A Walk Through the Neighborhood

I live on the outskirts of town just west of the interstate in a PUD or planned unit development. There are no sidewalks in my neighborhood, but traffic is sparse and drivers are careful and courteous so I have no problem walking on the side of the street within my little community. As in most PUDs, there is one way in with the same way out.

Not being much of a structured exerciser, walking is my normal way of getting in that thirty minutes per day recommended by most primary care doctors. The weather and season determine the time of day for my outing. During this period of sheltering in place, it has become the highlight of my day. Other walkers carefully observe the six-foot limit for which I am grateful, and I have noticed that our numbers have greatly increased during this imposed stay-at-home phase.

Although barely noticeable in a car, abundant hills and valleys optimize the effectiveness of my walks. If I am feeling especially optimistic, I start out heading west which is immediately uphill. Other days it is east or downhill first, a short stroll to the main road, to get warmed up. Then, it is a turn-around and back uphill.

You may think that walking the same route everyday would become dull, but it never does. I am always seeing different people, some walking their dog, some with children, some walking (or jogging) purposefully, even some cyclists, skateboarders or scooters. In the past a nod or small wave of the hand sufficed for a greeting, but now almost everyone wants to pause a moment and chat (keeping that six-foot distance). Many of them seem to notice “how old I am” and want to make sure that I have everything I need, offering to help if necessary, making sure I know their name and where they live. They are so nice. Of course, the UPS man, Amazon Prime, FedEx, and the mail person always give a friendly wave and sometimes even a toot of their horn.

Things and people in the neighborhood are always changing with moves in and out, new roofs being put on, painting being done, landscapes being improved and lots more, so there is never a lack of new discoveries. Birds, squirrels, and flowers hold my interest and keep my finger on my phone for photos. I have even seen a fox and a coyote at different times. The coyote was so skinny I felt sorry for him and a little afraid. I have noticed a snake or two or three and always distance myself more than that six-foot minimum. My mantra is that if they don’t bother me, I don’t bother them.

It used to be that when I walked on Saturdays, I might pass by a garage sale or two, but with the social distancing I have not seen any for quite a while. They always made my walk more interesting and enjoyable. There is something about a garage sale that gives a nosy person like me a look into some stranger’s life that normally would not be seen. I always had a few dollars in my pocket on Saturdays and usually found something interesting to carry back home with me. A little shelf over my kitchen range that holds some spices is a neighborhood garage sale find that I painted and ‘artsied-up’.

I consider plantings by mailboxes fair game for flower cuttings, and I delight when finding these free, almost magical, ways to grow new plants. Recently, I have broken off sprigs of rosemary and wandering jew, and they are now in my garden window in vases of water growing new roots. I am not sure why people would have these kinds of plants growing beside their mailboxes, but it is not for me to ask. I am just glad they do.

I must admit that one time I was scared by some dogs that had gotten loose. Nothing happened, but I swore that in the future I would always carry my umbrella for protection. I never remembered to do that and luckily have never seen roaming dogs again. Lots of times I hear barking, but it always comes from behind a sturdy fence.

I notice some people listening to music, or maybe an audio book, while walking, but in my opinion that defeats the whole purpose of being outside. I walk to be entertained by nature and want all my senses honed in on Mother Earth. Or maybe I am one of those people who have trouble doing two things at once. Regardless, when I am outside, I want to see all there is to see, smell all the different smells, hear all there is to hear, and use all my senses to get the most from that thirty minutes of freedom. Here’s hoping you have enjoyed a walk recently, and if you have anything to share about it, let me know.