There goes the neighborhood, or are we just grouchy retired people?

I took photo of my grandparents house in PA. Crime scene tape, murder on porch, hot tub full of trash and weeds, duplex covered in antennas and cable tv cords, abandoned. Nearby lots vacant after houses torn down. Great grandmother brick house still there, harder to chop up into rent a dump.
My paternal grandparents’ house had a wood stove, a hand pump in the kitchen and one out back, for water from a well. Speaking of out back, there was an outhouse, supplemented by a chamber pot for nighttime business. Our town didn’t get a sanitary sewer system until the early 70s, and still doesn’t have a storm drainage system, other than piecemeal. But we did have what was lovingly known as “stink ditches”.
 
I bought in Raleigh across street from prostitute and crack house. 20 years later they blithely drink wine on the porch I saw cops shoot deranged naked man with needle. Some places have died, others have thrived. So it goes.
My immediate neighbor had big impact on my leaving Raleigh. Threats, property line violations, tried to list my property for sale and set lowball offer to lure in lunatics.
I will never live in a government town again. But I bought low, did steady low cost repairs, and sold high. So it goes.
 
A familiar story-We custom built our "forever" house just outside of a distant suburb of Chicago, 4,600 sf/2.5 acres, in 1981. I was 31 yrs old. We loved it, our kids grew up in a great community with excellent schools and a super low crime rate. All of the families on our block had done like us and several of us worked happily for the same company. Unincorporated area and we all liked that.
But as neighbors left for retirement/divorce/death, the community atmosphere gradually dissipated. New residents weren't mean, just unsocial. Then some houses became rentals. Multiple pickup trucks parked in the front yard. We still loved the house and yard but they were more than us empty nesters needed. Stairs in the house became a chore.
We moved to a smaller house in a nearby Del Webb community last year, some good aspects and some bad, but overall an improvement for us. Nothing is forever.
 
I took photo of my grandparents house in PA. Crime scene tape, murder on porch, hot tub full of trash and weeds, duplex covered in antennas and cable tv cords, abandoned. Nearby lots vacant after houses torn down. Great grandmother brick house still there, harder to chop up into rent a dump.
A couple of years back, I went to see the house my mom grew up in. It was gone. Just a bare lot in a tiny farming village. No idea what happened. My cousin who had lived there for many years had passed several years ago. I always thought the house was sturdy and well built. Certainly not a "tear down" nor was it in an area where anyone would tear it down to build something else. Maybe a fire?? So few relatives left and I visit even fewer, so I haven't heard the story.
 
My guess is that some of your neighbors are struggling. Both parents working outside the home and then there are the kids activities. Also, since you were there first, maybe they think you do not want to be bothered.
Now that the weather is warming up, maybe get the ball rolling by inviting everyone over for a potluck picnic some afternoon. Also, maybe ask your neighbors if they minded if you put their trash cans by their garage after the truck has been through. Yes, a little more work on your part but think of it as not only exercise but a way to divert grumpiness.
 
I want to thank everyone for sharing all of your thoughtful replies. Now we just need to come to an agreement. DH is leaning more toward "let's stay and make the best of it", while I am beginning to see the possibility of "let's sell it".
 
I’m attaching a picture of our “forever home “. It was on 3 Acres, 6 miles outside of a small town, and We loved it. But that was 15 years ago. Life happens. Kids get older as do we.

Now we live in a small town in a condo. Miss the yard work but we have beautiful grounds and gardens and walking trails and great neighbors. Everything is nearby. Medical care is close by.

The young couple that bought our forever home are enjoying raising their children in it. Sadly, and happily, we came to acceptance that it wasn’t the neighborhood that changed, it was us. Wishing you all the best.
 

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We still cruise through the old neighborhood. So many great memories, but each time DW and I look at each other and say "we don't miss it at all".

In a way, our departure marked the end of the good vibes for the enclave. We realized that we were fighting a rising tide.
 
We paid $130K in 1995 and could probably get about $350K today. Our annual tax bill is $5800.
By the way, your tax bill seems incredibly high. I pay less than that amount for two properties in Colorado.
I agree. I also live in Colorado. My house is valued just about 3x what yours is, and my tax bill is only about $200 more than yours.
 
Retired 17 yrs ago. Downsized and moved into a new community. Everyone was nice, BUT, everyone was 32-34, husband and wife both worked, with two kids going to soccer and ballet. They were nice, but no connection, no community. After 8 yrs, moved to a 55+ community. Could not be happier.
 
I’m attaching a picture of our “forever home “. It was on 3 Acres, 6 miles outside of a small town, and We loved it. But that was 15 years ago. Life happens. Kids get older as do we.

