My quiet corner of the earth

When we moved three summers ago, I couldn't help but be nervous about living in a new place. What if there wasn't anyone I connected with? But I quickly realized that I didn't need to worry about such things. Over the past three years, I have been fortunate enough to know the majority of my closest neighbors on a first name basis... something I didn't even have where I had grown up my whole life.

As I walked out the door yesterday evening, hand in hand with my daughter, a cool breeze washed over us. We could hear children playing in their backyards...we waved at neighbors lounging on their porches... we strolled along our bumpy sidewalks talking about our day and the week to come. After we returned, we picked the ripe raspberries from our meager front garden and I carried the harvest to Neighbor Jenny.

We are so fortunate to live in a place where we feel at home, know our neighbors, look out for one another and have a sense of community. I can't imagine a better thing.