Charlestown

If you read my earlier post, Avolli Anew, you know that there have been some changes in my life over the past few months.  Some were good, some not so good, but none were really bad (thank goodness).  One of the really good changes that I did not mention earlier is that we will be moving to Boston sometime in the next few months.  There are a few major details that need to get worked out first but while I am waiting for that to happen I have been researching where we might want to live. 

It has been a long time since I have had to consider real estate and I have found it extremely exciting to think about.  Do we want urban or suburban?  Do we want house or condo? Do we want big or small?  How many bedrooms do ‘empty nesters’ need?  These are all fun propositions that, for the most part, don’t have simple answers.

The one question that was simple to answer was urban vs. suburban.  We decided that we absolutely want an urban experience.  We want to be able to open the door and walk to great restaurants, the theater, shopping, and museums.  Since we don’t need to worry about school systems, yards for swing sets, or streets suitable for tricycles anymore, we knew it was time to redefine how we live our lives. With that issue settled, the next question is which urban neighborhood is just right for us? 

On Wednesday I took a small step towards learning more about one of the notable communities in the Boston area:  Charlestown. Charlestown is an historic community that is famous for the battle of Bunker Hill, the USS Constitution, and most recently it was the setting for Ben Affleck’s 2010 film, The Town.

As I enjoyed a self-directed walking tour, I snapped a few pictures that capture some of the best of this beautiful community.

  

This next image is a 'two-fer'.  The Bunker Hill Monument is in the background and a Freedom Trail monument is in the foreground.

Here are some images of the many beautiful doors that welcome people home...

This next image is of the building that was used in the movie The Town (we are huge fans in our house).  This entire block faces the Bunker Hill Monument park and I would go crazy to live in one of the units.  They are beautiful, well maintained and have an amazing view of the obelisk.

Remember the scene in The Town when Doug MacRay (played by Ben Affleck) pulls up outside his girlfriends house and finds a funeral arrangement hanging on the gate?  Well, here is the gate...

To make my day even better, I met a nice young woman out walking her dog along the Bunker Hill Monument Park.  But it wasn't just any dog...it was a Bernese Mountain Dog.  If you've followed my blog in the past you"ll know that I am a freak about BMD's.  His name was Charlie.  He was 7 months old and was as sweet as they come.  Seeing Charlie out for a walk gave me pause to wonder if it was a sign.  You know, one of those divine interventions that tell you that you're either doing the right thing or the wrong thing.    If it was a sign then it was definitely telling me that I'm doing the right thing...however, it may not be the right place.  You see, as beautiful as Charlestown is, I think it may not be the right place for us.  Time will tell...more exploring to do.  

I'll keep you posted.