1. Village Baskets going up. To me, this is a harbinger of summer in Lake Oswego which, as you’ll probably be able to tell from this list, is my favorite season here. But it also is a testament to the generosity of folks who contribute to the project each year and the volunteers who hang them.
2. Kids walking home from the Lake Grove Swim Park. I recall the first time my wife and I drove through Lake Oswego and we spotted the Lake Grove Swim Park. It brought me back to my days spending summers at the Russian River in California, some of my most cherished childhood memories. Now our kids have similar memories spent at the swim park during their growing-up years first as little tykes and then later, a couple of them as lifeguards. So, when I see kids with wet towels hanging from their shoulders, walking back home with friends from the swim park, I smile knowing that they too, are forming lasting memories.
3. Lemonade stands. In our house we have a rule, “Always stop at a lemonade stand.” And that’s a payback for all the folks who stopped by our house when our threesome used to plant themselves out in front of our yard with signs and high hopes. Neighbors and passers-by didn’t disappoint. I see those same looks of hope in little Lake Oswegans’ faces and sheer delight when one of us pulls up.
4. Snow day. To look out and see our yard covered in a white blanket brings real delight in the middle of winter here in Lake Oswego. Everything slows down, and everything gets really quiet except for the sound of kids finding ways to play in the snow. Luckily here in Lake Oswego we often get these little breaks from what can sometimes be too much of winter’s doldrums. A day or two of it has me smiling. More than that, not so much.
5. The sound of kids playing outside. Speaking of kids playing, I like that sound no matter the season, but again, it’s something that can be a harbinger of summer here in Lake Oswego. We have a small park at the end of our street, and when our kids were little, the neighborhood gang would gather there for capture the flag, a baseball game or tag. And we could hear them playing from our yard…that is, until we rang the dinner bell for them to come home. Sounds like small town stuff to me, and that makes me smile.
6. Millennium Plaza Park. When we first moved to Lake Oswego, the area where this park now stands was home to apartments. Fortunately, our city leaders had a vision and a path for getting there and now this park is home to some of our town’s most treasured events. It makes me smile to recall some of those leaders who were my friends and to know that Lake Oswegans keep an eye on the future and the kind of town we want our city to be.
7. The sound of crickets. Remember what I said earlier about summer being my favorite season here? Well, you’d think crickets would make me sad because they usually don’t start singing till later in the season and could almost be considered a harbinger of fall. But I love the sound as it’s one more sense of mine that can experience all that summer has to offer up to its Lake Oswego residents.
8. The expression on visitors’ faces. From our lush surroundings to our beautiful lake, visitors’ eyes light up when they see Lake Oswego for the first time. I wrote a blog years ago on what some of those visitors had to say, and if you read it, I think it will bring a smile to your face too.
9. New discoveries. We may be a small town (but growing) and I may have lived here for over 30 years (and counting) but as I mentioned in a recent blog, I continue to learn new things about Lake Oswego all the time. My wife and I have been taking daily morning walks since COVID arrived, and we’ve learned new pathways, discovered streams, and much more that you can read about in this blog.
10. New homeowners. The great thing about loving something so much is that you want to share it. And I have gotten to do that as a Realtor in Lake Oswego for over 30 years. Whether someone is relocating here from Portland, Texas or California, they are so happy to make the move. And helping to make that possible, knowing all the reasons to smile that await them, makes me smile too.

Let’s see how I can make you smile! If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Lake Oswego, I’d be happy to meet with you and discuss how I can help. Give me a call at 503.939.9801, email me at costellok@hasson.com and/or check out my website.