If this title has you humming the theme song to Mr. Rogers, then you’re in the right mood for this post.

When someone hears the word “neighborhood” it usually conjures a warm fuzzy feeling or a “I wouldn’t go there even if I had an armored car” sentiment. It evokes a strong feeling, either way.

But how many neighborhoods (outside our own) have we truly experienced? How many neighborhoods in our own community do we pass judgment on or completely ignore? I don’t know about you, but when I travel to a city I specifically seek neighborhoods rather than tourist areas. Why? Because if you want to understand a city, that’s where you’ll find its heart & soul. When it comes to my own hometown, however, I’m woefully ignorant.