Making friends with the neighbors

So, when we lived in New Mexico, we didn't know any of our neighbors. We had plenty of neighbors. We lived in a nice, safe suburban-like neighborhood where tons of children would ride their bikes in the cul-de-sac, where lots of kids would ring our doorbell selling candy bars, popcorn and cookies. It was the cookie-cutter neighborhood of the Southwest.

I hated it.

Here's the thing. I'm 26 years old. We are a young couple. We like going out, partying, hanging out friends and being irresponsible. I am not yet to the point in my life where I am comfortable worrying about what my kids are wearing for Halloween. I am not the point in my life where my number one concern is where my kids are going to preschool.

Now, mind you, it's not that I dislike these people. I obviously don't. I have plenty of friends who ARE in that place in their life and I most certainly do not begrudge them for their life choices. However, just like I'm supposed to respect their life choices, they should, in turn, respect my life choices of still being a kid.

I say all of this because our neighbors now are much more my speed. Both husband and wives work. Both are kid-less. Both have been married after age 24. Both have college educations. We are really close to these neighbors and we're really enjoying having them to hang out with. I have come to realize that you make friends with people that are similar to you much easier than making friends with people who are in a different stage in their lives.

In other words, this neighborhood is much more our style than our NM one. Yesterday, we had an impromptu picnic after the Texas game in our backyard. We threw the football around in our front yard while we made sandwiches, ate chips and sipped on some delicious Colorado beer on our porch. At one point, we had four dogs playing in our backyard - having a blast. Then, after our lunch, we took it to the neighborhood streets where we played a pick-up game of football. After that, we went inside and played hours of Beatles Rock Band and regular Rock Band. Finally, everyone went to their separate corners/houses and enjoyed the fact that we have neighbors that we enjoy.

I like having friends around the corner. :D