Look for the Snow Day Neighborhoods

[Anonymous]

Our street is truly an idyllic snow day neighborhood. Shared sleds. The older neighbors refereeing the street sled races. Snow ball fights and hot cocoa from house to house. Dogs joining in the fun and younger neighbors shoveling for older. We lucked into this, but it would be a go to question for a realtor if looking today - What did the neighborhood look like / do on the show day?

[Anonymous]

Unless you're extrapolating this to a daily camaraderie, my dear OP, someone who looks for this will have it once every 2 to 3 years. This is the rate of snowstorms in our area.

[Anonymous]

Sounds great, but I think the balance can change really quickly. Maybe the older kids graduate or move inside and no one takes over refereeing. Maybe a linchpin family moves away. So many things can happen that I would not look specifically for this.

[Anonymous]

And how would the realtor know this, OP? She's not driving around on snow days looking to see who is out playing.

[Anonymous]

We live in what used to be a super fun snow day neighborhood but all the kids grew up and graduated and now there are like 5 kids under the age of 12 and the neighbors don't socialize. I don't think this neighborhood will ever get back to being super fun. So there's that.

[Anonymous]

I have known people with neighborhoods (or sometimes just blocks) like this and sometimes feel a pang of jealousy over it.

But it's not worth trying to buy a home in a place like this. Like would I pay more for a house where I didn't like the layout or had a recent, expensive, but hideous remodel, just because the neighborhood has a good vibe? Nope. I don't want to live around jerks but I am fine with neutral neighbors or people I barely know if I get the house I want at a price I can afford.

And PP is right that it can turn too. Often it all hinges on 1 or 2 families who drive it all and do the organizing. I know I don't have that skill set and could never take it on, so if those folks moved on, it would be over.

Just buy a house you like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in what used to be a super fun snow day neighborhood but all the kids grew up and graduated and now there are like 5 kids under the age of 12 and the neighbors don't socialize. I don't think this neighborhood will ever get back to being super fun. So there's that.

Exactly. Most likely that culture was driven by a handful of families who had similar-aged kids and developed organic friendships and it grew from there. But kids grow and people get older. It's impossible to maintain that magic.

Also, if you are an outgoing person who makes friends easily, you can probably create a community somewhat like this anywhere. And if you aren't, then you might not like it anyway. Some people wouldn't like this kind of culture because they are introverted and prefer a more hands-off relationship with neighbors. They don't want to judge a snowman competition and contribute a dish to the neighborhood snow day potluck -- they want to curl up inside with a book without anyone thinking they are being selfish or standoffish.

[Anonymous]

Our neighborhood pretty much avoids each other and although I remember one magical day when we were all in the street with a fire pit and sleds and hot chocolate and champagne, it was never repeated. Neighbors who really got along and dragged everyone else along moved, people got divorced, a weirdo moved in. Days like that are luck and it’s the rare neighborhood that always feels like that.

[Anonymous]

What you describe is my nightmare! My chest is tight just thinking about it.

[Anonymous]

We moved to our neighborhood for this vibe. Unfortunately for my younger kid, it’s been harder to break in socially. Asked a couple of girls if they would want to sled and got a “Nah” and a “Cant.” It’s more cliquish than we’d hoped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What you describe is my nightmare! My chest is tight just thinking about it.

I would be okay with it but my DH would hate it.

[Anonymous]

Don’t you need a hill?

[Anonymous]

Delulu

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you need a hill?

My realtor told me that uneven terrain stimulates intellectual development.

Never buy a house with a flat yard.

[Anonymous]

We moved into a neighborhood a little bit like that a few years ago. It’s actually quite great for my social kids. I enjoy it as well, as there’s also a built in backup for kid stuff now that they are older elementary aged.

But it can also be tough if you can’t “break in” and want to do so.

If you’re looking for a place like that - I’d say look for a neighborhood with sidewalks and a smaller elementary school (3-4 classes/grade). Look for bikes/basketball hoops in the driveway, a park that you can walk to, maybe a neighborhood pool. Then get a dog and take them for a lot of walks.