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Childhood Memories As They Pertain to Real Estate

By
Real Estate Agent with thredUP.com

Isn't it amazing how our cities and towns have changed over the years?  We think back when we were children and remember where a store used to be, or a park we used to go to often.  Now we look at it and it may be a Shopping Mall, or a new Community.  We just sit there and think what good times we had and maybe even miss them a little bit, or a lot.

I read a post earlier today by JudyAnn Lorenz titled Guns, Germs & Steel --- It still happens and it really made me think.  What it made me think about was pretty much off topic but it brought back some great memories.  The more I thought about it, the deeper I thought about when I was a child.  I thought about Dreams and Aspirations and about how it's amazing how we change-along with our towns.  We change to stay up with the times.

As a child I loved Animals and Wildlife.  We used to have some woods at the end of our street and I loved going in the woods to see what I could find, getting lost and finding my way out.  When I was in High School I wanted to be a Marine Biologist.  I thought about how amazing it would be to study the Oceans.  Not necessarily because of the Marine Life, but because the Oceans are virtually the only thing on the Planet that has not been completely overrun by Humans.  We can't build houses down there.  We do not have any Shopping Malls under water.  The Marine Life in the Oceans have the place to themselves.  How Amazing would that be?

Before I get too off topic here, the post also reminded me of Family Vacations.  Much of my Extended Family lives in Oklahoma and Kansas.  When we went to visit family I would get to spend weeks on Farm Property.  Acres upon Acres of Ranches.  I absolutely LOVED it.  I could ride Horses from Dawn 'til Dusk.  There were no houses as far as you could see!  Just Land!

Hiker Relaxing in the MountainsBut the one thing that JudyAnn's post reminded me of the most was a Road Trip through the Ozark Mountains that my family took as a child. 

I remember the Roads being Long and Winding.  It felt like it took forever to get anywhere but that was OK with me.  It was Gorgeous!  Just GREEN Mountains and Hilltops as FAR as you could see.  Nothing but trees, grass, flowers-occasionally a house. 

One house in particular caught my eye.  It was one Lonely house on top of a Huge Hilltop.  I remember telling my Dad "I want THAT house one day!"  It was not a Big house.  That is not why I wanted it.  It was the fact that it was the ONLY one you could see for miles.  It was so secluded that I can't even imagine what it would take to drive to it.

I remember thinking what it would be like to live in that house.  You could see for miles from your front porch.  You would be surrounded by Wild Life.  Real Wild Life.  Not Wild Life that has had to adapt to the Ever Changing Topography of the City and its Suburbs.  Imagine what that would be like!  You would be a guest on the Mountain. 

I think I was about 11 when we took that trip.  As you grow up you sometimes forget about those small Dreams.  Look around us now.  Everything has changed in the past 20-30 years.  Some towns are unrecognizable they have grown so much.  What happened to preserving some of our nations beauty?  Something tells me that if I drove down that road now, I would not be able to find that house I wanted so much

Imagine what it would be like if Large Towns would Redevelop Older or Abandoned areas instead of growing wider and larger.  Do you think that would ever work?  Will all of these New Construction Homes be needed 30 years from now?  Will the homes built in 1960 still be needed 30-40 years from now?  JudyAnn's post really got me thinking tonight.

 

 

This photo I borrowed from janeAnne Narrin.  How gorgeous is that!  Not a home to be seen.  The kid in me would still love to have a home on top of that big Mountain WAY in the back of the photo.  Thank you janeAnne for letting me use this!

Comments (57)

Mana Tulberg
805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA
Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA
Stephanie, Great post. I left my town when I was 18 and went back when I was 29. Everything was so different. As a matter of fact I needed tour guides just to get around town.
Aug 28, 2007 12:33 PM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor
 I grew up in New Zealand, and in that time it has gone from 2.5 million people to 4 million people.  Luckily, the rural areas are not overrun yet, but it is getting that way.  What has happened there is what has also happened here, just on a larger scale here.
Aug 28, 2007 12:51 PM
ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Stephanie~ 

I sure loved reading this thoughtful post...Thanks 10,000 times for your continued work to give us great reading. Like many others who commented here, I would not recognize my old neighborhood...disease got the old Elms on the once tree-lined streets ......but new trees have been planted and the 100+ year old homes are now in the process of restoration...

Aug 28, 2007 12:51 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Thanks Susie!!

Hi Dan,  Wal Mart is taking over huh?  :)  I am seeing the same thing with the large parcels here.  What used to be Family farm land is being sold and developed.  Where I used to be able to go watch cows, I can see homes now.  Kinda sad when you think about it.

Thanks Pamela, I saw you got one the other day!  Are you going to host the Meet and Greet this week?

Hi Rosario,  It is really something how different areas see development in different areas.  The closest thing we have to a Mountain here is the ant bed in our front yard.  It is pastures being developed here.  BUT, I bet..like I said, if I took a trip back to the Ozarks it would look quite different.  What are you seeing in your area?

Aug 28, 2007 01:11 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hi Gary,  Thanks for taking a walk down memory lane with us.  :)  I'm glad to hear that there are still some undeveloped areas.  The cities want all of the burbs don't they?  Seeing that here too.

