One Year In; Moving From The North Side Of Chicago To West Gresham

It’s great to live in an area with families that truly look out for one another. By Eric El Kay Wilkes East neighbor

This past month marked my family’s first year in the neighborhood. Last May my wife and I (along with our cat Mia and dog Lupita) set out on a 3-day journey from the North side of Chicago to our new home in the Wilkes neighborhood of Gresham (or Portland?). Over the past year, we set out to explore what the neighborhood has to offer. We’ve also taken on quite a lot of projects around the house. These activities along with starting new jobs and making new friends have kept us pretty busy over the last year. They have also led to quite an eventful first year in the PNW. Here’s a peek at what the El Kay’s have been up to during Year 1.

I never saw myself being responsible for 50 full-grown goldfish but after a year of caretaking, I can honestly say I wouldn’t have it any other way. When my wife and I moved in we inherited a 2000-gallon fresh water pond in the backyard. This led to many hours of fresh pond research along with several “How to not let your fish die” books purchased. After a crash course in pond vacuum techniques, pond filter light bulb installation, and a constant battle with a certain neighborhood heron, I can honestly say that our newly expanded backyard family is thriving. This wasn’t always the case. Last year's heat wave took a toll on our community’s population but we have bounced back stronger than ever. We’ve also been able to give names to every single fish. Names include Walter Payton, Dick Butkus, Mike Ditka, and many other childhood legends that remind me of home.

My wife and I were fortunate enough to inherit a great garden setup. The owners before definitely had a green thumb. After trying our hands at gardening last summer we went into this year with a gameplan. Things grow so much faster compared to what we’re used to in the Midwest. The soil is truly magnificent here - we can grow things without much effort at all. This year we started with re-building 3 raised garden beds in the front yard along with upgrading the sprinkler system. With the amount of gardening on our property, a timer system is a must. Robyn has started the season with kale, chard, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers (hot and sweet), peas, beets, raspberries, blueberries, and a plethora of herbs. Although there is more work to be done in the future, it seems that we have settled into our harvest and watering routines early. Now we begin the endless learning of preservation, and whatever version of “living off the land” we can muster.

In between spending time out back with our Hall of Fame goldfish and greenery, we have done a fair job of exploring what the neighborhood has to offer. Outside of daily check-ins with our neighbors (which is not something you normally get in a Chicago townhouse), we’ve made it a point to find every hidden gem. I’ve made a habit out of running at the H.B. Lee track and (when I’m feeling adventurous) the Glendoveer Golf Course, which from our house to around the course and back typically results in about a 4.5 mile run. While exploring the local culture and community we’ve become very familiar with food trucks, especially our favorite, the Fairview Food Plaza and Food Cart Heaven on Glisan. I’ll also admit, as someone who grew up hiding from weather half the year, easy access to Powell Butte has turned me into an outdoorsman.

This year has brought a lot of change for the El Kay’s. The community has made this transition period a positive experience. I really can’t express how great it is to live in an area with families that stop each other on the street to chat and truly look out for one another. While change can be scary, you have all made this a positive experience with your community and sense of belonging. We know2025 will bring more home improvement projects, goldfish babies, and many many more trips to La Isla Bonita and Migration Brewing. It’ll also bring more changes. I for one can’t wait to see what else it brings.