My parents are in the process of moving to Winnetka after more than 50 years of calling Hartford, Connecticut home. While I've now lived in Chicagoland far longer than I ever lived in Connecticut, that place will always hold a piece of my heart.
On a recent trip “home” to help my parents sort through what to pack, sell, donate, or simply let go, I had dinner with my dad. Between them, my mom has always been the more outwardly emotional one, so I was surprised when my dad shared the part of the move that is weighing most heavily on him. It wasn't the house itself, or even the town they've known for decades—it was the people he would likely never see again: their dry cleaner of 50 years, his longtime barber, and the housekeeper who had become part of their daily life.
It's the smaller relationships that shape the rhythm of our days—the everyday hellos, the trusted service providers, the familiar faces that make up the fabric of our community. Home is more than four walls and a roof. Home and community are truly synonymous.
This reflection brought me back to why I love what I do. I don't just help people buy and sell houses—I help them find a place where life will unfold, where neighbors become friends, and where a community becomes the heartbeat that sustains them through life's ups and downs. The community you choose surrounds you with support, connection, and belonging. And that is both priceless and irreplaceable.
