I can walk downtown! I have lived here 5 months and never had the nerve to do it!
I know I touched on the whole living in a transitional neighborhood thing yesterday; we have about 4 unsafe streets north of us, and 3 streets east of us separating my house from the safer, easygoing touristy historic district of Savannah. I actually live across the street from the historic district line, but it's still pretty rough. (and South or West of us..gets much worse.) It's literally less than a min car ride before you have crossed into the better neighborhoods but I have never been brave enough to make the walk over there. A few weeks ago I became comfortable circling my own block when walking my dog.
Well, I did it (with my pit bull)!!! Yesterday I decided to walk East along the busiest road for 3 streets and turn North along another busy street. Within 10 min I was well into the historic district and enjoying beautiful massive victorian houses all around me!
We walked to the central park where Casey Jones enjoyed a long drink from the doggy fountain and I was able to sit at an outdoor cafe for a drink.
Then we walked further North and sat down at the park where BB and I were married 8 months ago.
And we made it home safely too!
This is a huge feat for me. I'm not normally a frightened person, but I rarely see people pleasure walking in my neighborhood (ok only once that I can think of). And it was a compromise I made to get into my house but was disappointed to know that we were not able to walk to bars, restaurants and enjoy the walkability of the city due to the location we were living. Finding parking in the city is actually not that difficult but it always did irritate me to be so close but feel so separated from all the places we like to go.
But now we CAN walk! (Only in daylight with a pit bull and without a purse or bag.)And we did it again this morning just to make sure yesterday wasnt a fluke. Nope- its ok. People stayed a respectable distance from my dog. It helps that she goes bats**t crazy every time she sees a stray cat- makes her look really mean. I wasnt carrying a purse or wearing anything to entice anyone to try to rob me and I think that helped.
So it might be several years before the neighborhood changes around enough for me to be able to REALLY walk to places in the city I need to go for shopping or meeting friends- (meaning walking without a dog, with a purse, possibly after dark and dressed somewhat nice)- but this is a really surprising and triumphant start!
I am so excited I don't need to drive 4 streets away, park and take my dog for a walk! I really feel like I am a part of the city now!
And just one observation- many men stopped to ask me if I have puppies or if I breed Casey Jones and I replied she is a shelter dog, not a purebred. So no, I don't breed her. The men were surprised she was from a shelter and asked "from a shelter? Around here?" So I wonder if my city does not allow pit bulls to be adopted out. That's too bad if there is some ban on pit bulls.
A great milestone!
June 14th, 2009 at 03:17 pm
June 14th, 2009 at 03:54 pm 1244991265
June 14th, 2009 at 04:07 pm 1244992022
June 14th, 2009 at 06:53 pm 1245002012
Hate to be cynical but pitbulls are (ab)used by gangs for fighting... those men, if they look like they are from a dodgy area, may have been interested in getting a fightng dog from you.... in that sense, Casey may be a "target" for such minded people... hate to rain on your milestone....
From your profile, you have a larger dog right ? A doberman mix ? I'd probably be happier walking him in a dodgy neighbourhood because he wouldn't be seen as an out-and-out fighting dog.... although the Pit-Bull is impressive guarddog-wise - it's just that gangs wouldn't be intimidated by that and would know how to subdue her....
Please tell me if I'm talking a lot of crap.... hopefully I am.... Pitbulls are banned in Ireland... so maybe I have an exaggerated viewpoint on this...
June 14th, 2009 at 08:39 pm 1245008350
June 14th, 2009 at 09:04 pm 1245009863
And its always better to be safe than sorry. In GA the gun laws are very lax and everyone has a gun on them for offensive or defensive reasons. We have police incidents and shootings regularly here in the neighborhood. White people get robbed, black people get shot due to gang/drug related problems.
I have not had a problem here, but I was warned that I was taking a risk to move into this neighborhood, and I should not walk around. This neighborhood is slowly changing due to the increased property value- but as a middle class person I am still a minority.
June 14th, 2009 at 09:32 pm 1245011537
I'm pretty sure that some Black people are the victims of crime due to no fault of their own as there are White people who get shot due to drug related problems. Actually I know this for a fact.
Im sure you were warned not to walk around and you probably believe that you are a victim waiting to happen but again, don't let your irrational fears and your prejudices make you a prisoner. Be safe, be cautious, but don't become your own hostage either. Now I'm going to go out for a walk.
June 14th, 2009 at 09:43 pm 1245012218