Little Neighborhood in the Big City

(Carnegie Library in my neighborhood)

Today I'm linking up with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Prompt #3: Write about neighbors.

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I live in an older, tree-lined neighborhood in the middle of a large urban area. Even though over 2 million people live in the greater Twin Cities area, our little neighborhood feels a lot like a small town.

I can literally walk to the elementary school, the junior high school, my church, the library, the post office, a bookstore, shops, restaurants, and even my doctor.

(Neighborhood Bookstore)

I feel very lucky.

It's a good thing we bought our house 16 years ago. Lots of people want to live here and the housing prices have gone way up.

But I can understand why people want to live here.

I say "Hi" to people I know every time I walk down the street.

My daughter and husband say, "You know everyone!"

I don't know everyone, but I sure know a lot of people here. I know many parents with kids who attend school with my daughter. Also, I've been working at the bookstore for nearly 4 years. You meet a lot of people at a bookstore.

Plus, I grew up here.

Yes, my childhood home is one street over. One of my best friends growing up lives down the street in her grandmother's old house. I went to elementary school here. The same school my daughter attended.

It's kinda weird and lots of wonderful.

But, I didn't always live here. In fact, in fourth grade we moved to another state.

It wasn't until I was an adult that I moved back. So did my brother. He now lives about 1 mile from me and our families see each other a lot.

So for me, living here is like coming home.

I feel very, very lucky to live in this neighborhood and have these neighbors.

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

(Except maybe a free mansion in Hawaii.)