My Neighborhood

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees beauty..

A friend recently reminded me to never take where I live for granted. I live at the base of a 12,953 ft. mountain with a river running through my backyard. I have lived in this neighborhood for 20 years and it has barely changed in all that time. No 7-11 across the road, and not a Mcdonalds in sight.

NO STERILE COOKIE CUTTER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ME!!



I love the uniqueness of all my neighbors, we can coexist in this small spot on earth with no written rules, covenants or homeowners associations, which come with fees. A couple unwritten rules, one being.. Don't let your dog bark at night, and usually a few profanities yelled very loud at 2 am will nip this problem in the bud.

If the road needs work, someone will do it.. eventually.. The pot holes are our speed bumps. We have a bridge committee as there are 2 bridges to cross, and all the neighbors pitch in when something needs to be done. It has always worked well since we have lived here. There are pretty much the same neighbors here as when we moved in.

I know I can get caught up in the everyday stuff and forget to savor all the small things that make my neighborhood work so well. so I took a walk along the 3 dirt roads that run through here and took some pictures of things you won't see in a neighborhood that has rules and bylaws. The small unnoticeable things that at close up just make you realize there aren't many neighborhoods left that allow us to LIVE on our property... actually use the land and not just make sure it looks exactly like your neighbor on either side

I don't see any of it as junk.. only a unique quality that shows how my neighbors choose to spend their lives. It's privacy you feel living in a place where no one is concerned about how many cars you have parked in your yard and if they run, Or what color you paint the trim on your house..

All of these small things together add up to a peaceful blending of families. Everyone just goes about their own business of living life. And this is how we choose to live.

And in my neighborhood it works.