Neighbors All Around

I've met some of the neighbors now. There is Handy Andy the perfectionist across the street, whose hobby appears to be touching up his perfect yard while wearing his perfectly pressed and perfectly creased work clothes. There is George who lives next door and whose wife keeps going to the sleep labs, but can't sleep there. George spent the morning detailing his yard and then Handy Andy came over and mowed it for him so he had to re-detail. I don't know how he felt about that, but I'm sure Andy was trying to be helpful. Then I met the guy on the other side who has been a gold miner, a fisherman, and most recently worked as a cameraman and grip out in California. He seems to have no interest in his yard, which is somewhat of a relief. I enjoyed talking to him the most. The guy behind us has two little border collies that are yappy, but brilliant and fun to watch. He likes Chauncey and that earns him all sorts of brownie points.

There are women in all these houses too, but they don't seem to come outside much, although I did talk briefly to a disembodied voice the other night as I retrieved my screwdriver from my trunk.

I'm just trying to be friendly, as I am sure they are too. I'm not looking for any best friends who live that close. I like being able to go out on my patio in the morning, drink my coffee and watch Chauncey without feeling obligated to do anything else. I don't mind a nod and a wave, but more than that seems like too much responsibility at the moment.

I just spent the better part of two years almost in isolation. I went out in my yard and saw only mountains and trees. Here I am surrounded by houses and people. There is an energy to living in the city that is interesting, but every city is different and Decatur is not Saint Louis, or San Francisco, or Denver. It is much smaller and feels like a small town to me in many respects. Not having to drive twenty miles through the mountains makes everything feel very convenient.

Someone asked if I was sad about leaving all my things behind, but I'm really not. I've always wondered if I could just up and leave it all. I liked the idea, but the reality was actually much better than I could have imagined. I have had some incredible experiences during the last ten years and it appears they aren't over yet.