For Lindsey Giddens and her 12-year-old son, Ford, the best part of Isle of Hope is not simply its proximity to the water. It is the invitation woven into everyday life — a spot at a family dinner, a neighborhood bonfire, or a football watch party.

Both Savannah natives, Lindsey and Ford settled on Isle of Hope in 2023. As a family of two, they have especially appreciated what Lindsey calls the neighborhood’s “open-door” feeling and the friendships that make gatherings feel like an extension of home.

Lindsey, 41, teaches first grade at Jacob G. Smith Elementary School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Georgia before completing a Master of Arts in Teaching in early childhood education at Armstrong Atlantic State University. Beyond the classroom, she provides private tutoring and works as a design consultant for Anthology Designs.

Ford is a seventh grader at Tybee Island Maritime Academy, where his interests move easily between the baseball diamond, rehearsal space, and drafting table. He plays baseball, performs in the school’s rock band, and plays both electric and acoustic guitar. He is also active in Boy Scouts and has developed a keen interest in architecture. This summer, he was selected from a competitive applicant pool for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System’s Middle School Architecture Program.

He can recall an impressive range of professional sports statistics and enjoys sharpening his swing at the batting cages. He also earns the trust of nearby pet owners by dog- and cat-sitting around the neighborhood. Ford’s own 17-year-old cat, Mabel, lives with his father but remains firmly part of the family.

Lindsey has found her own neighborhood niche with The Table Tots, an Isle of Hope book club whose members, she jokes, “ALL always finish the book” before their monthly discussions. She also volunteers each year with Isle of Hope Art & Music and assists friend Sarah Labrot at the Labrot Art booth. Together, Lindsey and Ford have supported the Citizens Advocacy Oyster Roast, and Ford has served as a student ambassador for P.A.C.K.

Their free time often includes afternoons at the Isle of Hope pool, pizza and hot dog combos from Sam’s, Target runs, and mother-son dinners at The 5 Spot or Jalapeños.

At Christmas, they bake an abundance of cookies and sweets for teachers and friends before gathering with extended family on Christmas Eve. They also share an enthusiasm for travel, with recent trips including New York City during the holidays and Washington, D.C., for spring break.

Still, some of their happiest adventures happen close to home. Trick-or-treating along Bluff Drive — with its spirited decorations and generous treats — remains a standout memory. For Lindsey and Ford, those lively streets reflect precisely what brought them to Isle of Hope: neighbors who leave room for two more.