I love where I live

[ailbhe]

It's just hard to remember sometimes when other people don't. I love that the library, playgrounds, swimming pool, supermarket, small local shops, train stations and bus routes are all close enough and easy enough that a nine-year-old could go out and about on her own and do stuff. I love that I can walk everywhere, not least because it means the children can walk everywhere, which gives them much more independence later on. I love that there are tons of parks and playgrounds within 5 minutes' walk and more, larger ones within 15 minutes' walk and a HUGE one less than 30 minutes' walk (but I never go there because I don't like it. Still, the children could if they wanted to). I love my house, because it's small enough that I never feel like I don't know who might be in it or where they might be. I love the garden because even if we don't look after it it's small enough to get habitable quite quickly. I love the fences because they're low enough to chat to the neighbours. I love knowing my neighbours. I love that the children have friends they can visit without an adult to help (well, not the 2-year-old). I love the farmers' market and the town-centre stuff at Christmas and summer holidays.

I just feel ashamed of it all because it's not what other people think I ought to have and do. Which is nonsense.

Comments

[rmc28]

Your home is lovely and the children being able to walk to local playgrounds is fantastic.

[lnr]

It sounds great to me!

[venta.livejournal.com]

I grew up in a town which has loads of streets of little two-up-two-down terraces. I always assumed that when I got my first job I'd buy a little terrace house like that (though of course I didn't, because by the time I was that old house prices were ridiculous. Also I was by then in Oxford, which doesn't have streets like that anyway).

But while I was still at university I was walking through my hometown with a uni friend, and thinking "Wow, one day I'll have a house like this." I was quite surprised when she suddenly said something along the lines of "Wouldn't you hate to live somewhere like this?" It seems that almost everything I found appealing about them, she hated.

People are different :) If you love where you live, that's a great thing.

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

I think where you live sounds lovely and wonderful!

The things I would change about where I live are in the process of changing to what I want - a bit of outdoor space is key I think and that should happen in the next few years as the building wants do a green roof with a deck.

I know that where I live is just Not For Some People. And where they live is Not For Me. But I love to visit, and hope they love to visit me too.

The beauty of the world is that there are so many ways to live. Finding a way and a place to live in a way that makes you feel happy? Priceless.

N.

[hfnuala.livejournal.com]

That all sounds idyllic.

[etoile-violet.livejournal.com]

I just feel ashamed of it all because it's not what other people think I ought to have and do.

Much solidarity to you. I feel shame because of what other people think, too. It's horrible when the opinions of others have such an impact on your well-being, and I do hope you can heal from that.

[clarahippy.livejournal.com]

I would *love* to have that, I really wish I could have playgrounds and libraries and parks all close by instead of costas and neros and starbucks.

[gloriap.livejournal.com]

I know it's an old aphorism, but remember that "People who mind don't matter; people who matter don't mind" how or where you live.