Our neighborhood, so close to the parks, is surprisingly rural. Sightings of deer, wild turkeys, hawks, owls, and even coyotes are not unusual. In the past, there were numerous private horse stables in the area. Now, a few still remain, surprising for an area within a city. Neighbors know each other and are friendly. Below our home is a leafy canyon which the neighbors have preserved as a land trust and where hikers, walkers and bicyclists can be found every day, enjoying the canyon or heading for the parks. Five minutes away is the village of Montclair, with restaurants, shops, markets (including a weekend farmers' market), coffee shops, banks, and everything else you would need. A half block away are Joaquin Miller Park and Redwood Regional Park. The parks have many trails (people, bicycle, and horse), second growth redwoods, scenic views, historical sites, picnic and play areas. Two public outdoor swimming pools are nearby. There is easy access to ocean beaches and recreational sports. Oakland is garnering a reputation for being a cultural and artistic center of the Bay Area,. Close by are museums, cafes, concerts, theatre, galleries, street and art fairs. The renovated Oakland Zoo has unique areas for wildlife viewing and is renowned for its elephant training techniques. Up the road is the Chabot Space & Science Center with events, learning center, and observatory.