I’ve got a new crush in my neighborhood

There’s a new crush in my neighborhood. I walk by just about every day.

Sure, I make it about stretching out my dog’s walk an extra block. But really, who am I kidding? It’s to get an extra look.

Not that my crush knows I’m alive. This love is unrequited, no doubt. I don’t take it personally.

As magnificent as my crush is, I realize the limitations. After all, my crush is a house. The new house on the block. Well, two blocks over from ours.

Has this ever happened to you, Dear Reader? Developed a crush on a house?

Here’s the thing. It’s not like it’s the biggest or grandest house in the neighborhood. Which is exactly the point.

We live in a historic neighborhood. A mixture of grand old houses, modest bungalows and the inevitable — the McMansions built on lots where old bungalows are torn down.

Surely, I figured, that is what would be going up on the lot where my crush showed up. The dilapidated house that barely stood there was a teardown if there ever was one.

That was expected. What came next was not.

The lot was leveled. Way in the back of the lot, the frame of a small, modest house went up.

“They’re just building the carriage house and garage first,” was the buzz among the neighbors in the know. “The actual house-house will come later.”

Only, the big househouse, the expected McMansion, never showed up. Instead, the modest small house in the rear of the lot was finished. In went a long stretch of simple green lawn and a vegetable garden.

That’s it.

I still have no idea who has moved in. I’m tempted to knock on their front door and tell them, “I love you,” as soon as they open the front door.

I love you for not needing to fill every possible square inch of your lot with house. I love you for not needing to build the biggest house in the neighborhood. I love you for simply wanting enough.

It’s as if by not needing to impress the neighbors, you have, well — impressed the neighbors. This one, at least.

Do I go crazy stalker lady and knock on their door? I’m still fantasizing about that. Would be such a shame to scare them off so soon in our relationship.

Think I’ll just go walk the dog. A couple extra blocks. Just to get another look.