My Dream

Do you live in a neighborhood that looks like this?

Tree-lined streets, 

Charming Street lights at an actual, usable level,
(not shine directly into your bedroom window like it's the noon sun level)

Real-live mailboxes on the porches,

PORCHES!

not a garage in sight!

White picket fences...be still, my heart!

Or, do you, like me, live in a big box subdivision where the prominent feature of the houses is the garage?

When did we decide to build our lives around our cars...our transportation?

Is this really what we work so hard for? Is this worth getting in our cars and driving to work everyday and then back home for?

Is this the new American dream? Box houses...on box streets, in box communities?

Perhaps it's my Southern upbringing, but,

I  dream of something more, do YOU?

I want to live in a dream. I want to live in a place that inspires me. That calls me back no matter where else I may roam. A place I would die to protect, a place I honor and cherish. 

A place I would proudly pass down to my progeny.

My dream house.

I want a place with some room to roam, and maybe have some chickens or sheep. 

(Have you seen sheep? They're so stinking cute!)

from Dame Modern

 I want to live in a place where I can walk to the local town center for shopping at small, locally owned businesses. I want this place to be beautiful and safe and kind of like a modern-day Mayberry. I would have all of the homes face the town center, and a central sidewalk that would lead to the town square.

The shops would be on the ground level, with plenty of room for walking and eating and general merriment in the space in between.

There would be charming apartments to rent above the stores, and green spaces behind buildings.

As you work your way out from the sweet little town center,
 you would find a couple of different neighborhoods.

All homes would be built to resemble classic Georgian/Victorian/Edwardian era homes and cottages, 

For sale!

with carriage houses instead of garages, (none facing the street) 
and circle drives and small wooden, swinging gates:

Closest to town, the homes would be in quaint neighborhoods, with tree lined streets, and sidewalks with Dickensian light poles.

The pace would be slower here, and you would feel more rooted.

And then, behind these cute houses, with their 1/2 to 3/4 acre lots, would be bigger lots,

And then,  traveling further up the hill and away from town, 
would be larger lots, and houses with barns and animals.

And at the top of the hill, would be my house:

Complete with a little white chapel

(for weddings and stuff)

And, of course, a barn...for receptions, and parties and dances!

with guest quarters upstairs.


This.
This is a place worth working for, and coming home to.
This is where (and how) I want to live?

How about you?!




Listen to this guy! (But, be warned, he does use some bad language...including the f bomb. ugh.)

Join me! Let's dwell in a hopeful present!