many mundane moments

Sprawltopia

I'm being serenaded by the sounds of yet another patch of grass being torn out to make way for a concrete parking pad. It's days like this that I really start to miss our old neighborhood. At least all the houses on my street are finished, so we won't have another summer of construction and the dust that comes with it. Seeing more grass torn out makes me sad because we don't have enough green around here as it is.

We were spoiled living near the university for the first few years of our marriage. We became used to mature trees arching over the streets, lush lawns and ample parks. Springs were filled with watching the baby quail that lived in our backyard and cursing the deer that ate our tulips. The only wildlife we have here is the neighbor's dog that yelps for hours when put out each night. Forget about waking up in the morning to birds singing through your window.

It's a cruel trick to let students live in such surroundings. It's a rare case to be able to afford stay there when they are ready to take the leap into home ownership. I'm definitely suffering withdrawals. That's not even considering the lack of homes with charm or character. The endless rows of stucco exteriors in our development only serve to make the contrast more stark. I don't think I'd be able to make it in a place like Phoenix or Las Vegas.

posted by Valarie @ 12:11 PM