Hi Jonathan,  Why not?  I agree. 

 

Aug 28, 2007 01:16 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hi Ann,  Wow.  I think you were lucky too.  Have you ever gone back to visit some of those places?  'Home is where the heart is' ...  Sounds like you and your sister understand the true meaning.  It is really about family.  Atleast to me.  ;)  Why don't you write a post about this?  That would be interesting.

Hi Mana,  A tour guide?  Really?  Your esxperience sounds like it would make a good post too!

Aug 28, 2007 01:21 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Joanne,  New Zealand?!?!?  Can you write a post and show us lots and lots of pictures?  Please???  :)
Aug 28, 2007 01:22 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hi janeAnne,  Thank you for the great compliment!  The homes are being restored?  That would be something to see. 

Your comment about the Tree lined streets..sounds gorgeous! I'm glad that they replanted some more.   AND it gave me a good idea for a post.  :)  I think I will head out with my camera tomorrow.

Aug 28, 2007 01:26 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy
That is one of the things I love about my hobby (see blog if you must).  There are several places I like to go that there is no evidnece people are anywhere within sight, sound or even radio range. 
Aug 28, 2007 01:37 PM
Rita Taylor
None - Sanford, NC
Sanford NC Real Estate - Homes for Sale in Sanford North Carolina

Stephanie,

Your blog reminded me of the family trip we took on the Blue Ridge Parkway a few years ago.  We drove the entire parkway and parts of it have views with no homes in sight.  There are some parts, especially near Roanoke, VA where development is backing up to this scenic road.  There were a few overlooks where pine trees have been planted to block the view of what used to be scenic hills but are now housing developments.

Aug 28, 2007 03:17 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!
Late to the party, it was Tristan's birthday today. I have too many of these memories for a comment. That would be a post! This is a great post Stephanie. You really write the posts the moderators like. Out of 159 posts you have had 30 features! That is awesome! Congratulations! Katerina
Aug 28, 2007 05:16 PM
Duane Hosek
Coldwell Banker - Lewis-Kirkeby-Hall - Rapid City, SD

Stephanie.........Great thoughts...............But life is for living now......in the present.........enjoy.

Congrats on your feature blog...........Duane Hosek in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Aug 28, 2007 06:30 PM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes
Nice posts. Always enjoy your writing. Thanks.
Aug 28, 2007 06:34 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro
Stephanie, I grew up in Kansas so your post brought back all kinds of childhood memories.  I would spend weeks on my cousins farm.  I however had a bad experience with a shetland so never took to horses; then had a daughter who was horse nuts and we ended up with a horse; life's little twist and turns.  My husbands Mom was from a farm in western Kansas so after meeting him I spent more time on a farm in Kansas.  Those old farm houses  are great memories.  We still have some of the antiques out of his grandpa's old farm.
Aug 29, 2007 09:32 AM
Ann Cummings
RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH
Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Stephanie - I just might, thanks for suggesting that.  I never would have thought to even consider, but I just may now.

I still am enjoying this post!!
Ann

Aug 29, 2007 10:13 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hi Lane,  I think I will visit your blog!  :)  Sounds very interesting.

Hi Rita,  Do you have any pictures from the Blue Ridge Mountains?  I would love to see them.  I can only picture what it would have been like to travel for miles with no homes.  Aaahh.  Nature.

Hi Katerina, Thanks!!  Happy B-day to your son and I can't wait to read that post!

Hi Duane,  Thanks!  I try to live for the day...but to live it for the future.  :)  Hope that made sense.

Thanks Bob and Carolin!

 

Aug 29, 2007 10:30 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hi Marchel, what part of Kansas?  That all sounds interesting.   I love horses, they are gorgeous animals!

Hi Ann, Glad you are still enjoying it!  I hope to see that post!

Aug 29, 2007 10:31 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Stephanie, I have relatives all over Kansas.  I am originally from Wichita.  My parents were from Kinsley, close to Dodge City, my cousins farm was in Waverly over by Burlington and my husbands grandpa's farm was in Alton up close to Osbourne.  His parents still own land up there, it has been in their family for over 100 years; that's a long time in the west.

Aug 29, 2007 10:39 AM
Debbie Cook
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc - Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring and Takoma Park Maryland Real Estate

My parent always lived in big ramblers (one story Homes).  I always wanted to live in a house with 2 stories (a colonial or a cape cod) with a staircase.  I had visions of being a bride and coming down a staircase or  throwing my bridal bouguet down some stairs, or having Rhett Butler carry me up some beautiful staircase!  Well I walked down the aisle in a church and threw my bouguet into a crowd on the dance floor at the reception - there were no staircases.  But - every house I have bought has had a staircase or steps and 2 stories. LOL

Aug 30, 2007 02:08 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hi Marchel,  my parents are from the Southern part of Kansas.  My Uncle that passed away years ago lived in Garden City...that was the last time I was up that far.  Everyone else lives in Oklahoma.  My Aunt lives in Medford (way Northern part).  Sounds like interesting land that your husband's family has!

Hi Debbie,  That's funny.  Maybe you can renew your vows and have your staircase.  :) 

Aug 30, 2007 08:42 AM