Breezes on the back porch, bird watching during breakfast, children laughing in the park, the community gardens next door, the skate rink in the winter, walk and bike paths nearby, all allow you to feel close to nature. We've had deer, turkey, raccoons, and rabbits in the yard, and coyotes and owls in the area (on the rare occasion). You frequently see eagles soaring above the river, and sometimes perched in nearby trees. We didn't learn about these things until after we lived there. When we chose the house, we hadn't looked at a single other place. It just felt that it was meant to be.