Seems like we got out in time. Since listing our home, two more divorces have cropped up on the old block. One the product of a failed business venture and hurt feelings over a mismanaged menage a trios. (they were never good at negotiating with third parties) The other was the picture of suburban bliss – he the aw shucks neighbour always with the goofy smile, she the prototypical stay at home mom, spit cleaning her shiny kids. Even in the midst of a separation they seem the picture of marital bliss. The strain must be killing them, they’re wound tighter than a 3 dollar watch.

It’s not to say I think divorce is a contagion I’ve avoided. It’s not like yawning. Still it’s a sharp contrast to where we find ourselves now. Sliding into middle age we’re nonetheless the young whippersnappers of the neighbourhood. Our neighbour Tony just attended the wedding of his GRANDson and spends his days puttering around his garden, tending his lawn with the occasional trip to Niagara Falls to scratch that gambling itch of his wife’s.

On the other side of us, Mary drives out everyday to the nursing home to bring her wheelchair bound husband home for lunch, wheeling him into their small kitchen for a shared meal. Over for a visit Mary’s husband Carl would reminisce of the days spent at the original Kitchener Farmer’s Market, wandering over to his friend Dom Cardillo to mitigate some parking tickets.

Rita across the road is trying to hold it all together. Two year ago her husband died, followed shortly after by the loss of her mother. She’s only just managed to get back into a routine only to suddenly be the caretaker to her son and his two kids as he navigates through a messy divorce. Suddenly she finds herself having to lay down ground rules as the grandkids tear through the doiley’d living room.

All of this is to say I’m grateful for my new neighbours. Sure they’re a little long in the tooth and maybe I won’t be sharing a beer with them in favour of tea (non-caffeinated thank you very much).  Instead of sharing poker stories we’ll be swapping gardening secrets. I just hope they stick around for awhile …and keep me out of any three way negotiations.