I’ve lived in this neighborhood for about 5 1/2 years. During that time I’ve seen it during its crazy growth spurt where houses were springing up seemingly out of nowhere. It was a time when Hobbs and I would go for a walk and instead of hearing the chirping of the birds, we heard, instead, the staccato beat of roofing nails being fired into plywood punctuating the air, backed up by a chorus power tools being wielded by various tradesmen. It was the ‘normal’ sounds of progress.
Now, with the global recession still hanging on, the neighborhood has silenced. One can hear the highway in the distance, the rustle of the grass as a rabbit tries, quiet unsuccessfully, to move stealthily through it. Rabbits, it would seem, are not good at stealth. 
Fields once cleared completely by the almighty bulldozer are now reasserting themselves, covering their scars. Streets signs that once had a future to direct friends, family, and new homeowners to their destination, now sit idly in the morning light, their faces smeared with the remains of a variety of birds who now use them as perches. ‘Available’ signs are now replaced with signs that read: ‘Lot for sale’. Even these signs are starting to fade from abundant sunshine, rain, and a general lack of interest from the buying public.
I see grasshoppers, bluebirds, rabbits, hawks, ladybugs, and the occasional snake and all is as it should be. It makes me smile. I enjoy the walk. Hobbs enjoys the walk. I enjoy the old sounds. I don’t miss the nail guns, the power saws, or the beat of the hammer. I prefer the sound of the mockingbird any day.
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11 Responses to “Now, all is quiet”
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Nothing beats the sounds of the birds!
It’s a mixed blessing isn’t it? The return of nature and peace is wonderful but without progress and growth the value of current homes continue to slide or often best case, barely hold steady.
Our own small neighborhood now has four houses for sale plus one that belongs to the bank. Neighbors are sharing the mowing the yard of the bank house to keep it presentable. None of these available houses seem likely to be sold any time soon and their numbers may even grow before the end of the year. Where before I’ve been hoping for the economy to return to “normal,” I now think this may indeed be the new “normal” for at least a few years.
So we might as well relax and if possible learn to enjoy those birds singing!
Yes, Earl. That certainly is the downside. Our house, which we bought for $225,000 about 5 years ago would now sell, if we were lucky, for about $180,000. Our neighborhood is similar. Values are sliding almost daily; houses remain on the market for a very long time; there are a number of foreclosures available as well. It’s not very good right now, but I do enjoy the birds.
I’m right there with you on this one, Paul! If Earl is right then we will enjoy the birds singing in the morning rather than the construction. We see a lot of housing developments unfinished all over the country as we fly overheard. The idea of buying and selling for a profit may take a while to reappear so it seems many of us will keep up the house we already have. And, Paul, that is a big chunk of money devalued on your home. Not a good thing, so enjoy the birds on your walks!
But those who got, BUY.
My son works for a large construction outfit and for the last two years he has been building 7 figure homes on different lakes in the Adirondacks, one for a college president, another for a CEO of a large insurance company, etc.
But I still say give me the birds.
What college has a president who can afford a seven-figure house? No college I’ve worked for, I can say that.
Chris I can’t say on here but it is a major school, and that same school is building her a new house on campus.
Hah, it was more of a rhetorical question than an actual one . . .
Hm, houses loosing their value is perhaps not a good thing. But, isn’t the “value of a house” something extremely virtual, unless you are in the unfortunate position to being either forced to sell or to take a loan on it? I mean, the living quality in the house certainly doesn’t depend on an imaginary number that a bank attaches to the building.
So, if I have the choice between a devaluated home in a somewhat quieter neighborhood with birds and rabbits and a house that has gained substantial value in a flossy neighborhood… I know what I’d pick any time.
You get no argument from me! I’ll take the ‘devalued’ home at any time.
Over the pond here the housing market (what we call real estate) is pretty flat, houses are still selling but there’s not much new construction. I live in the SW suburbs of London about 2 miles south of Wimbledon. Most of the houses were built just before the 2nd world war (They didn’t finish my road before the war started, they couldn’t afford the detailing on the post war houses so you can spot exactly where they got to) Various developers have planning permission to build on various “in-fill” sites but all work has stopped and it is amazing how quickly nature reclaims the space.
Gavin