This weekend I took some time to explore my new community.
I even found a reason to bust out the GorillaPod again to take some self-portraits!
I think I've found all of the essentials for survival in my new neighborhood:
--5/3 bank
--Post office
--Pizza place(s)
--Kroger
--and most importantly, the Library!
Although I don't have a Michigan identification card or utility bill yet, I was still able to sweet talk the ladies at the Circulation Desk into issuing me a card.
Thank goodness... because after almost 2 months without books, I wasn't leaving that place without a giant stack of reading material. (I restrained myself and only checked out 8 at this time.)
I was bummed to discover that the GP library charges a fee to borrow DVDs ($1) or Bestselling novels ($2)!! Wacky rules... I guess that's what I get for living in an affluent community! I remember the good times at Evansville library where they didn't even have late fines.
Bizarrely, the library also lets you borrow tools. To sum things up, the library will loan me hedge trimmers (electric or hand) for free, but I have to pay for a bestselling book...
I also took a walk around the neighborhood, enjoying the fall weather and colors of the season.
Here's a view of my building.
It's nice to live in a neighborhood with sidewalks again!
Who knows, I might just bust out my folding bicycle for a ride along Lakeshore Drive or take a walk to return my library books! Both of these things are less than a mile from me.
I like the coziness of it all!
The street I live on.
It's two lanes in both directions, but as you can see, not heavy on the traffic.
Look for this sign when you come to visit me!
The back of my building and where most people enter their homes since we park out back.
We do have assigned parking and take note that my spot is on the end. Thank goodness because I didn't want to have to parallel park that vehicle every day!
The townhouses back up to the GP North school property, so we can have front row fence view of any high school football or soccer games we want! Most Friday nights I can hear the band and the crowd supporting their team until 10pm!!
Welcome home!
I haven't met many of my neighbors yet (besides a little boy who introduced himself with this sentence: "I'm five but sometimes I still pee-pee in my pants"!), but I'm sure after this photo shoot outside I will be the gossip of the community!
(What's the deal with that wacky new girl posing for all of those photos by herself?!)
(What's the deal with that wacky new girl posing for all of those photos by herself?!)
I also watched the 1996 flick Grosse Pointe Blank, which is a comedy about a professional killer who goes back to his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan for his 10-year high school reunion!
It's actually kind of funny, with some nice shots of Lakeshore Drive, and
I like all of the references to "buying American" cars!!
Finally, for those of you unfamiliar with the "Pointes", here is a rundown for you:
The Grosse Pointe communities are known as Detroit's first commuter suburbs (primarily to the auto industry folks) and were established between 1910-1930.
Prior to this time, it was mainly cottages, resorts, and lakefront mansions.
The Pointes are comprised of 5 communities:
Grosse Pointe (City) is 1.2 sq miles with a median home value of $265,759.
Grosse Pointe Farms is 2.7 sq miles with a median home value of $258,734.
Grosse Pointe Park is 2.2 sq miles with a median home value of $258,813.
Grosse Pointe Shores is 1.1 sq miles with a median home value of $448,405.
Grosse Pointe Woods is 3.3 sq miles with a median home value of $196,379.
When compared to the Michigan median home value of $132,200,
sometimes I feel like a traitor in my own community! (It's a miracle they even have rental units!)
But the scenery all around me is lovely, and I like their sense of community
(even if the prices to "borrow" things at the library is a little steep...)
