Today I learned something upsetting to my already complicated world. There is a new development going up very near my neighborhood. A community of 28 homes. Right now when I pull out of my dead-end street, I look across to a series of homes lining Woodstock Road. Behind them is a deep vein of woods and usually the nicest sunrise behind them.

That is the spot they are going to develop. And by that I mean some high-end large homes. And by that I mean twice the size and cost of what I live in. And as another day turns, the rural community I moved to 32 years ago becomes a suburb. I already have issues with the traffic out here.

I’m nearing retirement in the next decade I hope and want to stay in MY home, but I’m going to have to pay more because these places are just going to drive up my already high property taxes. Some will look and say well that increases the value of my home. Well big whoop, I don’t want to sell it.

The last thing I want to do is leave my home. But the development that has happened since moving here has been unbelievable. And it has changed the area. It has changed the feeling. It has changed the landscape. It has changed the people. And yes I’m aware the only constant is change but I’m older now and its my right to bitch more about change. At least that is what I’ve observed of older people as I grew up.

What really pisses me off is there is already a good bit of dirt/mud on our road from them just cutting a path back to the area they are going to develop. I tend to like a clean car so this is going to be an issue. Of course the increase in traffic on our 30 mph street with no shoulder. It could change the view as I leave my home as many other developments have that have sprouted up like the most effective garden in history.

You would think after almost 6 decades in this county that I would be used to the growth. I’m not. In 1960 the population was a bit over 36,000. In 2017 the population was over 321,000. So yeah, I’m used to getting new neighbors (neighborhoods). I’m glad I have an acre or so of property. I’m glad I live on a dead-end street. I’m glad there are big trees around my home and neighborhood. It reminds me of the type of neighborhood I grew up in. But now a mile or less from home I have urban growth.

I guess that is the penalty for being in a wonderful place to live. But it’s getting a bit crowded. Again, I hope to stay here as long as I can. But I do have my limits.

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Random Thoughts of the Day

The ragtop on the car was excited to hear the radio say it could be 65 degrees on Sunday. I was over the MOON. Nothing like the thought of a warm breeze through the hair.

The people I hired to do some tree trimming were able to come a week early. Trouble is they didn’t call. I got to sleep at 7am because I worked all night. I’m up listening to chain saws at 8am. Kind of weird to sleep in the late afternoon, after they finished.

Do you ever think about the enthusiasm or emphasis people have when they say the word FRIDAY?

Time is finally becoming my friend. The less I let slip away, the more I have.

I believe whomever said to be happy with yourself first, was correct. All I can say is it surely makes the tough days with the things out of your control a lot easier to deal with.

Having old friends can mean many different things. I have some very old friends whom I love as close as brothers. I have some old friends who are old friends for a reason. I knew them long ago. I have some old friends whom I still feel a very close kinship with but don’t see that often. I have old friends that have passed who I will never see again, but I still think of them and they make me smile.

Am I making any sense? It’s hard to tell when your real tired.