Temporary Reprieve in the Old 'Hood

We left the neighborhood in such a hurry to go say goodbye to Nathan, that we never said goodbye to our neighbors...

We are leaving Austin with a heavy heart, taking a gamble on a new community to lock in our financial future.  I loved the house (although a little small), but I loved the neighborhood more than anything.  People always complain that things aren't like the 50s anymore, but it was alive and well in our little half-moon community.  Kids ran from house to house all week, BBQs every weekend and holiday, neighbors looking out for each other in major storms and block parties.  It is such an idillic place.

But as I've said before, it was a place we could buy, but not afford if ever I lost my job.  The pandemic made me realize it was a house of cards that would too easily fall.  I'll always work, and have always made a comfortable income since I was a kid...but to be a true libertarian, free to make my own decisions independent of how it would impact my income, we needed to be completely in control of the assets that are core to us functioning (house, cars, emergency fund).  

While we are confident in our decision to move, we miss our neighborhood dearly.  Halloween was our first chance to go back to the old neighborhood and say goodbye.  It was perfect timing because all of our neighbors were out and we got to update everybody on how things were going.  

Hellen and Alisa were posted up in the driveway drinking wine and getting excited about all of the costumes, George and Tia Rosie were out with a table, AJ and Caroline were in their driveway for their second year (time flies) and Sam had a big ol' party in the driveway.  The Lindbergs had better costumes than their kids, with Lisa as a Go Go Dancer and Dave in a full Batman costume. 

After trick-or-treating, the kids went to the Lindbergs to watch a scary movie in the garage while we all drank beers and had a great time in Sam's driveway with Tejano music blaring. 

In the midst of all the craziness in our lives, it was so good to ignore it for an evening and spend time with so many friends.  I really hope we can recreate this when we land, but it's a tall order. 

That night the kids counted their candy and fought over who got more.  We all went to bed in strange beds, and I slept restlessly knowing our we would get back to our great staycation in the morning.