A Walk in My Neighborhood

Monday, September 3, 2012

                Living in a new place is weird to me. I have lived in the same house my whole life. So now, moving away to continue my education, I find myself establishing new habits and paths. To me, my neighborhood consists of the college campus, dorms, and surrounding buildings and places that seem connected. This includes the houses right by campus that students live in as well as the downtown area. Not having a car plays a huge factor in this. A sense of security in my neighborhood only comes with familiarity. I have several friends attending the university that I know from Las Vegas. These familiar faces allow me to feel as if I have never left home. Home, to me, is a place where one can navigate easily; a place that has an undeniable sense of security because of its role as a “go to” place throughout life. Hence, my neighborhood extends so far due to this home away from home scenario. If I were new to Reno without any familiar faces, I wouldn’t doubt that I would be more closed off. As I travel throughout this defined neighbored, I determine my route by a feeling of safety. I would be lying to myself if I said I knew all the “ins and outs” of this place; I don’t. Consequently, I try to choose areas that won’t allow me to find myself alone on a dark street. I try to pick paths that my friends travel on and terrain that seems to be covered by many. I do notice sometimes that, as I become more familiar with the area, my journeys become more adventurous into places that are out of the way but more scenic.