Welcome to the neighborhood

I have to say, I'm very happy with the neighborhood I've moved to. Sure, it takes an hour or more to get downtown. Sure it's not always the cleanest (and many dog owners don't feel the need to clean up after their dogs). But there are several really cool aspects. They aren't unique to this neighborhood, necessarily, but still they are things that didn't exist in the 'burg nor in my other neighborhood in Manhattan.

For one, many people here are super nice. In fact, I've had more nice conversations with strangers here than in the 'burg, and they are the kind that are just friendly conversations (usually about Dante). Of course, everyone has been fawning over Dante. I've heard the usual "He's so beautiful," or "such a sweet dog," as well as the more cynical "that ain't no pit bull so that's a good dog." Either way at least once a day I'm stopped because everyone loves him (and who couldn't?).

Also, the kids in this neighborhood are well behaved! They say "please" and "thank you." When they hold a door open for me (!) and I say "thank you," they say "you're welcome." They come to pet Dante and ask if they can before doing so, and they do it gently and politely. They are actually good kids here. Not like my old neighborhood in Manhattan, where the kids were assinine brats!

And honestly, I'm a minority of sorts in this neighborhood, and I've never felt so much a part of it (while still being new here). It's kind of interesting, and yes, it's yet another thing about this city that makes it so great.