The Catskill Chronicle

Twice Divorced – By Grayce Goin

Dear Twice Divorced,

I am living in the same house going on 7 years. It is a small house with a big backyard and I love it dearly. In the seven years that I am here I have had several different neighbors as the house next door goes up for sale time and time again.

The original neighbors were a bit strange, but super friendly and I fell in love with them after a space of time. Then it was time for him to retire, and they sold the house and moved. The next people who bought the house started to do the much needed repairs, but never moved in and eventually sold the house.

The current owners completely changed the yard, the landscaping, the interior and exterior of the house (did I mention it is over a hundred years old and one of the original buildings in the town in which I reside?). After a year I am used to their changes, partly because we have become friendly – saying hello over the fence, exchanging advice and plants etc.

Now I notice that there is yet another For Sale sign in front of the house. I am confused. I suppose part of the problem is that I really don’t do well with change. But a big part of the problem, is that I thought they were here to stay and I really, really like them. They became a part of the day-to-day reality of my life.

How does one come to grips with all this buying and selling? Am I being naive to think that I will ever have a neighborly relationship with those who live next door or must I truly become resigned to the fact that real-estate purchases are more about making a profit than about buying a home, settling down and being part of a community?

In Search of a Kindred Soul

Dear Searcher,

You would have no way of knowing the intentions of  purchasers when a property sells. It sounds to me like the folks who did all the work and then put the house on the market were flipping and had  no intention of staying in the first place. It was lucky that they are friendly people who made this a pleasant experience for you. 

Over the years many people pass though our lives some that we would have preferred to have been our life-long friends but either they or we move on. This cannot prevent you from enjoying their company when your paths cross. I believe that every interaction between humans is an opportunity for both learning and teaching something that moves us along on our path.

We leave a little bit of ourselves with everyone we meet, just as they leave something of themselves with us. We should even be appreciative of those for whom we have an instantaneous and continuing dislike as they are often the most beneficial teachers.

So enjoy the company of your neighbors while you can, and look forward to meeting new friends when they move on.

Be Well

Letters can be sent to deartwice@yahoo.com or Catskill.Chronicle@yahoo.com. Be sure to put Twice Divorced in the subject line.

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