Step One: The neighborhood

If nothing else, the smoky nature of our apartment prompts us to rigorously house search. That search began even before we moved here. We would drive around trying to get a feel for the differences between neighborhoods. Some of the places we drove through are mostly government projects, some are huge historical neighborhoods. One neighborhood close to our apartment is literally ALL cape cod style homes. I like to imagine that someone had a large cad-cod stapler and stapled each house down next to each other. There is almost every variety of neighborhood imaginable here.

We picked one located downtown by the church. It is a mini-historical neighborhood that few people really know about. Some homes have been updated and restored, others are completely dilapidated. There are a number of sketchy landlords who own badly kept property which they rent to people who cannot afford something better. Porch furniture has a way of disappearing in this neighborhood and sometimes even parts of the house itself (like copper drains and things that can be scrapped for money). One of our future neighbors saw someone in the early morning riding his bike down the street while carrying a toilet on his back. It is not known, however, to be violent and what violence exists there is domestic. The people attracted to this sort of place are quirky and easy-going. They have organized neighborhood "saches" (sa-shay-z) in which they go to each other's houses and have snacks and a drink or sing karaoke. One of them has actually built a little pub into his restored three-story home, which used to be a church. When he plugs in the bud-light sign, the neighbors know they are welcome to stop by. Occasionally bands play there, though it is a completely private place. All of them say without reservation that they have had more communication and friendship with their neighbors here than they did after 14 (or insert any number) years of living wherever they lived before. I think we have found a good place for community outside of the church. And if Dan or I ever write a novel, I am convinced these people may become some of the main characters.