Over the past few weeks, I've logged quite a few miles walking around our neighborhood and other local spots. [What can I say, to walk over 20 miles in one weekend, you have to cover A LOT of ground!] Through all the walking, I've gotten a really good feel of the neighborhood and surrounding areas and I'm even more in love with it now than I was when we first moved in, which I didn't think possible. It's a quiet, pretty, diverse little area that I'm enamored with. Everyone is so friendly. They appear to take care of their houses and their yards. They're respectful of the area. All things that give a neighborhood a real sense of community.
Having grown up in a very diverse middle-class neighborhood in the Bay Area, I love that we purchased a home in a similar type of community. I think it helped to make me the person I am today and, while the jury is still out on whether we want kids, I can say that if we ever have them, I would love raising them in this neighborhood.
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When I'm out and about, I tend to be a friendly walker. I say "Good Morning" to people, I smile at dogs and babies alike. I love admiring pretty houses or gorgeous landscaping. All good things. However, what I don't like is when I walk by a house with a dog and the gate is open and the dog comes barreling at me barking and snapping it's teeth, while the owner stands there meekly calling it back. !!! Yes, it was a small dog, but it was still really scary, especially when it came within centimeters of my achilles. It didn't bite me, but it totally freaked me out. I was too shocked and scared to say (or shout) anything, but I gave the owner one hell of a stink eye. She apologized, but I was still beyond angry. Dude, get a leash or keep your gate shut!
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Books on tape are the greatest thing evah for making the time pass quickly. I've already listened to Twilight and Harry Potter Book 1 and I'm working on New Moon right now. I check them out from the library (which is easily walkable from our house), throw it onto my ipod and I'm off. Love it!
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After trying out a waistpack and remembering that they don't really work for me, I picked up a small camelbak backpack this weekend instead. So great! It's small enough so as not to be too cumbersome on long walks, but there is still enough space to carry the essentials I'll need for the 3 day event itself. It would also make a great day hike bag for anyone looking for one.
And thanks to REI's 100% guarantee, I can return the waistpack and get a full refund. Yay!
heart rei.
ReplyDeletelove that you're getting to know your neighborhood on foot. rare for us southern californians.
Me no like small dogs.
ReplyDeleteWould've been tempted to kick....
I'm glad to hear you're liking your new neighborhood! I also grew up in a diverse, close-knit Bay Area neighborhood (a cul-de-sac where we kids could play in the street...hello, American Dream!) and find myself coming back to that kind of lifestyle as my ideal for the future. For the moment I'm enjoying city life, but I definitely see us in an area like what you're describing once we decide to "settle down".
ReplyDeleteAnd that dog owner sounds like an idiot. I say that as the owner of a very friendly dog who likes to bound up to anyone and everyone - I may like it, but I realize that not everyone does, so it's my responsibility to keep her from bothering others!
sounds like a great weekend and that your training is coming along well! when's the big weekend?
ReplyDeleteI don't like any dogs that bark at me or lick me :X I'm always tempted to kick my neighbor's stupid little dogs who always bark at my feet. One of these days . . .
ReplyDeleteI'd have been tempted to punt that little mutt right back to it's yard. Boo.
ReplyDeleteI love walking around my neighborhood, too. You can get a really good feel for the area that way. It sounds like your neighborhood is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI love that you're walking everywhere. It reminds me of last summer when I'd walk to and from the library every day, stopping at the market to pick up dinner.
ReplyDeletedon't be mad at me for giggling at the visual i got of you with a FANNY PACK. call it what you will, but that ish is STILL A FANNY PACK.
ReplyDelete