Project 365: Day 161

Safe

Straight from work today I headed to a pub for the monthly gathering of knitters called Drunken Knit Night. I had a great time knitting and talking with my tablemates. This group is usually very sizable (20-30 people), so it really matters who you end up sitting by. I've been there once before and it was an unpleasant experience. Luckily for me, I gave it another try and tonight I sat near people who provoked some good Friday night belly laughs and some engaging conversation.

After the knitting night ended, I set out for home. Since I took the bus there from work, my plan was to walk the 1.3 miles home from the bar. This was the first time I have walked through my neighborhood by myself at night. And, guess what?! I felt safe! I walked the whole way home and for the most part it was a pretty quiet walk. A few people waved at me from their yards and a few people said hello as we passed on the sidewalk.

This might sound like an unremarkable thing, but it made me very happy. The neighborhood we lived in before this one was not safe. Even when I walked through the neighborhood during the day with two dogs, people said nasty, perverted stuff to me, I saw people shooting up drugs in empty lots, crazy homeless people yelled at each other while blocking traffic, people slept in cars outside of boarded up houses they had been evicted from and loitering people sized me up when I walked past them on the sidewalk. The few times I walked home by myself after dark in that neighborhood I had that hair standing up, hyper alert feeling and I knew that I was putting myself at risk.

What a difference a few miles makes! Our new neighborhood is definitely still urban. It is still ethnically and economically diverse. There are still city-sized lots and modest houses. But, boy does it feel different. Of course, I still know that I need to be wise about my surroundings and that feeling safe doesn't guarantee that I am safe. I am just thankful that I didn't feel the need to have an escort to get home after Drunken Knit Night!