https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:52:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751408 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 13:54:48 +0000 shabang 2751408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like @PurplePeony, I grew up with a lot of land on a farm. I have some amazing stories about running around in fields/woods, building forts, exploring, but from about age 8 on, I was super jealous of my friends that lived in a subdivision. I would join them as much as possible - sleepovers were more fun because we could run around with a ton of neighborhood kids in the evening, Halloween was a blast with all the houses, and in general, the neighborhood became the place to be. As an adult, I would pick more land because I like space, but I know that the kid version of me would have picked the neighborhood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751400 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 13:20:48 +0000 PurplePeony 2751400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up in a rural area amongst farmland and hated it. I wanted so badly to live in town near my friends. My parents were good about driving me when they could, but I really resented that it always required planning/coordination to hang out. I felt left out a lot and it definitely had an impact on my social skills that I notice to this day. My parents have a huge yard and I'm sure I enjoyed playing out there as a young kid, but when I got older I couldn't have cared less. So personally, it was super important to me to live in a neighborhood where my DD could have a more spontaneous social life than I did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751356 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 12:10:14 +0000 hellobeeboston 2751356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It so depends on what you guys are into - we would go for the neighborhood! I like having people around and other kids for my kids to play with. Less privacy, sure... I grew up in a more remote private situation and I always wished I was in a neighborhood :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751315 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 11:34:10 +0000 IRunForFun 2751315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We chose yard over neighborhood for our first house, which we just bought in the fall, but we kept in mind that our daughter is still so young (I was pregnant when we moved) that she/we wouldn't really be utilizing a neighborhood for several years. We wanted the yard for our dog and gardening, etc. We looked at an amazing house (I still fantasize about it hehe) in a neighborhood but there was virtually no yard and we just couldn't see it being a good option with the dog. </p> <p>However, we know this current house is our starter home and so in 5ish years, when DD is school age, we will probably reevaluate our priorities and maybe compromise on a decent-ish size yard and a neighborhood rather than a large yard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751314 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 11:30:35 +0000 travellingbee 2751314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely a neighborhood. We moved from A house with a bigger lot with the few kids around to a neighborhood with small lots and lots of neighbors and kids and my kids absolutely love it! They ride their bikes with neighbors go over to each other's houses. It's great </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751308 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 11:21:10 +0000 Ms. RV 2751308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: It isn't so much the size but the fact that it slopes. Only a third of our backyard can be used for playing. Though, we can go sled riding in it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751297 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 10:51:59 +0000 birdofafeather 2751297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your yard sounds big enough for me as is! The neighborhood sounds awesome. I love being close to people though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751175 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 07:00:05 +0000 Modern Daisy 2751175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I actually have both (and a small house so maybe you should check out my neighborhood lol) and it's really tough to choose one to get rid of. Even in an awesome neighborhood it's nice having some space from your neighbors to romp around and for privacy plus you can't choose your neighbors so it's a crapshoot. It is a lot of upkeep having a big yard though.. and landscaping is expensive and constantly needs to be done. But I really love the social aspect of my neighborhood and my kids already have a ton of friends within walking distance. So at this stage in our lives I would choose neighborhood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751164 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 06:38:43 +0000 looch 2751164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neighborhood for sure. I hate landscaping and I much prefer a smaller yard (we don't even have a half acre, it's more like a third). </p> <p>The ability to just be able to open the door and send my son out to play with the neighborhood kids is where it's at for me right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751162 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 06:36:19 +0000 Ajsmommy 2751162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted yard bc I grew up on a farm and I LOVED having so much space and freedom. However, now that I have a family and moved away we bought a house in the neighborhood. I love it and all but I still long for the open, quiet, secluded space I grew up with. My kids will never have that most likely.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751155 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 06:06:01 +0000 Truth Bombs 2751155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yard! We're in a neighborhood right now and we really wish we had more land/privacy. We're casually looking for a place with acreage. But we have tons of local friends who are over all the time so we aren't really in need of neighbors for friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751143 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 03:01:55 +0000 mrsbookworm 2751143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neighborhood. We just moved from a house with about 1.5 acres of land to a city home with a small, walled garden. I love being able to let the kids play in the backyard without having to follow them. I also love being able to amenities and houses of friends. We've done far more entertaining in the six months we've been here than the seven years in our house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751128 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 23:28:48 +0000 Mrs. Oreo 2751128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neighborhood. </p> <p>I had dreams of having a huge front and backyard. When we got our house, I thought it would be a deal breaker to have a really small yard but it's been easier to maintain and we have a park in our neighborhood. Totally satisfied here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751113 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 22:43:25 +0000 Foodnerd81 2751113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neighborhood, hands down, for me. I love seeing our neighbors playing outside and going out to play with them, and just taking the kids for a walk in the neighborhood. They get bored and I get bored just playing in the yard by ourselves. But our yard isn't super toddler friendly- not fenced, and slopes with retaining walls. It's pretty but the neighborhood is what sold me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751093 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 20:21:51 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2751093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love our yard a lot more than our neighbourhood. We're only a few minut drive to friends though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751091 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 20:05:15 +0000 Mamaof2 2751091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms. RV: yard!