The North End

We’ve moved to the prettier side of Hermosa Beach . There’s more trees , less multi storey apartments and more families . The property value is higher and so is the size of the houses . Everyone is still crammed in , but there’s the odd small front yard and even a rare backyard . We are 300 m from the beach and just as importantly we are only 200 m from Valley Park . To have a park of this size in an area where land is at a premium is a bonus . You can easily picture yourself being in the botanic gardens in Melbourne or even the beach oval park in Mornington . The kids so desperately need space . Not too many can play in a yard or play basketball or any sport on a street here . It’s too busy and too crammed . We’ve been fortunate that both of our rentals have been close to the only two parks in the area . It doesn’t take me long to survey the surrounds , as Leroy has me there practicing baseball , gridiron or whatever’s in season . The dogs , this is their toilet . The amount of dog shit per square yard that gets dropped would be inconceivable. Fortunately it almost always gets picked up .We are within 300 m of a liquor store , three restaurants , hairdressers, a gym , a convenience store ( well stocked with beer ) and a top deli . The businesses are all small and family run . There’s a sense of locale about this corner . It’s a buzz to wander 2 minutes from home to get a bite to eat . We are just on the edge of the Manhatten Beach boundary .Manhattan Beach is your elite wealthy beachside suburb . Serious money lives here . We are further away from downtown Hermosa Beach and closer to the ritzy central of Manhattan Beach . It’s early days but this joint has brought a level of contentment that we haven’t felt so far . For me , there’s one major factor Yep ….. look down there . North Hermosa …. it feels better .