Now we live in a small town in a condo. Miss the yard work but we have beautiful grounds and gardens and walking trails and great neighbors. Everything is nearby. Medical care is close by.

The young couple that bought our forever home are enjoying raising their children in it. Sadly, and happily, we came to acceptance that it wasn’t the neighborhood that changed, it was us. Wishing you all the best.
I lived through snowy winters like that when I lived in CT on 3 acres in the country. Glad I don't have to deal with it anymore.
 
We have a nice, stable neighborhood but, with each local election, I’m becoming a grouchy old man at age 59.

We live in the state capital, where there is almost no industrial tax base and lots of government, nonprofit, church and college buildings that pay no taxes. That means homeowners do. My property taxes have doubled in 10 years to $10,000 on a regular 2,000 sf bungalow. At this rate, taxes will be $20,000 in 10 more years by the time I’m 69. 😳 Any services I get are certainly not doubling.

Our city also pays the highest sales taxes in the state at 9.88% 😳 Last year, the genius voters approved a full 1% addition just to pave the streets. Don’t real cities pave streets first before everything else?

In 2023 the genius voters approved rent control of 3%/year. We’re within sight of two older apartment buildings, which could deteriorate and hurt my property’s value.

And the genius, caring voters approve every levy for schools and more that someone dreams up. They all pass.

It’s getting to be a bit much. Bah humbug.
 
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We have a nice, stable neighborhood but, with each local election, I’m becoming a grouchy old man at age 59.

We live in the state capital, where there is almost no industrial tax base and lots of government, nonprofit, church and college buildings that pay no taxes. That means homeowners do. My property taxes have doubled in 10 years to $10,000 on a regular 2,000 sf bungalow. At this rate, taxes will be $20,000 in 10 more years by the time I’m 69. 😳 Any services I get are certainly not doubling.

Our city also pays the highest sales taxes in the state at 9.88% 😳 Last year, the genius voters approved a full 1% addition just to pave the streets. Don’t real cities pave streets first before everything else?

In 2023 the genius voters approved rent control of 3%/year. We’re within sight of two older apartment buildings, which could deteriorate and hurt my property’s value.

And the genius, caring voters approve every levy for schools and more that someone dreams up. They all pass.

It’s getting to be a bit much. Bah humbug.
There are other places to live, of course.

We moved for the weather and the scenery for the most part. We're very happy with both. The favorable tax situation was something we simply fell into. Due to our ages and mix of income, taxes are not a significant issue to us.

One party gummint and crazy stuff like the Light Rail from Nowhere to Nowhere that has despoiled the view for half a million people: That's the kind of stuff that gets me crazy if I let it. I try not to. I just tell myself "I moved here, I can move someplace else if it all gets too heavy." So far, the sweet outweighs the bitter. YMMV
 
There are other places to live, of course.

We moved for the weather and the scenery for the most part. We're very happy with both. The favorable tax situation was something we simply fell into. Due to our ages and mix of income, taxes are not a significant issue to us.

One party gummint and crazy stuff like the Light Rail from Nowhere to Nowhere that has despoiled the view for half a million people: That's the kind of stuff that gets me crazy if I let it. I try not to. I just tell myself "I moved here, I can move someplace else if it all gets too heavy." So far, the sweet outweighs the bitter. YMMV
How are your HOA fees there? I was just checking Honolulu condos on Redfin and sort of shocked at 1,700.00 a month seems average?

This one for example. Loooks like a great price on the unit, but those HOA fees...yikers for me.
 
How are your HOA fees there? I was just checking Honolulu condos on Redfin and sort of shocked at 1,700.00 a month seems average?

This one for example. Loooks like a great price on the unit, but those HOA fees...yikers for me.
Yeah, HOA dues are out of this world. HOA dues are almost as much as our RE taxes (but that's dues per month and RE taxes are per year)! Our HOA went up to almost $1400 this year.

Big part of that is insurance.
 
Well also cheaper as it has been "lovingly owned for more than 50 years".
That's about right. It looks like it may be within the Hilton Hawaiian Village. 50 years ago, our very first stay in Paradise was at the Rainbow Hilton Tower which you see in the background. Guess how you know?

Note the "view." Yes, it has a "water view" but in that neighborhood, that's not considered a good view. It's more peak-a-boo than a true ocean view. If there were a better view, they would have included it instead - trust me on this.

Our condo has nearly a 180 degree water view. Whenever I start to wonder if our HOA fee is worth it - I sit on our lanai and stare out at the vast Pacific and remember: Yes, it's worth it. We're essentially on a tropical vacation 24/7. YMMV
 

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