@BusyMommy When my son was little he had the swing set and all the junk but the kids wanted to play out front. We had 3 or 4 Moms on our street and one of us would just be out there to make sure they behaved and was safe. We worried more about crazy drivers and never the thought a shooter would try and kill them. It is a sad time but I remember going to that area when my son was trying to find a house and it was pretty bad a few years ago.

@ladybeachbum It is bad, and I feel for the good people who don't have any other options. We should be so thankful for our safe neighborhoods.

@BusyMommy That was what I was thinking. First homes are not always where we want to be. It is hard to rent or buy when you are young now. We decided that since we are gone a lot that my son should just live here until he could buy something in a better neighborhood. We rarely see him unless he is hungry and was good to have around this morning at 2 am when I was taking a bunch of trash out from cleaning a closet. We are both night people.
I guess you just have to make the best of where you can live and be able to afford it.

Our first home was in Kenswick. Still hang out with those neighbors today, they are all officially family. We loved it. But we didn't love the schools.

I still have friends in Kenswick.love Jesse Jones Park and the kids loved all the activities there

This is why I don't mind when all of the non-neighborhood kids come trick-or-treating out here in the burbs. I couldn't imagine the despair of not having a safe neighborhood environment for my children where they can safely trick-or-treat, wait for a school bus or play outside. Some coworkers who became dear friends opened my naïve eyes to their struggles living near the 59 and Tidwell area.

@ladybeachbum
My first home is here in the South. I've raised my girls here, involved myself in the community and paid it off.My senior is at TAMUCC my sophomore is at AHS.No regrets but now I'm beginning to think I will die in this house. With economy the way it is there is no reason to sale if paid off.Off topic maybe but thought I would share.

@lynnsgirl I totally understand. My first house was in Pinehurst and probably one of the lowest then 5 years later maid an offer on a big house that was supposed to be an investment and sell in two years. I thought we would never be able to pay for it but here we sit many years later and the same thing, paid off and really no place I want to go....well, except to the beach! Our neighbors are life friends and it is a comfortable situation. But then, no one's shooting up my street.