5 Things I Didn't Expect When Moving to the City

1.) Pride
There is a genuine feeling of pride by people that live in the city.  Going to high school in South Buffalo - I noticed it there.  I assumed it was a South Buffalo Irish thing.  Now, I live in North Buffalo and feel it too.  People are very proud to be from the city.

2.) Neighbors that Become Family
Figuratively and Literally!  I have developed amazing friendships with my neighbors.  City of Good Neighbors doesn't come close enough.....city of extraordinary neighbors is more like it. I say literally, because my father and step mother also moved into the neighborhood after a year of us being here.  My sister moved in with us two years later.  Now, the rest of our family talks about wanting to move here too.  They see how special it is!  And quite a few of our neighbors have their immediate family within walking distance.  Just ask the O'Sullivan compound in Parkside ;)

3.) Bats
OK, I wish I could only state positive facts about living in the city.  But, this took me by surprise.  There are friggin bats all over the city.  Living in Parkside, we have had 8 live bats over the past 5 years and 2 dead ones (possibly 9 as my husband is on the hunt for one right now after my dog started shaking).  The first one actually tested positive for rabies.  I have an exterminator scheduled, which will likely end up costing a couple grand.  Many of my other neighbors experience this, as well as friends in Elmwood Village and South Buffalo. So, have your tennis rackets, brooms, and coffee cans ready. Who would have thought?

4.) You Become a Preservationist
A preservationist by definition is: a supporter or advocate of the preservation of something, especially of historic buildings and artifacts.  In order to live in, and appreciate, a city home - you pretty much become a preservationist by default.  Odds are, you aren't living in a newer home.  In fact, it seems as if the older your home is - the more coveted it is.  And if you have original woodwork that's not painted...you are considered the "lucky ones."

5.) People Literally Pay and Line Up to See Inside Your House
The general public are infatuated with the history and architecture of older city homes.  All throughout the city, there are Home Tours: Parkside, Linwood, Delaware, Elmwood.  I had my home on the Parkside Tour this past May. Over 650 people walked through!