PleasantonHomes.com

We’ve lived in the same home in Pleasanton for over a decade. Seeing as the average homeowner moves every 7 years, and statistics say Californians move more frequently than that, this is indeed an anomoly. There’s something about our neighborhood that we couldn’t take with us if we ever thought to move… and that’s our neighbors.

You see, Pleasanton is not your ‘average, run of the mill’ city. It is a real community, where people take time to get to know their neighbors. This city is unique because of the active local community involvement - from working in the schools; coaching any one of the different sports activities, or volunteering anywhere from Special Olympics to the Senior Center. It is a common occurrence to see many familiar faces at the Hometown Parades, First Wednesdays, Concerts in the Park, Farmers Market or when strolling our beloved Main Street….and to even recognize many faces in each week’s issue of the Pleasanton Weekly.

As is natural in the circle of life, people do move on to another town, another state. One such family has lived in our neighborhood for 8 years and is moving to the East Coast. Our children have been on the same swim team together and the dads coached the same baseball teams together. There were frequent BBQs, picnics at the pool, or ‘flamingo night’ celebrations. Together we celebrated birthdays, graduations and life celebrations. Now, they are relocating to the East Coast, closer to family….closer to their roots. Yet, every day, as I drive by the token reminder that was left by their son in a carefree moment of his youth, I smile. As he left swim team practice one hot sunny day, years ago, he tossed a Ken doll that was broken in two (but connected by an internal string) up into the air…when the doll sailed up into the power lines overhead, and rested intact. Now this happened at least five or six years ago…yet the Ken doll remains… through sun and wind and heaviest of rains…blowing in the wind and resting comfortably.

It’s true that they won’t be here for this summer’s Flamingo Nights and parties, etc., but the internet and cell phones will keep us close between visits. And should we chance to forget…we’ll be reminded every time we pass by the Ken doll in the sky.

We wish them well in their new life….and look forward to their visits back to this great hometown of ours….our Pleasanton.