One of my first blogs was about my neighbors–“the luck of the draw”–and how lucky we have been.
We have lived in eight different homes since we have been married. And in this last home we have stayed the longest, with the best neighbors.
So, naturally it is difficult to leave.
Sandie gave us a nice send-off dinner of her most excellent prime rib, with a handful of other trusted neighbors.
We all bought our homes about the same time, in a new housing tract, lining up to get our preferred “lot”. Janet reminded me that she had first choice, and that although she and her husband had looked at the inside corner lot, they had agreed on one up the street.
I remember that I was surprised at the time, because we were not at the top of the list, but with some drop outs, we managed to come up with the number 2 pick. I did not think the corner lot would be left–the largest and most desired of the bunch, and was pleasantly surprised to see that no. 1 (Janet in this case) had not chosen it.
Yea, so that is how we ended up in the corner pocket. And Janet talks about “the blonde” who jumped at the chance for that large lot. Yep, I did.
Those line ups for new homes–That does not seem to be happening now in the economic down-turn and so called “housing bubble burst”. But Irvine has stayed relatively popular and the prices have not dipped too much. This area is especially coveted by the Asian population, and true we did have the highest offers from Korean and Chinese. We ended up selling to a Korean family. The old Vons where I at first bought groceries is now the Korean, Zion Market.
But back to the little bit of sadness in leaving friends that your kids have grown up with for the last 12 years. My oldest was 14, my youngest was 2. Now my oldest is married with an almost 2 year old, and my two year old is the14 year old. Did you get that? Well, and three more kids in between.
My daughter has moved back here after weathering in Utah for her husband’s MBA. And now I am leaving. I am sorry my house is not paid off and I could have left her with a place to stay. But wait, better to talk them into moving North by me.
I really cannot think too much about all this, or I will be too sad. Just reading the good-bye cards leaves me weepy. In fact, I must follow the counsel of Alexander Bell,
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
I shall be thankful for the great and the good, having lived in Irvine. (Yea, I will forget the not so great and the awful).
Thank goodness for internet and cell phones, we are never too far. And having found my favorite dentist here, I will frequent Irvine twice a year for sure.
