Old houses do not belong to people ever, not really, people belong to them.

Gladys Taber

First, a brief note on statistics. If you are one of those readers who is sharing these posts with your friends, then thank you so much. These past few weeks have seen more visitors than ever before and I really appreciate every one of you.

At its heart, this blog is simply my journal. But at the same time this space has developed into an important platform where I can offer good news, and hope, and encouragement to this world. I feel strongly that we need more grace and light and promise and if we can spread some around via these posts then I am grateful.

Why don’t you join us?

In other news – and I am especially talking to you, people who live in Wake Forest and Raleigh – Rebekah and I need the right neighbors to snatch up the house next door (click on this link for details – 215 E Church Street)

There are several reasons this could well be the best possible move for any number of you.

• Property here is within your reach. You can sell your current home, buy this (or another) gorgeous historic home and have enough left over to do an amazing restoration.
• The historic district where we live is a rare jewel both in terms of the volume of significant houses and the “under the radar” affordability.
• Tarboro is the kind of idyllic small town you want but with Greenville, Rocky Mount and Raleigh very much accessible.
• The sense of community here is second to none. Many amazing and gracious people call Tarboro home.
• You cannot build a house like this today. Each home here in the historic district is completely unique, offering features simply unavailable in any other context.
• The time is right. Interest in this community is increasing and my best guess is that homes here will never be this affordable again.

The first few photos, below, feature our neighbor’s home, and then some images from just walking around over the past couple of days.

We live in a world where too many of us miss out on what is truly meaningful because we have lost touch with places like this. Join us in Tarboro, invest yourselves in one of these beautiful homes, rekindle your imagination, and rediscover some of what you had forgotten. Along with – most importantly – real community.

As one of my heroes, Mr. Rogers, often liked to say: “Won’t you be my neighbor?”

– DEREK