When friends become neighbors: Meet Linda & Marybeth

Why live so far away from friends and family if you don’t have to? Many people experienced this “lightbulb moment” during the Covid-19 pandemic, as they confronted a new way of life and rethought their priorities. Wouldn’t it be great to have a confidant nearby who could join you for a lunchtime walk, cook dinner together, or throw an impromptu dance party after a long day? 

Studies show that friends who live within a mile of each other are 25 percent more likely to report feeling happy. You may already enjoy the convenience that comes from knowing your neighbors, like borrowing tools or kitchen staples. Now imagine how life would change if they were also your friends. It would be easier to drop by and check in, offer help with errands, or lend an ear—all without having to get in your car. You’d be more likely to jet off for a spontaneous weekend adventure, or just spend time together at home. Even if you live alone, you don’t have to be alone (unless you want to). No wonder people who live near their friends are happier!

Recently, we sat down with best friends Linda and Marybeth, who chose to keep their families close together by buying homes in Reed’s Crossing, Oregon’s popular master-planned community. Now, they live mere minutes apart and enjoy all the benefits of being near their BFF—from roller-skating on hot summer nights to board games by the fire on a cozy winter’s eve. Read on to learn a little more about them!

First, tell us a little about yourselves & your families.

Linda: We have just three of us in our household: myself, Chanh, and our little dog, Chewie. Many people may know Chanh as the owner of our community Discord group, which has over 500 members, and Chewie is our little clown that you’ll often see on social media @havachewie.

Marybeth: We are two: myself and my husband Danny.

Roughly how far apart are your new homes? 

Linda: We are a 10-minute electric scooter ride away, across Cornelius Pass.

Marybeth: Maybe a 2-3-minute drive, a 20-minute walk, or 10 minutes by rollerblade!

How did you first meet each other? 

Linda: We met through mutual friends over brunch! Many of our friend groups went to college together, and the groups have merged since the pandemic.

Where did you live before this? Were you in Oregon, or out of state?

Linda: We’ve always been in Oregon. Chanh was born and raised here, while I was born in Canada and came to America as a child.

Marybeth: Before this, we lived in Aloha/Beaverton.

Beyond wanting to stay close, what made you choose to buy a home in Reed’s Crossing?

Marybeth: The neighborhood is super friendly, and it’s nice knowing I’ve got good friends nearby. I skated in the area often before moving here, and I love how safe it feels.

Linda: Chanh was really interested in the master-planned communities the City of Hillsboro was developing. We lived quite close to Reed’s Crossing, so we decided to check out the model homes “just for fun” on a Sunday. The next thing you know, we bought a home! We really loved that there was a Greenway for us to take our previous dog, Monty, on walks—plus plenty of parks and a nearby school for when we decide to have kids in the future.

Which builder did you choose, and why?

Linda: We chose David Weekley. We liked the semi-customization options for our floorplan, because it meant we were able to build our dream home the way we envisioned without having to do renovations after we moved in.

Marybeth: We chose Lennar; their houses just matched what Danny and I were looking for.

So Linda arrived first, right? How long did it take before Marybeth moved in?

Marybeth: Linda moved in before I even met her! We’ve only known each other for a couple of years, but she is one of my dearest friends.

Linda: Yes, Chanh and I have been here since July 2020, in the height of the pandemic. Marybeth and Danny roller-skated a lot through the neighborhood before we finally nudged them into looking at a home at Reed’s Crossing.

How does it feel knowing you have a support system so close by? How do you think it will make life easier, or better?

Linda: We hope that Marybeth and Danny will share the burden of babysitting each other’s kids when we both decide to have families. 😉

Marybeth: My sister is close by, too, and is also very good friends with Linda. It’ll be way more convenient since we lend each other items all the time! 

Have you found it easy to meet other people at Reed’s Crossing? 

Linda: Since Chanh and I lived nearby, we checked on the progress of our home almost every week during the pandemic. (Yes, we’re those people!) We met our future neighbors and others who were also checking out the community, so we’re very interconnected with the people who live around us. During the pandemic, events were on hold and we wanted to help connect the community. So, after brainstorming with a few other residents, Chanh decided to build the Reed’s Crossing Discord. We also put together some informal neighborhood events, like board-game nights, bowling, and a huge neighborhood potluck in Dobbin Park! Residents volunteered to post flyers on all the mailboxes around the neighborhood and I’m pretty sure over 150 people stopped by, if not more.

Marybeth: I’ve just moved in recently, but I’ve already talked to a couple of our neighbors. Everyone seems friendly, so I’m excited to meet more people!

What park or community amenity are you most looking forward to enjoying together?

Marybeth: There is a new park almost fully built, just a block away from our new house. I’m excited to be able to bring my niece and nephew over there when they visit!

Linda: We’re also really excited for the new park, because of the community garden and also because we can take Chewie to My Best Friend’s Park, which is the first dog park at Reed’s Crossing!

Got questions about life in South Hillsboro? Take a virtual tour, come by for a visit, or sneak a peek at what’s in store for the future.