My high school was secluded 18 years ago. It was in the middle of a cornfield. You turned left out in the country, you took a right down a quarter of a mile long driveway covered in speed bumps, and at the end of the road was the school. Looking out from any angle, all you saw was corn, and forest. I grew up in a deer hunting farmland area. Holy cow have things changed.
Now, when we visit, we stay at the hotel that sits directly in front of the school. I look out my window and see the school, and as far as the eye can see – houses.
This baffles me. I spent the whole weekend with the makings of a serious head cold (and right now my head feels like the fog in the first picture), and it was spinning just trying to figure out how it was possible to even own a single family home (from the low $240’s!) where I grew up.
We still don’t get it. How can there be this many people making more than $100k a year? How can there be so many fast food joints and stores (oh my, the stores) – where I’m sure folks are making just over minimum wage, how can these people afford to live in this area now? It’s seriously mind boggling. Still, everywhere you look, if there’s an empty field, there’s a for sale or lease sign in the middle of it. The Chicago burbs are creeping out further and further into the middle of the state – it’s closer to Rockford now than I’ve ever seen it – and soon it will cover the whole northern half of the state.
It’s really quite frightening.
Gone are the 1/2-5 acre properties with unique and original house architecture. Everyone is cram packed beside another house that is not even a full shade different in color, in a reverse layout from the one before it. Garages butt up next to eachother. Privacy fences are all that you can get that offer you any real privacy in your own home. You could toss a jar of peanut butter from one kitchen window to the next.
I’m in an area that’s eh- so/so. I am feeling more and more crowded as the years go on, and I’m craving a nice big lot where I know the trees aren’t going to come down on the whim of someone who simply doesn’t like to rake.
I have to know, do you live in an area like this? Do you like it? Are there more pros than cons? Does the traffic make you nuts?
And more importantly, I’m sick as a dog over here. Pity and well wishes are absolutely welcome. (I promise I’ve covered my mouth while typing and I’ve sterilized my keyboard.)
{9 Comments}
Oh, and I hope you feel better. Take 2 Hugs and call me in the morning.
I know it’s not so nice on the eyes (or the nerves for that matter) traveling here to the “chicago-land” area, but it really is nice to have you! I miss you….. :indifferent: But I know what you mean. I think the traffic is the worst of it. I love my home and the neighborhood I live in but I wouldn’t mind moving—SOUTH!!! Anyway, thanks for visiting. I love you. xxoo
My allergies are insane right now, I always feel sick.
I lived in South Suburbs of Chicago growing up, we had a pretty decent neighborhood, big lots, house spaced far aport where you didn’t hear what so and so was yelling about. 😉 But when I went back in 2005, new developers had come in and were trying to spruce up the old place (it had become quite rundown in the last 20+years) by tearing down the old houses and building $300,000.+ homes in their place. So you had these beautiful new homes dwarfing these old homes that still were standing. It was pitiful. It was not my old neighborhood anymore. Oh, and my old house, it was still standing when we were there, but I got an email from an old friend not long after I got home and was told that it was now gone, a new house going up in it’s place. My childhood home gone forever. At least I took lots of pictures when I was there.
Hope you feel better soon. I feel your pain…Allergies are killing me here!! :hug:
What a sad commentary on what was once a beautiful land. Someone needs to write new words to America the Beautiful.. :bawling: Because it isn’t any more. Here’s something that the developers never about (or didn’t care).. we’re running low on water… and guess what – Lake Michigan’s water level has gone down – I think 17 inches in the last year or two….
never THOUGHT about…. sorry….. :brickwall:
Hope you are feeling better! they build houses, here in Southern Maine, like crazy! I live in a nice neighborhood and even there they are building on lots that are teeny tiny. Places where a house should not be. I thinkmost people are house poor.
We scored on our house. But, should we sell we do not where we would go. Except, rural VT. Possibly. The houses are too expensive. I may live here forever! Living in an ocean community I cannot complain too much. In the winter I can even glimpse Portland Headlight from my LR windows. And, the lighthouse light shines in our home year round. How cool is that?
It’s crazy isn’t it? We’re looking for someplace in the country, but houses and development are creeping into the area like mad. I don’t like it, but such is life I guess. Green acres… that’s what I want!
I hope you’re feeling better Leanne!
I live in the land of cookie cutter houses. I don’t really know what it’s like to live any other way. I can imagine that it would be nice to have privacy and lots of land, but it is great for my kids to have so many neighborhood friends to play with.
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