I've lived on my little dirt road in Idyllwild for many years. There are about 17 homes along the road, each with a respectable amount of space between them. We have our privacy, but over the years, I've come to realize just how fortunate I am to be surrounded by such good people.
A recent experience with a beautiful bobcat reminded me of that.
I've been seeing a bobcat around my property quite frequently. She's magnificent, and I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to observe her. But I also know that living alongside wildlife comes with certain risks, especially for our pets.
One of my neighbors has cats that travel along the same path where I've been seeing the bobcat. I started worrying about them, so I reached out to make sure everyone was accounted for.
He told me that one of his cats, Ben, had been missing for two days.
I could feel the worry in his response and how much he loved that cat. As someone who shares her home with six cats, I understood exactly what he was going through. I was worried, too. Suddenly, my beautiful bobcat sightings had taken on a different meaning.
The following day, I received a text. Ben had come home!
My neighbor said he would finally be able to get some sleep. That one little comment said so much about the two days he'd spent worrying about his cat. I was so relieved for both of them.
Then something else happened.
That same neighbor noticed that a section of my fence was falling down and offered to fix it for me. I hadn't asked. He just noticed something that needed attention and offered to help.
It was such a thoughtful gesture, and it got me thinking about all the little ways my neighbors make my life better.
There's another neighbor who takes care of our dirt road. He buys gravel, spreads it with his tractor, and plows when we get snow. It's a lot of work, not to mention the expense, and I'm grateful for the time and effort he puts into keeping our road in good shape.
Across the street lives a neighbor who keeps an eye on my place. If she hasn't seen me in a while, she'll reach out to make sure I'm okay. It's such a simple thing, but there's something deeply comforting about knowing someone notices when you're not around.
And then there are the dogs.
Quite a few of my neighbors walk their dogs along our road. If I happen to be outside, I love stopping to chat with them. Truthfully, I'm probably just as excited to see the dogs as I am the people! I've gotten to know some wonderful neighbors through those brief encounters. Sometimes we catch up on what's happening in our lives, and sometimes it's just a quick hello and a little attention for a happy dog.
Those moments are a lovely part of my day.
A few of my neighbors also host an annual potluck, giving all of us a chance to get together, share some food, and learn a little more about one another. It's nice to sit down and have a real conversation with people we might otherwise only see waving from their cars or walking along the road. I appreciate the neighbors who make the effort to bring everyone together.
One of the things I love about living here is that we don't need to be involved in one another's daily lives to care about one another. We can go days or weeks without seeing each other, yet there's a quiet awareness that we're all here, sharing this little stretch of mountain road.
I've lived here long enough to know that neighbors come and go, circumstances change, and life isn't always easy. But I'm grateful for the people who happen to be my neighbors today.
For the man who loves his cat so much he can't sleep when he's missing. For the neighbor who spends his time and money maintaining our road. For the woman who checks on me when she hasn't seen me. For the neighbors who open their homes and bring us together. And for all the friendly faces, wagging tails, and spontaneous conversations that make an ordinary day a little brighter.
Sometimes I feel like I live in the best neighborhood imaginable. But after all these years in Idyllwild, I know that the kindness I've experienced isn't unique to my little road. There are good people looking out for one another all over this mountain.
Still, I feel especially lucky to have landed right here, among these particular people.
I don't know if any of them realize how much I appreciate them.
I hope they do.
