Since my kids had been living behind walls in their previous lives I knew I needed to get them grounded in a community and building those relationships as soon as possible. Today just shy of 2 years on our street we feel as though we are right where we belong. We live in an agricultural community made of rolling hills and small fields that are hand tilled and pieced together like a blockwork quilt. We know most of our neighbors by name and have been accepted by the majority of them as part of the community just as we are. The older boys often rush through their homework after school so they can head out for a game of pick up soccer in whatever field is laying shallow at the time. Farmers will plant four crops and then let the ground rest during the fifth season before they plant again. Thankfully, they don’t mind the community kids using the space for sports until it’s time to plant again. Neighbors, like our good friend Antilise, will come and check on us almost every day, and bring us any word of mouth news floating about that he thinks we should know. Almost everyone knows that they can come knock on our gate in an emergency, especially in regard to immediate medical attention. Since the hospital is a few miles away and no public cars runs at night I am the fastest option to drive them to get care.