You can go home again...... (Nashua, Conway: crime, houses, neighborhood)

[Katlakat]

You always hear, "You can't go back home" or "home isn't the same once you grow up". I found for my husband traveling back to Michigan after he grew up wasn't the same for him.

But for me.....going back home to New Hampshire was a dream come true.

Not only is my crazy family outta here, but I traveled last weekend back to Brentwood, NH where it all began for me.

Did I ever tell you guys I started out in this world as a transplanted Mass gal? Lynn became overpopulated with crime and gangs so my father moved us to the country, and Brentwood was the name. We only stayed 3 years before my father moved us again to Nashua where I graduated high school, but Brentwood was where I first felt the magic of NH flowing through its forests and communities.

I just moved back from Texas and Illinois to NH almost two years ago and kept dreaming of my house in Brentwood. It was a bright golden yellow two story with a gorgeous Oak tree in the front yard. A cascading rock fence followed the contour of the hills that led back to the blueberry bushes on the picket fence. 2.5 acres of landscape with rolling hills and forestry became my imaginary Sherwood Forest complete with knights, white horses, and occasional woodchuck.

I drove back to Brentwood, rte. 111A last weekend to experience my neighborhood after 25 years. The trees are lush, overgrowth was groomed and gorgeous, the colonials were upkept, the gardens......wow I am sorry I did not bring a camera (the homeowners might have thought me nuts to snap pics of their houses).

It was a breathless journey that made my husband scratch his head. He said, "no wonder you love to write fantasy fiction and poetry, I'd believe Walt Whitman lived on this street!" It was that magical.

I now see just how hard dad had to work to pay for such a piece of the American dream so lush. Those houses must cost a fortune in property taxes.

So, I went back home, and it was better than I remembered.

It was beautiful, magical, and a piece of my heart is whole again as I am inspired to cheer at everyone living in NH who keeps it sacred.

May your journey home today or in the future be a blessing, a delight, and magical moment that plants a smile on your happy heart.

Your journey awaits!

[GregW]

You are a most fortunate artist.

[WannaComeHome]

wow, that's just beautiful, Katla! I kinda know how you feel about 'going home'. I enjoy going back to Hollis where I lived most of my childhood, but I kept wanting to know how to get to New Ipswich (where we started). Funny how we ended up buying in and beside New Ipswich. Everything I remember is still there, (plus a bit more built up). I hope the magic keeps working for you.

[touretteboy65]

Originally Posted by Katlakat

You always hear, "You can't go back home" or "home isn't the same once you grow up". I found for my husband traveling back to Michigan after he grew up wasn't the same for him.

But for me.....going back home to New Hampshire was a dream come true.

Not only is my crazy family outta here, but I traveled last weekend back to Brentwood, NH where it all began for me.

Did I ever tell you guys I started out in this world as a transplanted Mass gal? Lynn became overpopulated with crime and gangs so my father moved us to the country, and Brentwood was the name. We only stayed 3 years before my father moved us again to Nashua where I graduated high school, but Brentwood was where I first felt the magic of NH flowing through its forests and communities.

I just moved back from Texas and Illinois to NH almost two years ago and kept dreaming of my house in Brentwood. It was a bright golden yellow two story with a gorgeous Oak tree in the front yard. A cascading rock fence followed the contour of the hills that led back to the blueberry bushes on the picket fence. 2.5 acres of landscape with rolling hills and forestry became my imaginary Sherwood Forest complete with knights, white horses, and occasional woodchuck.

I drove back to Brentwood, rte. 111A last weekend to experience my neighborhood after 25 years. The trees are lush, overgrowth was groomed and gorgeous, the colonials were upkept, the gardens......wow I am sorry I did not bring a camera (the homeowners might have thought me nuts to snap pics of their houses).

It was a breathless journey that made my husband scratch his head. He said, "no wonder you love to write fantasy fiction and poetry, I'd believe Walt Whitman lived on this street!" It was that magical.

I now see just how hard dad had to work to pay for such a piece of the American dream so lush. Those houses must cost a fortune in property taxes.

So, I went back home, and it was better than I remembered.

It was beautiful, magical, and a piece of my heart is whole again as I am inspired to cheer at everyone living in NH who keeps it sacred.

