Pick 32 - Diversity

This morning I took the usual stroll around my neighborhood. As I walked, I thought about the changes this blue collar neighborhood of 230 duplex units had experienced during the nearly 31 years I have lived here. For many of the residents who had moved in when these homes were built in 1979, this would be their "starter home" They would endure life here surrounded by struggling tradesmen and service workers until they could afford that dream house.  My home was only 2 years old when I bought it from the original owner. He had made a killing in the emerging Industrial Cleaning business and he and his wife were moving to a Resort Area to open a Real Estate Management service. It would provide cleaning,  maintenance, and security services to wealthy people who owned vacation homes that they rarely visited. As far as I know, he did quite well at that and likely bought his own "vacation" home where he lived year round. His story was not unique in the 1980's and 1990's. And I am sure it was repeated many times by former residents of my neighborhood.

Part of me was sad that I had not been able to capture that same dream. But part of me was happy I did not go for it. I raised three hard-working children here. They all went to college and two of them are now married with children of their own. Thanks to a low mortgage and a professional salary, my wife was able to stay home with the kids when they needed her most. She returned to her service job as a teacher assistant when our youngest child started school. Even then it was only part time until he was old enough to be home alone. We are both retired now and our home is an empty nest. Although it is small by "dream home" standards, the 1200 square feet of living space it provides now seems too much for just the two of us. Some of our friends sold their large colonials and moved to these new 55+ communities in our area. My wife and I considered that too but when we looked at the hidden value this home now holds for us, we decided to stay here until  we are both too decrepit or too poor to take care of it. 

Part of the hidden value we have here are the neighbors on our street. We don't get into each others business as I've seen in some of the 55+ communities. There are no restrictions on how we landscape, or what color our vinyl siding must be.  We can park our cars in our driveway or on the street as long as they don't block mail delivery. Each home has its own rural-type mailbox at the end of the driveway. If you park too close to it the mailman will not deliver the mail. Some families have four cars and only three parking spaces but we work it out. No rules or police enforcement...we just work it out among ourselves. My next door neighbor has a rusty old pick-up truck with a snow plow parked in his driveway year round. It is a bit unsightly but I know from past years that when that big snowfall hits us, he will plow my drive way and clear our street parking spaces without my asking. My other neighbor has a snow blower. I don't. Two years ago when we had  a snow storm, he plowed the sidewalk for our whole block. His reason? "I just got it and wanted to give it a workout." He continued to give it the same workout the rest of that season and last year too.

The other hidden value here lies in the newest neighbors who are chasing the American Dream. Just on my block we have an Egyptian family, a Korean family, an Indian family, and an Afro-American Family. We all get along but we do not get in each others business. There is a ball field and walking trail adjacent to our neighborhood. On any Summer Sunday there is a Cricket game on the field. In
Fall the Regional Rugby match is held there, Most other times there is either a youth Soccer game or Legion Baseball game going on. If you notice the hidden value here you we realize that while we are a diverse community, we are not a divisive community.

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