An argument for neighborhoods
Less on trend than homesteading but benefits abound
Housekeeping: As we roll into summer (and then homeschooling), I’m moving our weekly posts to Tuesday. I take Sunday Sabbath pretty seriously, so the Monday deadline hasn’t been working so well. Expect posts on Tuesdays now! Also, I’m working on a series on spiritual warfare. This week, you're getting a bonus post that’s randomly been on my mind as I keep tinkering away on the series! ;) I’d love to hear from you. Do you like these bonus, non-question posts?
We live in the age of the homestead. You can’t scroll Instagram without finding an account chronicling the everyday life on a nice plot of land. And us city folk are fascinated by it! Seeing the morning routines and chores. Watching the crops change as the season wears on. Getting a glimpse of the spoils come harvest time. The pace. Oh, the pace. It feels so majestic. And I 100% believe it is.
But I’d like to throw my hat in the ring and tell you why neighborhoods are so great, too. I won’t be making a case for why a homestead isn’t great. (I’m sure they're wonderful.) I just hope to show that there is more to love out there that we might be taking for granted.
Maybe you find yourself pining for a few acres (that may never happen) and a farm animal or two (which HOA would never allow,) and just need the reminder that there are other places to live and enjoy a slower pace and beautiful life.
I find myself sitting in my screened-in porch, listening to the birds chirp away. The scent of sweetbay magnolia wafts in and out. And although I wouldn’t bottle it up as my perfume of choice1, it sure makes me smile and think of fond summer nights strolling our neighborhood.
I am mildly obsessed and forever grateful for the neighborhood we live in. I got to watch it go from a spark of an idea while in high school to mature tree-lined streets for 100 families to enjoy.
Here’s what I love about a neighborhood.
1. The people
As an introvert, you wouldn’t expect this to be top of the list, but that’s actually the precise reason I love it. We don’t have to make plans daily to see people. We are never far away from a conversation, a quick catch-up, a shared prayer request. We aren’t far from a drop-in from my nephews on their morning walk. We don’t have to schedule playdates and activities to keep from feeling isolated. I cannot tell you how life-giving this was during COVID. Being able to see people, even from a distance, saved our sanity.
I know how to pray for these people. As I walk, I know what’s going on in many of their lives. Mr T just fell. I saw the ambulance come to get him. I prayed for Mrs. G when her husband got sick and eventually passed. I prayed for Mrs. S when she got kidnapped2. I prayed for prodigal sons. I prayed for anxious daughters. I prayed for new births to first-time mommas. I prayed as I passed their houses because I knew their stories.
2. Friends for the girls
Specifically, the girls have several friends in the neighborhood, so we get a glimpse of the nostalgic life of yesteryear, where they can ride their bikes till dinner. This mom (who strives not to be a helicopter parent) is grateful for the push to give more age-appropriate freedom and feel comfortable in a place to do it. It’s sweet and feels remarkably unrushed to not have to plan get-togethers and simply tell the girls to run down to Piper’s to see if she can play.
3. Beauty without the upkeep
This will sound incredibly lazy, but I’m so grateful to be surrounded by beauty, a pond, large oak trees, a pool, and a playground that we don’t have to maintain. Now, obviously, we pay for it in HOA dues, but we don’t spend our weekends on yard work, which I am super grateful for!
4. The laidback pace
I already mentioned that we plan less while still enjoying a full life. This is just my personality preference, but planning a playdate two weeks in advance stresses me out. I don’t know if it’s due to chronic health issues and never knowing how I’ll feel on any given day, but being able to be spontaneous and last-minute to hang with people is a gift to my stress level and my soul. It’s funny because I think to people around us, our life looks pretty empty. We don’t have a full calendar, but our neighborhood life is kinda why.
5. The rules
Ok, I’ll be the Karen to say it. I don’t hate the rules. Yes, it can be frustrating to receive a note about my plants or a broken fence, but the part of me that loves beauty and quiet appreciates some good neighborhood covenants.
6. The screen-free time
Being in a place where so much life is happening outside our doorstep draws me out. It draws me away from the screens and helps me to live in real life. Sometimes it’s hard to step away from my phone, and I’ll suggest a bike ride to the girls because I know getting outside will make all the difference to break the spell of my screen. It’s rare to go places without our phone,s but I know I can go for a walk or walk to my sister’s house without a device.
7. The inconveniences
At times, I am in a hurry. We’re on a walk after dinner, and I don’t feel prepared for a 10-minute conversation when we’re trying to beat the bedtime clock. Or someone stops by while I’m cooking, and something inevitably gets burnt3. But the truth is, I need these inconveniences. It reminds me that my life can’t just be about my perfect, tidy life. Plus, I know God is in the so-called interruptions. He’s using me in unexpected ways, and the unexpected conversations I’ve had here have blessed me incredibly.
I read a book titled The Telomere Effect by Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Elissa Epel. It was one of those random library books you pick up and think Hmmm. This looks interesting. And it was! It was all about aging, and it included a chapter on how our environment affects how fast we age. I was pleasantly surprised to see all the things that kept you young related to the environment, knowing we were getting to experience them.
Yes, farm life has a ton of benefits. I absolutely think my girls (ok, me too!) could learn about grit and hard work that farm life would instill. But I think we’ve seen those pretty extensively lately.
So here are some factors the book mentioned that affect our aging. Which ones are true for you now? And which ones might be good to consider for your next move?
Walkability - Increases physical activity, lowers obesity
Social connection- Lowers stress, boosts resilience
Access to parks & green space - Reduces inflammation, boosts mood
Safe, predictable environment - Reduces chronic stress
Community identity - Enhances purpose and emotional regulation
Wherever you are, I pray this post doesn’t now have you pining for something different than what you’ve got. But for all those neighborhood dwellers, I hope you see what’s in front of you and make the most of it.
I’m more of a warm amber/vanilla/bergamot gal, not floral.
A crazy God story for another day.
There’s a 50/50 chance this would have happened without the interruption, though.
I love this! I a small town girl and I love living in a small town for all the reasons you listed. I’ve lived on a ranch and in a city and would never move back to either unless I felt God wanted me there.