Front Yard Living I've been thinking a lot about front yard living. When my husband and I bought our first house 25 years ago, it was in a brand new neighborhood. It was also in a suburb which was newly growing. In our new neighborhood, we were all in the same boat, none of us knew anyone on the street, but it was to far to hangout with existing friends, therefore came front yard living.
Whoever got home from work first set up their lawn chairs in the driveway. Then as others who lived on our street returned home, we each brought our folding chair and joined them in their driveway. Sometimes we would just sit and talk. Other times we would bring a drink and a snack to share. And on the weekends we might pull out the grill. I only lived there a year before my husband got a promotion that moved us out of state. But that was a hard goodbye. I don't keep in touch with them anymore, but still know all their names. I thought all neighborhoods were like this. But our next stop in life was an established neighborhood in the city. It was much harder to get to know the neighbors, but I did take cookies to each of the neighbors and we knew each other by name. All the front yards in this neighborhood were steep hills, so there really was no place to set a lawn chair. We lived there for two years and we did get to know 2 neighbors really well, but shortly there after my husband had another work opportunity that moved us long distance again. Currently, I live in a neighborhood that has a ton of turnover. We have lived here 9 years and I know the names of 6 families on our street (16 houses on our cul de sac). Out of those 6 houses, I know one woman well because we go to the same church. I have been reading The Turquoise Table by Kristin Shell. She is a proponent of front yard living. She put a picnic table in her front yard under a shade tree and spends time out front. With this approach she has gotten to know so many of her neighbors, many who stop and talk when out walking the dog. Others who will sit and stay awhile. Since I am preparing to move again, I am considering a turquoise table. Our new home has a flat yard and a large tree in the front. It is a corner lot with a lot of drive by traffic. It is a small established neighborhood in a small East Texas town. I'm hoping to find some joy sitting with nature while I read a book, grade papers, surf the internet, or write letters (Yes, snail mail). I hope that my front yard can become a gathering place for the neighborhood. That my table can be a place of card games, conversation, support, and friendship. I don't expect all of these things to happen immediately, but I do hope I will slowly make connections with the people in my neighborhood. And if not, at least I will have created a habit for myself to relax and slow down from the busy pace I create throughout the work day.
1 Comment
3/30/2020 08:55:31 pm
What a sweet post. I love the picture you painted of your driveways with lawn chairs gathered around. How fun! My neighborhood is hilly, too, to that wouldn't work here either. But about ten years ago a couple ladies decided to start a book club and invited everyone in the neighborhood. We don't sit in the front yard, but it's been a great way to learn more about my neighbors. We meet once a month and I never miss it if I don't have to.
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