What did you do this weekend in your neighborhood?

Friday night, we went down to our neighborhood clubhouse located at the confluence for the James and Pagan Rivers, for dinner and drinks with our friends and neighbors and caught up on the week's events. Saturday, we gathered again at the yacht club for an afternoon of college football as our favorite college team played an away game. (Yep, a few golden beverages were enjoyed again). Sunday, we enjoyed the beautiful sunshiny day and took our 23' SeaRay Sun Deck out for an afternoon cruise on the James. Life is Good!

It occured to me that we are very lucky to have a riverfront club complex, marina, and a neighborhood of friends and neighbors to share our life experiences, and a place to interact together. Our kids are now either in college or about to finish their high school careers, and we're very fortunate to live in a community where we have this great sense of community.

Our kids have had the benefit of growing up in a fabulous waterfront community, where they've experienced wonderful kids' camps in the summer, learned how to sail with the summer junior sailing club, learned how to play tennis and volleyball, and made bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime. They've grown up fishing, skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, canoeing, and they've had the benefit of making many happy memorable moments with their friends and family right here in their own neighborhood.

Weekends in the summer are unreal. Whether it's a boat up the James to one of the private sandy beaches, a short spin up to the Smithfield Station Boardwalk, or the seafood ("marguaritaville" style) joint- Chuck-a mucks, or a run across the Chesapeake Bay to the Tikki Bar, we know we are lucky to have this special opportunity. A place where friends and neighbors can share life experiences and enjoy life.

If you're ever in the Hampton Roads area in the summer, come on down to the Gatling Pointe Yacht Club marina one summer Saturday afternoon...you'll probably want to drop anchor here for good.

Note: Gatling Pointe is a waterfront community nicely removed from the city adjacent to the historic town of Smithfield, VA. (Approx. 500 single family homes - prices range from $300's to $1 million). Smithfield is a former Colonial seaport town established in 1750, approximately 30 minutes from Norfolk, VA and 20 minutes to Hampton, VA. For more information about Gatling Pointe and other East West Communities in VA, check out www.eastwestcommunities.com .