Plans For Progressive Dinner Party At White Gables

I’ve had a couple of social affairs with some neighbors a couple of times already, but coming up this weekend will be our very first, 100% attended, Progressive Dinner Party.

What’s a Progressive Dinner Party?

Its when a bunch of neighbors each serve one part of a party and the entire party moves from house to house (or, in our case, apartment to apartment) as they partake of the next course of the dinner. This time around Joanna and George are serving drinks and starting things off. Then Gerick and I are doing appetizers (fondue!), to be followed by salad at Natasha & Kalden’s place. The main course will be BBQ served at Don’s, and finally– a dessert at Shayla’s. We progress from place to place, and course to course, in other words. Afterwards, anyone in the mood can join in some card games at George & Joanna’s.

Our theme for this party is “Flower Power” so we’re choosing foods and outfits inspired by the 70s. Joanna’s idea, I swear! She put the whole thing together after we did a ‘dry run’ with a couple of people in early December.

The hope is that we start a tradition to throw a party for White Gables people twice a year. A progressive dinner party in the winter sometime, and then an outdoor picnic/BBQ in the summer. Again the idea being that we foment relationships, welcome new neighbors in (like Natasha’s family) and bid a fond farewell to those who are leaving (like Joanna’s family.)

Yeah– I found out earlier this week that Joanna and her husband George are moving to a near by small town to a house with a garage. They love it here, but George is one of those guys who loves to putter in his man cave, and has a ton of tools, and we just don’t have that kind of space here. Gerick and I have become friends with the couple, so we’ll continue to see them after they move out — next month! Their yard is tiny, though, so they may come help us out with the garden and continue to get fresh veggies like they got last summer.

Perhaps Natasha and her husband will want to move to the larger apartment that J & G currently inhabit. I know Don and Shayla have no intention of leaving where they are now. If not, the 2 bedroom townhouse will rent much more quickly than the smaller one Natasha lives in now.

Regardless, by MARCH at the latest, we will have another apartment ready to rent. If YOU, or someone you know, are local to or moving to Northeast Portland (Gresham outskirts), have reliable vehicle transportation (we have buses here, but they only run weekdays 4 times a day), and a hankering to learn how to do organic gardening and chicken-raising (maybe goats too!) then you may wish to consider moving here. Rent is $800 a month, including free laundry, garbage, water, sewer service in a 2 bedroom townhouse with roomy kitchen, full bath upstairs and half bath downstairs, fully fenced patio and small personal landscaped garden area. 2 small pets (cats or small dogs) are okay. We’re really looking for people who are “beginner preppers” like us who want to use this as a step to get their feet wet with some skills in a friendly and inexpensive living situation. Rent is unlikely to be raised in the foreseeable future (unlike many places that raise rent every year.)

Maybe you can join us at White Gables and become a part of our community here!