Are there just times, FBorFW readers, you want to move back into your childhood house? When I make visits to Port Angeles, Washington, I at times have a drive-by my childhood house.
The house I grew up in was built in 1740 and has now been passed down to my brother. He raised his family there too. I love to visit home and hope it can be passed down to my nephew. It’s now been in the family 65 years.
I would think most of us with happy childhoods and reasonably-decent houses would love to go back. I have seen my childhood houses a couple of times, but am hundreds and thousands of miles away, so I’ve done the google earth thing and felt sad aobut the changes- someone even filled in the pool. Badly. I had great childhoods with lots of neighbor friends, and wonderful front and back yards, pools to swim in (one down the bike path in the back of the house), and all sorts of adventures! Luckily, my kids have the same now. A pool they can walk to, on a “secret path” (phone company right-of-way), vacant lots to play in, neighbor kids all over the place (both nice and really annoying, because both are important learning), school bus, biking and playing 4-square in the cul-de-sac, sharing of pets….. it’s expensive and I wish we didn’t live here sometimes, so we’d be away from rich people and would have money to do more fun stuff ourselves, but I think memories like (kid memories of playing free with other kids and having little adventures) are pretty priceless.
We just sold my childhood home a few years ago when my Dad died. I still drive by there once in a while when I get back to California. My folks lived there for 54 years.
The house I really get nostalgic for is my grandparents home in Oregon. My grandfather had it built when my mother was a baby. I have so many fond memories of visits there. It’s a great place for a kid to grow up, there’s a tree-lined park right across the street with a huge sandbox and a great playground. I would love to sell out here in Nevada and buy that house.
Cold Spring, NY… But, they turned the garage into living space and the trees I planted 50 years ago are gone. The only good thing is so is the bayberry hedge. Man I hated that hedge.
@comicssfan;You were lucky to have woods to go to! we were surrounded by heavy traffic,industry,and of course the rail yards with their never ending racket.The nearest wooded area was a small park several blocks away,on the other side of a truck route,where drivers considered it fair play to terrorize kids trying to get to the park for an hour or two of relief from our urban jungle.
@ comicssfan;Of course my childhood recollections are from a grown-up perspective.As kids,we thought we were having the time of our lives,dodging traffic,hopping rides on trains,throwing rocks at rats etc. At least we were free range kids,risking life and limb on a daily basis!
Well,there you have it.I guess Thomas Wolfe was right,you can’t go home again.Its a nice thought sometimes,but for most of us we have grown up and apart from our humble childhood beginnings.I daily drove by the little home I grew up in delivering steel to one of the industries that surrounded us,and are still there today.It hasn’t changed much,except the new owners chopped out most of the trees. Sheesh!
Templo S.U.D. over 8 years ago
Are there just times, FBorFW readers, you want to move back into your childhood house? When I make visits to Port Angeles, Washington, I at times have a drive-by my childhood house.
Alphaomega over 8 years ago
The house I grew up in was a 600 sq ft bung next to the rail yards,so no, I don’t want to move back any time soon!
alviebird over 8 years ago
I’ve used Google Maps to visit all the places I’ve lived while growing up (Air Force brat). Try it.
Egrayjames over 8 years ago
The house I grew up in was built in 1740 and has now been passed down to my brother. He raised his family there too. I love to visit home and hope it can be passed down to my nephew. It’s now been in the family 65 years.
djcomm over 8 years ago
I hope Mike learns how to hold a hockey stick!
masnadies over 8 years ago
I would think most of us with happy childhoods and reasonably-decent houses would love to go back. I have seen my childhood houses a couple of times, but am hundreds and thousands of miles away, so I’ve done the google earth thing and felt sad aobut the changes- someone even filled in the pool. Badly. I had great childhoods with lots of neighbor friends, and wonderful front and back yards, pools to swim in (one down the bike path in the back of the house), and all sorts of adventures! Luckily, my kids have the same now. A pool they can walk to, on a “secret path” (phone company right-of-way), vacant lots to play in, neighbor kids all over the place (both nice and really annoying, because both are important learning), school bus, biking and playing 4-square in the cul-de-sac, sharing of pets….. it’s expensive and I wish we didn’t live here sometimes, so we’d be away from rich people and would have money to do more fun stuff ourselves, but I think memories like (kid memories of playing free with other kids and having little adventures) are pretty priceless.
JanLC over 8 years ago
We just sold my childhood home a few years ago when my Dad died. I still drive by there once in a while when I get back to California. My folks lived there for 54 years.
The house I really get nostalgic for is my grandparents home in Oregon. My grandfather had it built when my mother was a baby. I have so many fond memories of visits there. It’s a great place for a kid to grow up, there’s a tree-lined park right across the street with a huge sandbox and a great playground. I would love to sell out here in Nevada and buy that house.
Dr_Fogg over 8 years ago
Cold Spring, NY… But, they turned the garage into living space and the trees I planted 50 years ago are gone. The only good thing is so is the bayberry hedge. Man I hated that hedge.
Alphaomega over 8 years ago
@comicssfan;You were lucky to have woods to go to! we were surrounded by heavy traffic,industry,and of course the rail yards with their never ending racket.The nearest wooded area was a small park several blocks away,on the other side of a truck route,where drivers considered it fair play to terrorize kids trying to get to the park for an hour or two of relief from our urban jungle.
Alphaomega over 8 years ago
@ comicssfan;Of course my childhood recollections are from a grown-up perspective.As kids,we thought we were having the time of our lives,dodging traffic,hopping rides on trains,throwing rocks at rats etc. At least we were free range kids,risking life and limb on a daily basis!
Asharah over 8 years ago
SPOILER ALERT:No Brian, your Mom & Connie both need to be there when April is born during an ice storm.
Alphaomega over 8 years ago
Well,there you have it.I guess Thomas Wolfe was right,you can’t go home again.Its a nice thought sometimes,but for most of us we have grown up and apart from our humble childhood beginnings.I daily drove by the little home I grew up in delivering steel to one of the industries that surrounded us,and are still there today.It hasn’t changed much,except the new owners chopped out most of the trees. Sheesh!
josietn over 8 years ago
I actually DO live in my childhood home…. I love it!!