Bad Neighborhoods Aren’t So Bad

I live in Rialto. It is known to be a very unsafe and harmful city. A few months ago, a burglar broke into my neighbor’s home. There was another incident where a couple of teenagers were recklessly driving, and they crashed their ford truck into a neighbor’s fence. Up the street there is a dirty, weedy field that is inhabited by all types of bugs, snakes, and sometimes stray dogs and cats. Next door to the field is a dead end road that is littered with old couches and trash bags. Though lots of incidents happen and there is garbage thrown where it shouldn’t be, I find that living in Rialto could also be peaceful and comfortable. On the quiet days, when all you could hear are the birds chirping, I enjoy spreading a blanket across the floor in my backyard and reading a good book until it gets dark. Everyone keeps to themselves in my neighborhood and although all of the neighbors have never been formally introduced, we all wave hello and greet each other whenever we see each other on the sidewalk or the street. The inside style of the homes in my neighborhood are all alike, however, because the homes are older, the past residents of each home have decorated them differently. And as time has gone by and new families reside in the homes, they have added their own style to the outside of their homes as well. The outside of the homes are decorated to fit the characteristics of the people living in them. The neighbors to my right have the greenest most well taken care of grass I have ever seen. There bushes are always perfectly trimmed and they keep their yard neat. The neighbors to my left, however, have a green fence that does not match the beige tone of their home. They have toys scattered around the yard and they have the brownest grass I have ever seen. My home is full of bushes and palm trees. The pathway that leads to the front door is aligned with colorful flowers. Down the street there is a home that is also a day care center. On summer afternoons, you could hear the children playing with their jump ropes and basketballs. During winter, fall, and spring, it is mostly quiet because there are only babies. Down the opposite direction of the day care, there is a shopping center. There is Walgreens, Food 4 Less, A gas station, and a number of fast food places. Although people judge Rialto as being dirty and high in crime rates, I have lived there most of my life. I have grown to love it and I can’t think of a better place for me to call home.