Look for the Snow Day Neighborhoods

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Our neighborhood is like this and seems to be holding up as kids grow up, and new kids move in. My kids are in high school now, but we have a crop of ES kids who will be partying today!

We have sidewalks and the elementary school is just up the street. There are about 4 classes per grade but it's not small.

[Anonymous]

My street in Monticello Park / North Ridge / Beverley Hills area of Alexandria is like this. It’s about 1 mile up the hill from Del Ray.

It’s not just snowstorms—we effectively close down the street for a Halloween party as well.

[Anonymous]

If you want a good snow day neighborhood, look for one with a good sledding hill. Or not even necessarily good but a central one that lots of kids can walk to. Our sledding hill isn't the best (the one I grew up with was awesome) but it's passable and it's the gathering spot on snow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want a good snow day neighborhood, look for one with a good sledding hill. Or not even necessarily good but a central one that lots of kids can walk to. Our sledding hill isn't the best (the one I grew up with was awesome) but it's passable and it's the gathering spot on snow days.

And make sure the hill isn't on someone's personal property. Even if the current owner allows everyone to sled on it, if that person sells (or even just changes their mind) it's all over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a good snow day neighborhood, look for one with a good sledding hill. Or not even necessarily good but a central one that lots of kids can walk to. Our sledding hill isn't the best (the one I grew up with was awesome) but it's passable and it's the gathering spot on snow days.

And make sure the hill isn't on someone's personal property. Even if the current owner allows everyone to sled on it, if that person sells (or even just changes their mind) it's all over.

Unless you’re the one who buys the house with the good sledding hill…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want a good snow day neighborhood, look for one with a good sledding hill. Or not even necessarily good but a central one that lots of kids can walk to. Our sledding hill isn't the best (the one I grew up with was awesome) but it's passable and it's the gathering spot on snow days.

+1 There is a nice hill adjacent to the neighborhood playground. Super fun when kids were smaller. I am guessing that has backfilled since.

[Anonymous]

Sounds exhausting. Happy to cozy with my family around a fire playing scrabble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Naturally, neighborhoods change and cycle in and out causing a shift in the “kid-heavy blocks. That’s okay especially if you have sidewalks and your kid can bike walk to a friend. What the poster noted above (an active park/playground, walkable library, small ES, people walking, kids, bikes) helps explain what draws people to those towns. I’d add kids mowing the lawn is a draw!

[Anonymous]

You know, you can make friends who live elsewhere. Some people don't look beyond the immediate few houses around them.

We are all helpful, if needed. Happy with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

My neighborhood has this vibe, but unfortunately there are a few moms who are turning it very cliquish.

[Anonymous]

Y'all are some miserable wenches. It's an invitation, not a mandatory draft.

I'm an introverted misanthrope by nature but spent the morning sledding with DD(3) and the neighborhood kids. It was delightful, organic fun that did not interfere with anyone else's ability to sit angrily in their house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

All of this. We live in a neighborhood like this with multiple "shut the road" block parties. On New Years a neighbor texted everyone and said they were having a party so kids could join. There were adults only parties, but they wanted kids. BBQs, Holiday parties. Neighbor kids bike around and go to houses after school and on weekends to hang out. One kid comes to our house almost everyday when he comes from after care. I text the parents so they know he arrived and if we are home he stays and plays for a bit and sometimes has dinner.

A dog is a good idea. Let's you meet and chat with people, I met a neighbor a few streets away because we both had dogs and found out we had kids the same age, but went to different schools. Now our kids are friends. One of them was in the hospital about a month after I met her so I dropped off soup, fresh fruit and veg, etc.

My neighbor just cleared my sidewalk before I could get out and do it which was so kind. Idk how you find these neighborhoods, but they are great. We also have a couple neighbors with no boundaries. They will walk in if your door isn't locked or let their dog off leash and jump on you, so there is also that. They are nice people but seem to think they own the block and have no sense of people don't want you knocking on their door at 10PM at night to have a chat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Your realtor would only know this from social media posts and you can check those yourself.

You also need to consider that this type of snow is pretty rare for this region and you need to be content there the other 364 or 363 days a year.

Our perfect snow day neighborhood in Takoma Park was a nightmare in heavy rain. Heavy rain occurs much more in this region than snow. My kid walked home through ankle deep storm water with oil and debris far more often than they sledded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Y'all are some miserable wenches. It's an invitation, not a mandatory draft.

I'm an introverted misanthrope by nature but spent the morning sledding with DD(3) and the neighborhood kids. It was delightful, organic fun that did not interfere with anyone else's ability to sit angrily in their house.

I don't think anyone is suggesting sitting angrily in their house. Only saying that not everyone wants this kind of social scene in their neighborhood. To each their own.

I took my kid (only child) out for sledding in our neighborhood park this morning and also had a great time, but TBH that was driven by the kids just having a great time because, you know, snow. I didn't actually know any of the other parents at the park this morning but it didn't matter because my kid just joined up with the others and helped build a jump for the sled run and shared her sled and had fun. It was not necessary to have strong bonds with the other parents. We chatted a bit and helped the kids.

And now I am grateful to just be cozy in our own house watching a movie and making soup for dinner and not feel pressure to go socialize outside. That's not because I'm a "miserable wench." I just don't feel like being social right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all are some miserable wenches. It's an invitation, not a mandatory draft.

I'm an introverted misanthrope by nature but spent the morning sledding with DD(3) and the neighborhood kids. It was delightful, organic fun that did not interfere with anyone else's ability to sit angrily in their house.

I don't think anyone is suggesting sitting angrily in their house. Only saying that not everyone wants this kind of social scene in their neighborhood. To each their own.

I took my kid (only child) out for sledding in our neighborhood park this morning and also had a great time, but TBH that was driven by the kids just having a great time because, you know, snow. I didn't actually know any of the other parents at the park this morning but it didn't matter because my kid just joined up with the others and helped build a jump for the sled run and shared her sled and had fun. It was not necessary to have strong bonds with the other parents. We chatted a bit and helped the kids.

And now I am grateful to just be cozy in our own house watching a movie and making soup for dinner and not feel pressure to go socialize outside. That's not because I'm a "miserable wench." I just don't feel like being social right now.

Which is a normal way to feel. Some posters literally described this as "their worst nightmare" as if there were gangs of marauding families banging down their doors.