</p> <p>I do love our neighborhood but I would love to have a big yard like you describe! If its flat they can ride their bikes in the grass or down the driveway. As far as playing with friends in the neighborhood - my kids mostly play with kids outside the neighborhood so that factor wouldn't bother me at all - I use to LOVE taking my friends bus home in middle school and staying at her house for the night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751089 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 19:55:11 +0000 Ms. RV 2751089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Right now we pay someone to mow our grass. I think if we move we'd do the same, so long as it wasn't crazy expensive. It takes way too much time!</p> <p>@mrskansas: 40 acres would be awesome! OH grew up next to his grandparents and between their land and his parents' they had over 20 acres.</p> <p>@littlejoy: This is why I am kind of torn! The house has a huge deck that we could just relax on why DD did her thing in the yard. </p> <p>@honeybear: Ooh! Good point about the spraying. I never thought of that. Last couple of years it was corn, but I think it is something different now. I am not worried about the land being less to take care of, more of the house. We don't use a third of our house. But this place would be sort of less yard, as it is flat and we could use a rider/ZTR where we have to use a push mower now because of the slope. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751029 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 17:01:43 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2751029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neighborhood as long as it has some kind of yard. The kids need a place to play but not an acre plus who knows what'll happen to that acre in the future, unless it comes with the house in which case no way I'd want to take care of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751028 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 16:59:33 +0000 Littlebit7 2751028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neighborhood. (Although my personal ideal would be urban or semi-urban with everything walkable) my inlaws live in an amazing historic property on land, but you have to drive to everything. My parents live in a typical suburban planned community. With kids I'd choose the neighborhood all day long. Just being able to walk around the block with the stroller or walk to the playground was huge. At my inlaws we just felt stuck despite them having a fairly kid friendly place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751026 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 16:56:37 +0000 honeybear 2751026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends on the farm...I wouldn't want to be down wind from crop spraying, for example. Also, three times as much land isn't really less to take care of, unless you're going to let most of it go wild. (Which is cool with me, but might not be with your neighbors.) But if those things were acceptable, I'd pick the extra land. I'm assuming this move reduces any commutes, too. Otherwise, I'd stay put. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751023 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 16:42:10 +0000 nana87 2751023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neighborhood. My brother and his family live in my parents' old house, which has a tiny yard but is next to a public park/elementary school and I don't think I appreciated how awesome it was until just recently visiting. My 8 year old niece's friends kept just coming and knocking on the door to play-- like 3 different kids in 2 days. Amazing. And all the parents are close too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751019 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 16:22:46 +0000 Mamatimes3 2751019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just moved from living on nearly an acre to a neighborhood. I liked the house on an acre because of the privacy and space. Our kids played in the front yard and driveway. But as they got older we realized they needed an area where they could ride bikes, take walks, go trick or treating, etc. I love our new neighborhood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751014 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:59:41 +0000 littlejoy 2751014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote yard ... I love having a fenced yard. We can setup little stations just for LO's interests, and she's "trapped" while we do yard work or relax. With that said, we live in a super walkable area near many of our friends, so I might be taking both for granted? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2751007 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:46:30 +0000 youboots 2751007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neither I guess? To me being within short walking distance to our downtown (in a suburb) is the biggest priority. We are 2 blocks to a park and the library and have a dozen restaurants in easy walking distance. However we live on a busy street so T will never be able to just bike out front. DH travels a lot so I have zero interest in property since upkeep would be up to me. If we were to move my preference on proximity to amenities would be #1. Last night us girls walked to dinner then to get flowers at the farmers market-nothing better than doing that when DH is gone and never having to step in a car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2750995 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:29:13 +0000 mrskansas 2750995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live on an acre and absolutely love it. We are planning on buying 40 acres in the next few years so I absolutely vote for the amazing backyard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2750994 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:27:44 +0000 Meowkers 2750994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To me a half acre already sounds like a A LOT! That's just unheard of in my area. So I voted for better neighborhood. I wouldn't want to be isolated like the farm house you described. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2750991 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:24:44 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2750991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just recently moved from a 1 acre lot to a new house with a neighborhood. I'm LOVING our neighborhood. The large yard was So much upkeep with working full time. The kids enjoyed going for walks every night and being outside without all the bugs/mosquitos from the big yard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/neighborhood-or-yard#post-2750990 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:21:39 +0000 Ms. RV 2750990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are casually looking for a house. Our house is nice, but oversized for our needs. We aren't necessarily looking for less expensive, just less to take care of! We toured a house the other day that we really, really like. Everything pretty much evens out when compared to our house except the yard and neighborhood.</p> <p>Our house is a big loop with about 100 houses. Our yard is a half acre hill that backs up to woods. There is very little privacy, but there is the ability for DD to ride her bike around the neighborhood or walk to a friend's house when she is older. </p> <p>The toured house sits near three other houses across from hundreds of acres of farm (which its front porch overlooks). It sits on 1.5 acres of flat land- unheard of in our area! No chance for DD to spontaneously hang out with friends, but she would have an amazing place to play right out her back door.</p> <p>Where would you rather live? In a neighborhood or in a house with an amazing yard?</p> <p>We know what we're doing... I just like polls :silly: </p>