NEIGHBORS: A Modern Fairytale

If you could write your own story, perhaps you’d find your dream home, start a family, meet neighbors that become lifelong friends, and have close family right around the corner. Funny thing. For Billy and Kaitlyn Roedel, that’s exactly what happened.

When Billy Roedel’s company gave him the opportunity to work remotely from a location of his choosing, it unleashed a world of possibilities. While they were ready for a new adventure, Billy and his wife, Kaitlyn, wanted to explore their options without moving too far from family and friends in their Long Island, New York community. Having heard about Lewes, Delaware, the couple headed to the First State for a visit. As soon as they arrived, they knew it was home.

“Lewes checked all our boxes,” said Billy. “It’s a beautiful, family-oriented area with a true sense of community. And the location makes it easy for us to stay connected with family and friends back home.”

Having decided on Lewes, the couple’s next step was finding the right neighborhood. Setting their sights on smaller, intimate communities, they envisioned a place where friendly people and a laid-back lifestyle were the main amenities. After a few weeks of researching was being built,” said Kaitlyn.

Having lived in Hailey’s Glen for a year, Kaitlyn and Billy reflected on their new home, explaining that they have enjoyed decorating every space and making it their own. While most of their time is spent in the living room, loft, and kitchen, another room has recently stolen their hearts. With a new baby girl on the way this summer, the couple has spent hours of time creating a nursery and imagining their future life as a family.

And, as their family grows, what could be better than having grandparents nearby? Soon after making their purchase decision, the couple learned that Billy’s parents, William and Mary Roedel, would be their neighbors at Hailey’s Glen. What began as a joke soon turned into serious conversations that resulted in a second Roedel family’s move from Long Island to a Southport of their own. “We had been considering a move, but building a new home in Long Island was out of the question due to the real estate taxes,” William explained. “It took a while for us to seriously consider moving to Delaware, but the tax benefit is a no-brainer, and of course we’re thrilled to be near family.”

Now that they’ve settled into a Southport of their own, William and Mary are enjoying the extra space it offers for their collections and hobbies. As an avid collector of model cars and trains, William plans to convert the unfinished storage room into a panorama for his railroad display. In addition to their new home, William and Mary have quickly embraced the benefits of their beach lifestyle and proximity to family. Mary said, “We couldn’t be happier with our decision,” as Billy quipped, “If it’s possible, I think they may like Delaware even more than we do!”

Knowing that their daughter will grow up with grandparents nearby has further confirmed the young couple’s decision to move to Hailey’s Glen. “It’s been such a blessing for us to have family here, especially with a baby on the way,” Kaitlyn said. “When Billy and I decided to move to Delaware, we knew we’d be doing it all alone. But quickly after we moved here, his aunt and uncle purchased a home in Milton, and now his parents are right on our same block! We went from having no family support in the area to being surrounded by loved ones. Now I need to work on getting my side of the family here, too!”

As Kaitlyn and Billy described life at Hailey’s Glen, it became clear that, for them, the community’s strongest attribute is the friendship factor. “This neighborhood is truly special,” Kaitlyn said. “Billy and I often joke that we’re busier here than we ever were on Long Island.” Undergoing some health problems last year, Kaitlyn was heartened by the number of neighbors who stopped by to check in with her, send flowers, or reach out to see how Billy was doing. “It’s truly amazing to be surrounded by such caring people,” Billy said. He explained that there is no such thing as a quick walk in their neighborhood because everyone stops for chats that ultimately turn a short jaunt into an hour’s journey. “We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Kaitlyn chimed in. “We’ve already built an extended family here in our little community. Neighbors are quickly becoming lifelong friends.”

When they venture out, Kaitlyn and Billy enjoy year-round opportunities to explore new places, although they are partial to a summer afternoon on the Rehoboth boardwalk with their Yorkie, Boo. “Some of our favorite days have been spontaneous ones where we end up wine tasting in Frankford or checking out the boardwalk in Ocean City,” said Billy.

As a self-described Target girl, Kaitlyn was quick to admit that she has made frequent trips to Dover for her shopping fix, citing this convenience as another benefit of the Lewes location. When she is not busy shopping, Kaitlyn often can be found conjuring up a recipe in her new kitchen, with sourdough being her current obsession. Along with tackling the couple’s DIY projects, Billy enjoys watching the New York Knicks in his spare time.

Together, some of their favorite outings are culinary themed, so the two foodies are always on the lookout for a new restaurant. With easy access to some of the area’s finest local eateries, a few of their top choices include Kindle, Agave, Salt Air, Eden, and 1776. “And, we’ve had amazing brunches at Somewhere in Rehoboth and Harbour in Lewes,” Kaitlyn said. Mary agreed, saying, “Along with their list, William and I would add Victoria’s, Tokyo Steakhouse, and The Station on Kings.”

Now that both couples have moved in, they’ve begun to truly understand what a gift it is to have neighbors who are also their family. “Most of all, we look forward to sharing the milestones,” Mary said.

For Billy and Kaitlyn, what started with the charm of Hailey’s Glen turned into a tale wonderfully interwoven with family. Perhaps that sentiment is summed up best in a photo of Mary and William that was taken inside their new home while it was under construction. As Billy’s parents smiled for the camera, a message they had written on the unfinished wall of The Southport behind them read: “2024 Great Year! New House + New Grandchild!”

And so, a new story begins.