once upon a time....

Bryson Sr. went out to Salt Lake to a Conference sometime in October.

I was home with the children for the weekend, and by Sunday afternoon I needed a change of pace, and a change of scenery.  We drove home from church, and I quickly made a picnic lunch and packed up snacks and we hopped back in the truck for a drive up north.  North to the land which I'd heard so much about....Westchester. 

It's the suburbs for many that work in the city - that want to have a home, a yard, a life that might resemble normal in other parts of the country - but can still be a relatively short train ride or car ride into the city. 

When we were looking at housing back in the year when Bryson finished his internship, we actually drove out one day and looked at New Rochelle, one of the main cities in Westchester.  I remember standing in the apartment building and being completely wowed over by the view of the Long Island Sound...however, why live this far out of the city only to still by in an apartment?  We crossed the area off our list, as quickly as it has been suggested to go and take a look. 

The logic was - it would be easier to move out to the suburbs after time in the city --- but it's harder to move into the city after you have time in the suburbs.  That made sense to us - so we chose Roosevelt Island as our home.  And love it as we do - there are times where I do yearn for a home (or half a home, or whatever it is that they divide them into in areas where Real Estate is so high that they can put you into 1/4 of a home and call it a fabulous rental with a price that makes Las Vegans extremely jealous).  Also to have a yard.  And a permanent car - not just to rent from our very generous friends that let us use their truck on a regular basis during the week for a price that...well, okay we understand that prices here are just inflated and ridiculous...but hey, it's New York!  And schools that include many of the programs that are cut from here in the city, because....well, I don't know all the reasons why our budget keeps shrinking but I have yet to hear that any programs are cut out in the areas of Westchester and other such suburbs.  The property taxes there are incredibly ridiculous...but for us, we would never consider buying until....well, I think until we know where we would be permanently.  And that might only be at the end of this lifetime when we finally have someone buy our plots at a cemetery.  Until then - happy renters we will (try to) be! :)  

Anyway - on this day I drove out to Westchester with the children - particularly to an area I'd heard a lot about from two different friends who both were very impressed by the area, the schools and the overall small town charm within a short distance to Manhattan.  It's just a little bit north of New Rochelle - still on the water or close to the water of the Long Island Sound - beautiful Larchmont and Mamaroneck.  Two of the cutest most quaint little towns that I've ever seen!  They reminded me of Kalispell, Montana where my family lived for 4 blissful years - a truly idyllic little spot in the country...which will need to be another post, as I could write many a memoir of Kalispell.  {sigh} 

I was equally impressed with Westchester - and specifically the Larchmont and Mamaroneck area.  In fact, I called Bryson that night and told him I found where I wanted to move.  Now.  

In reality, we have no idea when we will move.  Our lease does expire here in Februrary - however, there is SO much to consider that although the Westchester area is definitely on our radar...it's nothing definite, and we just don't know.

Here are some of the pictures I took that day.  I had told the children we were going to look for some autumn colors, although I knew there would probably not be any or very few trees that would have changed that early.  I just really wanted them to come on the drive with me!  However, I was surprised and we did see some trees (okay 2!) that had changed color and were striking beautiful - however, I think I was more taken by the view of the harbor, boats and the beach that were right past the trees....

 I'm a spaz with pictures - I take entirely too many.  So, here are more than enough of the 3 climbing one of the best little trees that we found right by the end of the harbor ~

This little stretch gave me a slight "heart-attack"....bu then I realized it was not a subway - if one of the kids fell in, they would be wet...not dead.  Then I relaxed a bit, and let them enjoy the walk still precariously close to the edge of the wall, but trying to breathe normally with the fun adventure they thought this was!  

Beautiful public beach that I'm sure is packed in the summer months!

We watched a few fishermen from this little pier - the boys thought it particularly fascinating that the men would cut up some of the fish to use as bait for catching other fish.  Madeleine and I thought it was appropriately gross!

We had a really nice afternoon together - it was very needed and wonderful to get out of the city for a few hours, to walk around and see a new area.  It was also great for the children to remember once we did get out of the car that they do like one another and can tolerate one another - even have fun together!

I talked Bryson into a repeat visit out to Larchmont & Mamaroneck a few weeks after he had returned home.  We had slept in on that particular Sunday due to an intense work week where Bryson was in the office on average between 2-4am each night (morning?), and I was also exhausted from a week with the children and a few school events that had happened.  So, when we woke up at 9:40am and realized our church was starting in 20 minutes, or we could go and visit the ward our friends are in up in Westchester - which started at ONE o'clock....it was an easy decision!  And once again, I fell in love,  Probably even more in love.  Perhaps we won't move there in February - but then again, perhaps we will.  We shall just have to wait and see how this all pans out in the next few months.  

 Until then - these pictures make me super happy every time I look at them....and remind me to go and take another trip up to my favorite little towns {which I've been back to a few other times...it's one of the most enchanting places I've ever been!} - and I can't get over what a completely opposite view and feel it has from the city.  Each time I go, I love something from the city more and dislike it more - and like something about Westchester more and realize I'd actually miss the city if we did move. 

I wish someone would make this decision for us.