Hi Neighbor!

When the kids were little, we invented Discovery Day. It involved piling into the car and driving to discover an area playground. With different kinds of equipment to play on, the kids were happy and getting exercise. We were thrilled that they were active and exhausted by the time we came home. Everyone was excited to find and try out a new place.

The kids are grown and we’ve pivoted to a newer version of Discovery Day. Now we leave the car at home, go out walking and my husband and I discover different area neighborhoods. Just like the Discovery Days of years gone by, we’ve found some new areas to explore.

Along with getting exercise and experiencing a view that isn’t familiar, we’ve discovered that being home during Covid proved an unexpected bonus for the look of area neighborhoods. The lawns and flower beds are in great condition. Neighbors have added backyard, inflatable jumping systems for children. Giant slides and complicated swing sets rival the best of neighborhood playgrounds. The construction industry must have waiting lists based on the many signs for home improvements in the front yards. And most notably, everyone is friendlier, waving and saying hi.

Thanks to neighbors near and far, we’ve borrowed creative ideas for shrubs and flowers for our own yard. We’re happy, exercised and tired when deciding to return home. But we look forward to visiting garden centers and improving the look of our yard. That will provide something nice to see when neighbors venture out on their own Discovery Days.

The paths less travelled,
Jane