighbor points out that these neighbors had lived here the second longest, with him being the longest. That puts us in the #2 slot. Can we handle the recognition and the discounts, the honor??

We'll have a farewell party for them, I'm organizing it, the invitations are out. They plan to move the last week of the month whether their house sells or not. These neighbors have extensively remodeled their home, everything inside and out in beautiful shape. On a creek.

Their marine architecture business has taken off, their kids are finishing college. They purchased a home in Bend some time ago plus they'll have a condo in Ballard. All great!

It brings up for me the credo that we've lived by since we moved here in 1987.

"THIS IS THE VERY BEST NEIGHBORHOOD"

Several families had young kids (including ours) that grew up together. We fervently believed that this was the very best neighborhood. And if you believe that, it comes true. I feel I gave my kids a tremendous gift, a quiet stable neighborhood full of neighbors they could trust. If somebody needed something, a neighbor would always help. We've had July 4 and New Year's Eve parties. We had hot summer afternoon with all of the kids in a waiting pool in someone's front yard and the moms putting together a collective supper "I've got some hot dogs", one parent would say. Another would say "I've got a cantalope" Sounds like dinner to me. The kids playing together in the snow. My neighbors took care of my kids when I had babies. We did things for each other, we held together because

This is the very best neighborhood.

When a dad died, after the memorial, the neighbors started bringing over their outside chairs and tables and set up the yard. Nobody had to tell you, you just knew.

Those early July 4th parties stand out. Some of the dads would get a litttttle carried away at the Indian fireworks stands. Back when fireworks were legal. The kids LOVED it. In fact, the neighborhood kids wouldn't dream of being anywhere else but here.

My kids have sold many a box of cookies, chocolate bars, concert tickets, etc etc in this neighborhood. And I've bought from their kids. We helped each other out, modeling for our own kids.

Because

This is the very best neighborhood