There is a collective wisdom out there that says, “Realize what you have before it turns into what you had.” Lake Oswegans already know this, especially when it comes to these five things.

●A sunny day in January or February. Last week the sun came out amid blue skies and my wife rearranged dinner plans from taco salad to barbecue hamburgers. We live in the moment in Lake Oswego when the weather gods smile on us in the winter. Throw us an unseasonal sunny day and you’ll:
●hear grocery clerks reminding you to get out there and enjoy the sunshine
●see more than the average number of people using our pathways
●notice more residents smiling
●smell those barbecue burgers sizzling
Consider us victims of short term memory loss. Toss us a sunny winter day and we forget (and forgive) the rainy days that preceded it.

●A snow day in December or January. While it may take a snowmageddon to close public schools in New York City, give us a whitewash and chances are school may be cancelled. Reddit recently published a map showing the amount of snow needed in different regions across the country to trigger school closures. While the Pacific Northwest isn’t as wimpy as the south (where snow is such a rare occasion, even a prediction of snow is enough to tell kids to stay home), it can take as little as one inch to have kids cheering and parents scrambling to make backup plans. But whether schools close or not, a snowy day gives us all reason to pause and if we’re lucky, go out and play in it. Sleds come out, traffic disappears and you can feel like you’re in a winter wonderland without heading to the mountain.

●Quality schools. Lake Oswego School District has a proven track record in providing our children with an excellent education. It has been recognized as the #1 school district in the nation by StartClass, and consistently receives Outstanding rankings from the Oregon Department of Eduation. But Lake Oswegans don’t stand on their laurels. They find ways to ensure that this history of excellence continues through active parent associations and a school foundation which has raised $22 million since 1994, the bulk of which has gone to support teacher salaries.

●Volunteers. It takes a village to make a village and Lake Oswegans know and appreciate that. From dishing up meals at the Adult Community Center to hanging flower baskets at 5:00 a.m., residents answer the call when needed. And we do our best to let them know they are appreciated from the Unsung Heroes nominated by citizens and recognized by the City to the Community Leader of the Year award (of which I am a past recipient) handed out by the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce.

●Fourth of July. The busiest day on this blog is always the Fourth of July, with as many as 725 views by people looking for ways to celebrate our nation’s independence. And they’ve come to the right place because from sunrise (Lions’ Club pancake breakfast) to sundown (fireworks on the lake), we have things to keep you entertained. In fact, the town has so many activities, that some of them (like the Millennium Band concert and the waterski competition) are held the day before or after.

As a Realtor in Lake Oswego, I don’t take my clients for granted. Put me to work for you and you’ll get top-notch service with over 25 years’ experience behind it. Let me help you enjoy all that Lake Oswego has to offer.

Photo Credit: Viktor Hanacek