Our Local Community – Inspiration for the Philosophy

Because Mike and I felt so fortunate to have enjoyed a tight community of friends down in Virginia in the early years of our relationship, we intentionally were looking for a community-oriented town when we moved back to the Chicago area where I grew up.   Arlington Heights fit the bill.

The town offered great proximity to Chicago in terms of a reasonable train commute, along with many cultural and recreational opportunities while providing the benefits of a suburban life – more living space for less money, generally less traffic, more parking, easier access to routine shopping, and a backyard to enjoy.

More importantly, it was a welcoming community with a variety of neighborhoods and housing types, many green, open areas in which to recreate, and a vibrant downtown with many dining and entertainment options.  The calendar continues to be filled with events year-round that residents of Arlington Heights and surrounding communities flock to, such as free concerts in the summer, the annual holiday tree lighting, various 5Ks and 10Ks, and the biggest extravaganza, Frontier Days over the July 4th weekend.  

But what we’ve always found most special is that our town lives up to its motto of the “City of Good Neighbors.” When Mike and I first moved here, we rented the top floor of a duplex over a single mom and her two teenage daughters. Right away, we noticed our clothes were folded in the shared basement laundry room and the snow was shoveled for our car during the first snowstorm. As Mike always likes to say “Chicago's weather fosters a stronger sense of community – we're all in the bad weather together!” When there were heavy snows, people around our duplex would work together to make sure we could all get our cars out of the driveway. 

When we purchased our home at 631 North Drury Lane in 2000, neighborliness continued. Neighbors watched out for one another, ranging from small gestures such as noticing if a garage door is left open or gathering mail when a neighbor is out of town to generous support such as watching a neighbor’s newborn regularly while mom takes the rest of the kids to school or bringing a neighbor homemade food when someone is ill. In more recent years, the full street block parties, regular happy hours, and holiday gatherings make it a truly standout neighborhood in a time when people on many streets around the world are more connected to their phones, their work, and don’t even know their neighbors. When new residents move in, they are often delighted to find out how cohesive, social, and supportive the neighborhood is.

When Mike and I chose to stay instead of move, we were really choosing the most precious gift a community can give: the warm sense that tells you “I belong.”