I was rushing out to work on Friday morning and I saw the garish real estate sign on my neighbour's front lawn. I was upset immediately.

I didn't say anything all day to the FH, and I knew he was waiting for me to say something. I finally broke the silence at 4:30pm and said "So M's moving, eh?"

I'm disappointed. I really like our neighbour, M. She's sweet, her home is beautiful and she's been an amazing neighbour. But she's moving. Like so many other people on our street, she's bought another (bigger) home. At least she's moving across town so I'll still be able to see her, but it makes me sad.

Another set of neighbours, who we consider our closest friends on our street, left 2 weeks ago. On our street, over half of the houses have changed hands...we were among the first to move to the street, and that was 2 years ago.

My FH thinks that I'm jealous because everyone is moving into bigger houses. I'm having difficulty explaining to him that I'm not upset over that, I'm more upset because I feel like we're being left behind...everyone is leaving us!

To top it off, I feel it's all of the 'good' people who are leaving....the ones who mow their lawns, and take care of their properties, the ones who will not hesitate to lend you a couple of eggs in a pinch, or watch your house when you're away for extended periods of time. Last night for example, I was trying to study, and I guess our neighbours behind us were having a Karaoke Party. I actually had to shut all the windows and doors (even the ones inside my house!), turn on the sound machine to a deafening loudness AND read outloud to be able to concentrate.

So I'm torn because I want to move and I don't want to move. I want to move so that we can be in a neighbourhood where there is stability, people who are not using their homes as 'starter' homes, but as 'long-term' homes.

I want to be around people who are more like-minded; in the sense that they are committed to a family-oriented lifestyle. (Okay, that's sort of what I meant, but I can't put my finger on it.) It's hard to explain...our old neighbours H and C, sold their home and moved nearby. We see them on occasion when we rollerblade and ride our bikes. Their street is more 'mature', people take care of the outside of their properties, they're not out drinking on their front porches on Saturday mornings (eg before 11am). I'm not 'old', but my priorities are not the same as the neighbours who are staying... our priorities are incompatible, and it's difficult.

Now I don't want to move for the obvious reasons that our home is crazy affordable (e.g. mortgage, heating/cooling/property taxes), and I can maintain it easily and still be able to work, go to school and spend time with FH and Puppy N. We'll also be able to afford the wedding we want, and take trips often.

So I'm torn.

On a brighter note, they are building more houses near us, so next spring I'll resume my hobby of walking through construction sites