From Wildlife to "Wild Life" In Two Blocks

      What a difference a move makes.  I'm not talking about across the country or even to another part of the state.  Some things can be so different living in another neighborhood right in the same town.  It's not even that great of a distance; just a matter of two blocks.  That's it...only a couple minute walk from where I used to live to the location I reside at now.

      I moved into my old apartment back in the mid-1990's.  It was just a block east of the downtown business district, yet off the beaten path.  The spur of the street I lived on was the "beginning of the road", so to speak, but there were enough turn-arounds and access ways that it wasn't a dead end.  The three story building was the town's former hospital that had been converted into apartments and offices with residents mostly on the top floor.  My apartment had been one of two operating rooms and the recovery room.  It was on the back side of the building with a nice, large livingroom window overlooking the waterway in the rear.  This was a man-made "lake" on what was originally a river right in the middle of town.  When the Erie Canal was constructed, locks were added to the river to connect the north ends of two local lakes and a portion of the town was flooded to add depth for the passage of boats.

      Though it was private property, very few respected our home and there were always trespassers.  Our parking lot was used as a turn-around for traffic or you'd awaken in the morning to find a tractor trailer or two parked out back while the drivers slept.  Towns people would use it as a thoroughfare while out jogging or bicycle riding...or just walking their dog...and they thought nothing of leaving those smelly piles of puppy presents wherever poochie felt like pooping.  It was a favorite site for fishermen and you'd find a few families out there angling.  You'd also run across some of the young people partying or a pair of lovers slipping away for a romantic moment where they thought no eyes would spy them.  Some of the things I'd see from my window would have amazed you.  The way some of the people would jump when I'd yell out that window at them was even funnier.

      There was an occassional event on the lake that would bring a crowd to the waterfront.  When the regatta was held, I had the best seat in the house.  I could sit in my window and watch the start of each race.  Once the skulls would slip out of view, I'd walk out of the building's front door and be able to see the end of the races as the sprint was on to the finish line.  With an activity as such, our parking lot would be invaded by visitors in addition to the college crews using it as a staging area.  Trying getting your car out of that jam...or find a spot to park when you return home.   I'd let them know they were a guest on property where I lived and if they didn't move their oars, I was driving over them to get out.  There was also more than one I'd block in because I had no space to place my car outside my own home.  You inconvenienced me.  I'm just returning the favor. 

      When fireworks were held in town, they were always launched from a barge in the middle of the lake...and our property would fill up again.  The first show I lived there, I was ready to go out to the water's edge and sit at the picnic table to watch the display.  I brought out refreshments and snacks to enjoy while I relaxed.  Imagine my surprise when I found an entire family had taken over my table and were having their own party in preparation for the fireworks.  I ended up doing them one better.  I took my stuff up the stairs and out the top door and had my own private ringside seat on the roof overlooking the crowd.  I'm sure a few of them must have thought a flock of birds had flown overhead.  I sat up there with one of my favorite "toys"; a squirt gun filled with unscented hand lotion.  A couple quick pulls of the trigger and look out below!  Splat...splat.  It made for what they thought was a disgusting mess.  It made for a good belly laugh for me.

      We weren't under constant invasion.  There were many peaceful moments enjoying my own outback.  The sight was beautiful looking across the water.  Sometimes, I'd just sit on the rocks along the water and watch the boats come and go as they locked through going from one lake to the other.  There were other times, it was just me and the fauna; my own, private wildlife.  I made friends with many of them.  There was a flock of seagulls that used to bob on the waves in the warm sunshine.  They'd come ashore and stand on the pavement screeching for food.  I'd make a big batch of popcorn and feed them one piece at a time.  Some would walk right up to me to get their share.  Others would ride the current of the air and hover above me, gently taking the popped kernels from my fingers.  When the winter's weather broke, the ducks would return...a dozen or more.  They'd build their nests and settle in to raise their families.  Once the ducklings hatched, the proud parents would lead them through the water.  Up to 50 of them would gather at a time; babies scampering onto the shore exploring their little world while mama would stand guard.  One of the restaurants downtown saved their bread that wasn't used or went stale so I'd have something to feed my feathered friends.  There were some smaller mammals who called my home their's, too; muskrats, racoons, oppossums, rabbits; even an occassional deer passing through.  The grandest of the residents were the great blue herons who bypassed the nearby wildlife refuge and opted to become "city dwellers".  They were a sight to see gliding on their six foot wing span coming in for a landing to scoop up small fish to feed on.

      I moved to a nearby city 3 1/2 years ago and said goodbye to my home and my own little nature preserve.  I'd miss the animals and hoped they'd do well without their "guardian" looking out for their well-being.  I ended up relocating back here two years later, though I didn't even try getting a place at the buidling where I used to live.  I had too many possessions and had outgrown my old apartment.  I rented a larger place just a short distance away; a block west of the downtown area remaining on the road I had lived on before.  The name is the same, but the atmosphere was quite different. 

      I still had neighbors all around me; more sprawled out now; instead of concentrated in one spot.  The river is out back flowing along the village park just across from my backyard.  There are no banks, though; just walls that are straight down to the water to allow for boat docking.  With the walls and the boats, that means no vegetation and much disturbance, so the birds and animals don't have any safety to call that area their home.  While there was activity behind my old home occassionally, the park seems like it's always busy with various events going on from weddings at the gazebo to concerts to carnivals and festivals.  Every weekend there's something going on.  The traffic is quite the opposite, too.  Where a car would turn around or simply pass through before, now, there's almost an unending flow.  The part of the street I live on now is the main drag in the middle of town, which is also three highways joined together on their way through. 

      I used to have a church , library and town hall around me before.  A few people would come down to use their services.  Where I am now, there's an Italian restaurant open from late morning until late night, the dairy store next door which does a brisk business from 6 AM to midnight seven days a week and the community recreation center is out back west of the park.  The adults come and go, but there are tons of youngsters who are always around.  Mind you, I was no angel and I'm sure some of you weren't either when growing up.  We liked to have fun and hang out with our friends.  How many of us were allowed to roam the streets screaming, yelling and raising hell until all hours of the night?  I see kids as young as 14 or 15 wandering around still at 2 AM.  At that time of the night, you have a sneaking suspicion they're up to no good.  That's why the people of this neighborhood don't leave anything of value outside.  There's also the little drug dealers plying their wares all around this one block square.  Whatever you're looking for, I'm sure I can get for you...and have it delivered right to my door.  There's even one I call "Wheelie" who rides around in his motorized wheelchair peddling whatever he's selling.  He's up and down the street all day and night.  Funny how I can see what's going on but the police are blind to the problems.

      Home is what you make it, I guess.  I keep to myself for the most part and try to turn a blind eye to that which I don't care for.  There's not much else I can do but live and let live.  It's so different, even in a small town, from one block to the next; like day and night in some cases.  At least it's not dead in either spot...there's always some kind of activity going on.  Once in awhile, I'll stroll down the street to the area where I used to live, just to take a step back and enjoy the change of scenery.  From quacks and squeaks and squawks to squeals and honks and screams, I have to say, I still live in quite a wild world.