Welcome to the Neighborhood

I love the exploration of a new neighborhood, especially when it’s mine. I’ve always felt invested in the communities in which I’ve lived, but there is something about being a first time home owner that has made me feel even more connected.

Ego-centric, yes. But mapping out your corner of the world, delighting in what you find, and calling it your own is soul satisfying. As I headed out for a recent walk, I stopped to enjoy another great chat with my next-door neighbor Cos, who has lived here in East Rogers Park for 27 years and knows everyone in the vicinity. He’s got hard working broad shoulders and a quick smile that crinkles his eyes. He also has a riotous backyard garden bursting with 46 planters and a gurgling fountain.

Fortified with good neighborliness, I meandered down my street , past stately brick condos that mix elegance with quirky warmth, (think Queen Mum, not Queen), then ended up barely 10 minutes later at my new stretch of sandy beach, staring out at the several sailboats that were lufting along my favorite lake.

This walk wasn’t just about the lake, however, I was also doing a bit of writing spot recon. A fresh location always seems to fuel my sometimes sluggish writing motivation. I know I’m not alone here. The invigoration of new can breathe life into stale stories or tired essays. I’d heard a lot about Ennui, the coffee shop tucked into the corner of Sheridan and Lunt and, always on the lookout for a fun spot to sip something hot and be inspired, I wanted to check it out. As promised, it had just the right mix of inviting nooks, worn novels and broad tables for ample stretching out. The wide, covered outdoor patio wasn’t bad, either. Want to know more? : http://centerstagechicago.com/restaurants/cafeennui.html

Okay, I thought as I walked back toward the water, intent on seeing how far north I could wander until I got my fill, what was it exactly that made this last move feel so big? It wasn’t just that we now have a mortgage, though that’s no small point. It’s really about the joy of commitment. Indecision is laced with restlessness, that tiring but necessary state we all need to inhabit while we’re chewing on choices. Ah, but what a relief it is when we’ve reached a conclusion! That’s when the fun begins.