May your journey home today or in the future be a blessing, a delight, and magical moment that plants a smile on your happy heart.

Your journey awaits!

Did you move back or was it just a vacation trip back home? We're less than a year and a half from moving out of Florida to New Hampshire; we can't wait!!! My wife is not crazy about the winters, but she says she'll adjust. We just came back from a trip to the Conway area and I was able to show her much of the state that I could only describe to her or show on the Internet. Once she realized how beautiful your state is and the difference in terms of quality of life, she was sold. Now, our two daughters will be able to grow up in an area the way growing up should be. I really enjoyed reading your post; I only wish I could have remained "up North" during my childhood rather than growing up in Florida, but, no sense in dwelling on the past. Great picture, by the way.

[lisa g]

Kat, I understand your sentiments exactly and feel entirely the same way about NH. Like you I am also thrilled and grateful (and relieved) to have been able to return here, even though I only previously lived here for a few yrs. in the 90's. I can honestly say that maturity combined with experiencing the quickly diminishing quality of life in 3 other states (not at all similar to popular idealogical versions you hear from people w/out such experience) has made me truly appreciate NH. While it has changed from the NH I remember of the 90's, it has not changed at the rate of other places which have gone from nice to unacceptable seemingly overnight. It would be very sad to lose the quality of life we all enjoy, so hopefullly a majority of NH residents appreciate it as much and are willing to work hard enough without becoming dependents as we see to our south to keep this place beautiful.

Good for you for appreciating the place you were privileged to grow up in (despite what you call a 'crazy family'). And what a good call on your father's part to get your family out of Lynn!

[Ken E]

Kat, Thank you for your post. Brentwood definetly is a special place. I grew up not far from there and had some friends there. I spent most of my life in that general area until i moved down here 8 years ago. I honestly believe there's no place like home. We bought a place up by Ossipee a couple years ago and are just waiting to sell this place down here so we can return "HOME". There are some places that i know of from growing up stuck way back in the woods that will never ,ever change so i'll always be able to go back to the N.H. that i knew as a kid. Thank God for that.

[MovedfromFL]

What a lovely post! I grew up in the Orlando area & have fond memories, but only because my family owned a large amount of land for me to explore. (and back in the 70's - 80's, it was still decent down there) Every time I returned home from college in the mid 90's, there was so much new development. Nothing is permanent there and there is not a great sense of community because people are always moving in and out. I just went back last year and didn't even recognize certain parts of the place. There is certainly nothing magical about it for me anymore. (but I do love to visit the old homestead & my parents still live there.)

My childhood was idyllic and I want to give that same gift to my two boys, ages 3 and 1. My husband also has a fondness for his youth spent in the Sparta, NJ area. We are starting to realize that although we made a good coming to north Georiga from Orlando, it might not be the best bet for our family long term. We are doing some research into NH as a possible place for our "forever home." I guess our timeframe would be 1-2 years from now, depending of course on economic factors.

From the prior post, it sounds like someone else from FL has the same idea! I'm also scared about facing a real winter up there. I think I would be ok as long as there are some sunny days and not just endless gray.

[Katlakat]

Originally Posted by GregW

You are a most fortunate artist.

Thank you. I am very pleased to be so humble, I tried being not so humble and it wasn't as fun!

[Katlakat]

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

wow, that's just beautiful, Katla! I kinda know how you feel about 'going home'. I enjoy going back to Hollis where I lived most of my childhood, but I kept wanting to know how to get to New Ipswich (where we started). Funny how we ended up buying in and beside New Ipswich. Everything I remember is still there, (plus a bit more built up). I hope the magic keeps working for you.

And I hope to pass it along to all of you. It's because of this forum I was able to crawl out of my sadness in Illinois and dream of coming home. Val told me here to send away for my free visit nh booklets that led me home.

That's what we're here for, to help others make a home, choose a home, or just to come back home.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Katlakat

And I hope to pass it along to all of you. It's because of this forum I was able to crawl out of my sadness in Illinois and dream of coming home. Val told me here to send away for my free visit nh booklets that led me home.

That's what we're here for, to help others make a home, choose a home, or just to come back home.

I am quite happy for ya
I did the extreme "flatland" experience when I lived in NW Indiana. The only nice thing about it with regards to scenery were some of the forests. However, it was so FLAT and WINDY.