I don't know if it's a side effect of aging but ...
Retired and living life in the Slow Lane, I find myself inexplicably interested in the neighborhood goings on. Of course, I'd be so embarrassed if anyone caught me watching!
I remember one elderly lady who lived across the street from us in Abilene. Probably because he thought it funny, her husband confided, "Elena likes to go out to the garage and stand on a step stool to look out the windows." Busted!
Am I turning into Elena ...
or her?
or her?
(Who remembers Gladys Kravitz?)
Back when I had a life (lol) I gave little thought to nearby residents. Like me, most folks got up and went to work each weekday ... returning home like clockwork: Drive inside and close the garage, never to be seen until the next day.
Everyone minded their own business.
Everyone minded their own business.
Home in Arizona
Most cookie-cutter homes in our development had a similar layout: Guest quarters, laundry and garage at the front, family rooms and kitchen at the back. Even the backyards had privacy walls.
It never occurred to me, Macie and Grace had little concept of what lay outside their 4 walls.
Until they arrived in Alabama ...
Day #1 ... what on earth is all that green?
Tom's music room faces an undeveloped parcel of thick foliage.
(Because it belongs to Chapman Christian Academy, there's little likelihood it will be turned anytime soon.)
(Because it belongs to Chapman Christian Academy, there's little likelihood it will be turned anytime soon.)
Our family room sits between here and the sunroom.
It's nice when I want to sip coffee, unseen in what passes for night clothes.
It's nice when I want to sip coffee, unseen in what passes for night clothes.
Other days?
A few weeks ago, I was determined to find a little chair to fit in this far corner ... to lurk out of sight.
A few weeks ago, I was determined to find a little chair to fit in this far corner ... to lurk out of sight.
Fortunately for my pocketbook I found no suitable (affordable) chairs. Because ...
the perfect observation point was right there all along
the perfect observation point was right there all along
at our dining room table.
Right now there's little to see, but soon the private school katty-corner across the street will resume classes.
It may not be much, but it's my very own Room with a View!
Our girls living their best life!
Have you a favorite spot to watch the world go by?
Hugs, Myra (aka Gladys)
Your dog is so cute. I love dogs.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't see anything wrong with watching others. It's a protective instinct. Don't squelch it. Someone may need for you to be concerned about them some day.
Neighbors? What's that? 😂 We live way out in the Country and I like it that way. When we lived in Jax (Jacksonville, Florida) we were friends with almost all our neighbors, but golly I don't think I could ever go back to that again. I like having some distance between homes, although I might add that we are friends with most of the folks on our road and close by areas. I pray for them too.
It's so hot and dry here. I hope your weather is better and you're staying cool. 💙
my balcony from the 3rd floor... Don't see much except people driving past on their way out of the complex. You definately will catch me out there if I see a firetruck or ambulance pull up. Gotta see who's headed out to the hospital!
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with watching the world go by. I've just realised, we have windows in our house overlooking all four sides - front, back and both sides. Never actually thought about it.
ReplyDeleteWatching the back garden I can see different birds at the bird table; and squirrels, and cats. Inspiration for my writings.
God bless.
You are making me smile. My "office" is the end of the dining room table. I can see some of the traffic going by as I sit behind the front yard trees and bushes. Sometimes I have to ACTUALLY get up and go to the window to snoop/see what's going on..HaHa.. Love my view and maybe this will be the theme of a future blog post. To be continued..(:0)
ReplyDeleteSue
I do not actually watch the neighbors at all. My favorite places to sit are either at the kitchen table or on the screened porch. When I am there I see the birds, chipmunks, squirrels and occasionally the damn groundhog (who eats every single thing we try to grow, so we are fooling him this year and planting nothing edible)
ReplyDeleteYour sweet pups remind me of our grand pups, Sugar and Spice. They LOVE to look out our back windows towards the pond and watch the bird action going on back there. They get so excited when the Sand Hill Cranes show up! And yes, I am guilty of the same thing...watching the birds, that is. We don't have any people neighbors behind us or next to us (yet) close enough to observe. And the little "Magnolia Cottage" across the street just went up for sale finally, so someday there will be some new neighbors directly across the street from our front windows, which is the kitchen and dining room. However, I seldom ever open the blinds on that side of the house because of the traffic on the street in front and also because of the bright sunshine most of the morning hours. I don't want people watching ME through my windows, so I keep them closed. Now, when someone moves in next door on that empty lot, I may find excuses to go outside in my back/side yard to keep a "hawk eye" on them to make sure they are enjoying the natural beauty of that lot. I'm still praying for some good neighbors. My "room with a view" is the room where I am sitting right now writing on my computer and looking out at Still Waters Pond. You've seen lots of pictures of that already. And yes, I remember Mrs. Kratchett on Bewitched! She was funny.
ReplyDeleteI like looking out my bedroom window, at the trees and the basketball court.
ReplyDelete---Cheerful Monk
I'm laughing out loud, Myra! Just today I was telling a coworker about turning into Gladys Kravitz!! No joke. The ambulance and THREE police cards flew past my house going faster than
ReplyDelete(Sorry- it posted before I finished!) faster than I've ever seen them fly by. I had to slip on my sandals and walk outside to see where they went. There was also a phone call to a neighbor who has a better view and a conversation with a man who was riding his scooter up the street to see how close he could get to the action. Good grief. What's wrong with me?!! LOL I still haven't heard the scoop on what happened...
DeleteOur neighborhood is mostly quiet and uneventful, but inquiring minds still want to know what's going on. We've noticed that tenants across the street moved out, and the owners are addressing some roof issues - good! Another rental seems to have been leased, but do I see them? No! And their driveway is steep enough to be a ski launch, so I'm not going down there anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteYes, they go to work or stay retired in their homes in this area. I really do miss other times when my neighbors became friends.
I also love the view from Tom's music room!
Love to both of you!
How could I forget Gladys, I am her twin now. You know my window on the world from all the crazy things I post about our neighbors. there is nothing to watch out our windows but neighbors. we do have trees and birds but the watch is the neighbors. the house of 7 cars had one move out, now it is 6, and wow do they entertain..
ReplyDeletesuggestion for the chair in the corner. Swivel Chair. I got mine at a thrift store and would fit there perfectly. we had two of the bamboo swivels with cushions in front of our window for years. they don't cost 99 dollars now though. a small swivel is perfect for facing the room or turning to watch.. and would not disturb the dog bed.
Our condo on the building's second floor has a great view of the street and sidewalk from both the living room and my office.
ReplyDeleteMy place to sit and watch the world go by is out on the porch. I mostly see things in nature, with an occasional deer wondering by, but I also see lots of flowers and birds and watch the seasons drift by. I don't think anyone sees me sitting here. There are few people venturing out in the field behind the house, but if they do, I will wave and say hello! I hope you enjoy your view and get some good things to see today! Love, ma
ReplyDeleteWe really have a lot in common. I love to what I call people watch. Where we are now - there is no place to watch people - unless I sit in my bedroom upstairs and look out the window. We are pretty tightly in here. We do have a backyard - but it is fenced in. Feel a little claustrophobic - but glad you have a little place all of your own.
ReplyDeleteSince I work in an environment that requires one to be ever so alert, people watching and listening is a thing for me. My late grandfather used to take me to O'Hara and people watch when I was kid. I got really good at that, LOLOLOL. Anyways, have beautiful weekend, Myra.
ReplyDeleteI do remember her! We have bedrooms in the front of the house and Mark's office faces the front of the house but I only look out if someone rings the doorbell. We don't answer the door these days. Also, there are not many people outside these days.
ReplyDelete