Neighbors >

When I bought my house, it was one of a few I considered buying. The others were of similar size, all situated in what might be the "nicest" neighborhood in Missoula. They were all pretty comparable in price.

The house I bought was the most centrally located. It was the most my style. My realtor said it was part of a great community of neighbors. The latter is not why I ultimately bought the house, but it was always in my mind. Because I've always had great neighbors in my life, some of whom were our neighbors when my great-grandparents built our house.

And I genuinely believe that great neighbors have an outsized impact on the experience you will have in your home. That has always been true for me, and it's true again with my current neighbors. While I know neighbors may come and go, I think, as a society, we underappreciate the impact great (or terrible) neighbors might have on our lives. In a country where many of us live far, far away from our families (also problematic), great neighbors can be great friends and sometimes fill the role that, traditionally, family might have in our lives.

I can't say we'll never move to a different house or neighborhood.

But I am pretty sure we won't as long as we have the kind of neighbors we do.