What was it like when you first found this home?
Finding our home on Colby Park was like discovering a secret garden. We had lived in the neighborhood for a year before we even knew that Colby Park existed as it seems to hide amongst all the other things to do in Rockridge. The community of the Park really drew us in – summer movie nights in the park, meeting new friends, and being able to sit on the front porch in the evenings and look out on the park happenings made our time at the house very special.
What did you love most about living here?
This was the first home that we have owned and it will always be a special place for us. We created a garden in the front yard and would exchange fruits and vegetables with neighbors. The living room with its big picture window and fireplace in the winter was our gathering place. The home provided us with a multitude of spaces in which we and our 3 children could play together but also find time apart. The eat-in kitchen and dining room allowed us 2 spaces in which to share meals. It will be hard to give up our lower level “rumpus” room and the extra bedroom and bathroom downstairs that came in handy for guests. The primary suite we created in 2017 came to be a sanctuary overlooking the bamboo in the backyard and really brought the home together for us.
What is your fondest memory of this home?
We welcomed our 3 children to the world in this home and we all grew up together during our time there. The bedroom we originally used as a guest bedroom became the nursery for all three of our boys. So many hours were logged sitting in the relaxing sun of the front room with little babies learning how to hold their heads up, crawl, and eventually walk. As the kids got a bit older, they were able to play downstairs together and the adults could get some time at the dining room table to talk and relax. So many memories tied to our children’s development will always be connected to the house.
What are the benefits of the house’s location?
It is hard to separate this home from its place on Colby Park, so many good times were shared with friends at the park. People in the neighborhood began to recognize us as the family of boys that lived on Colby Park. It was easy to meet people and make friends due to our location. Last spring, we even coached preschool soccer practices, and more recently we’ve enjoyed socially-distanced gatherings there. The park indeed felt like an extension of the home and all the surrounding homes, truly bringing the neighborhood together.
Being able to walk down the street to Wood Tavern on date nights, BART for baseball games, and Market Hall for all those special treats was an amazing benefit to the location of this house. As were the flat streets, where we were often seen taking family bike rides with our three and five year old boys safely riding their own bikes alongside us.
This home provided us with so much joy. It connected us to the community and gave us our roots. It will be deeply missed.
