Location, Location, Location!

That is the mantra right?  We are currently on several short lists and "haven't been ruled out" on two.  Nobody is in a hurry and we have been snubbed twice now due to location.  We live in the most highly desired school district in the parish, just outside of the super mega "French Branch Estates"(which incidentally, floods if you sneeze that direction), have never flooded, in a cluster of newer well taken care of subdivisions with home owner's associations and the like.  You would think the advantage would be ours, so far not the case.  

 

There is this subdivision, Bel Air, that was quite comparable to ours before Katrina.  Similar floors plans and styles, good schools, not great, but good and although further from New Orleans, close to the freeway and still a doable commute.  After Katrina people got out and sold their homes to all those from New Orleans East that were flooded out. The atmosphere is very different there now.  We were looking there when we first came here, big houses with small price tags.  Every single person we talked with, even realtors who can't legally say it and stay realtors, told us to stay away.  Driving around before talking with anyone we got an erie feeling. The prices were awesome and there was the advantage of never flooding.  But something was just weird, off in some way.  Talking with people, complete strangers in Target parking lot and people we knew better, we got a better picture.  Drug and Gang problems, race issues in the schools - even in elementary school. Lots of negative and nothing positive, besides more house for your money.  It has changed for the worse even in the short time we've been here.  There is now a security guard that drives the streets, a lot of good it has done.  Every time I have been there, no matter what time of day or night, there are large groups of kids, from about 7 years old through late teens, just hanging out in the streets.  They don't move when you drive by, you have to navigate around them and they glare at you as you go by.  The last time I was there, to deliver something to one of my playschool kids, I couldn't get by them and sat and waited. There was no other route to take as she lives on a cul de sac.  I waited and waited, they swore at me and trash talked me, I turned the music up so my kids wouldn't hear.  Just at the point I was going to leave, they parted the ways enough to squeeze by.  I had to go through the same thing when I left.  My kids were wondering why everyone looked so angry and didn't smile or wave back at them.  Everyone I know that lives there has their house for sale and wants out.  

 

Why am I telling you this?  Because I am frustrated and quite frankly, dumbfounded at how this neighborhood could possibly be our competition now.  Twice now, no make that three times I forgot one, our house has lost out to one in Bel Air that is basically identical to ours but $40,000 cheaper, and in worse shape.  I get that it's a lot of money, but what are you buying with that money saved?  Bars on your windows, bullet proof glass, extra insurance policies for theft of jewelry, vehicle damage and such.  Oh and don't forget the granite counter tops that you'll be able to afford.  Good thing cause you'll be too afraid to step outside so you better make it great inside. Good luck reselling it.  When people talk about it now it's the neighborhood to stay away from. The schools to stay away from.  I am not meaning to sound like a snob.  I just thought location meant something.  Apparently I don't know as much as I thought I did.  

So we sit and we wait for someone that wants a great deal and a great location.  ...And... we miss Daddy, and we pout, and we get over ourselves, and then we do it all over again because it's just not fun to be at the mercy of other's decisions.  All I know is, it is getting increasingly hard for me to have any kind of drive or passion for living this life here that I just want to be over.  There are lessons of being in the moment and experiencing "now".  Sometimes I get really tired of learning.  I guess that says a lot about me and I suppose it has everything to do with why we are going through this.  

 

I have four beautiful and healthy kids, enough money, a stable and enjoyable job for my husband,  clothes, food ... how can I possibly complain?  I don't know, but I seem to manage just fine.  That RV is looking better and better all the time.  I love that I can vent here in cyberspace.