The House Opposite may not light up at dawn to signal spring in future

A couple of times, I've posted here about The House Opposite and how it lights up at dawn in blaze in early March, signalling the start of spring.

The House Opposite is an even better indicator of warm weather than the buds on my tangelo tree. It didn't put on much of a display this year (unlike the tangelo tree) and so we trekked up the Hill Opposite to see what was happening.

Here's The House Opposite lighting up at dawn in March 2015, and what it looks like as the sun hits the stucco a little later.

The House Opposite at dawn, March 2015

The House Opposite, in early morning sun March 2015

Getting up there meant driving to the end of San Juan Capistrano's trail system and then walking beside Trabuco Creek. At one point, feeling adventurous, we scrambled down the bank and walked *in* Trabuco Creek. Verdict: it is very muddy. Scrambling back up the bank through a thicket of young trees, that stuff that is very like bamboo and old yarrow stalks was much harder and we decided we probably wouldn't do that again. 

Then back on the trail and up the hill.  The mustard plants are only about knee high at the moment but are already flowering and the thistles (another invasive plant) are beginning to show themselves.  The trail skirts a gated community with a few keep out signs, then leads up the hill beneath the House Opposite. 

The House Opposite from the trail, March 2020

Although the other houses on that street are gated, there is no gate on The House Opposite. It is, however, completely boarded up and has evidently been unoccupied for years, probably since the dump truck in the 2015 pictures finished whatever it was doing later that year.

Evidence suggests The House Opposite will not light up at dawn to signal the spring for much longer. The windows are being broken. There are some strong boards behind them, but there's nothing to stop vandals from getting at the glass.

It's not a particularly well-designed house. It looks a little hastily-put-together. The houses behind it are typical Southern California mini-mansions, with castle turrets, swimming pools, the lot. But there's no apparent reason for it to be abandoned. It isn't high on the ridgeline. It hasn't been tagged as unsafe.

As you can imagine, from the House Opposite's point of view, my house is the house opposite.  This is San Juan Capistrano from its foundation. You can see the Mission Basilica (the big white church) and the beige monolith of the new SDG&E eyesore (under the power lines) and Palm Tree Hill (the hill with the palms on it). My house is between those. Good luck finding it. 

SDG&E eyesore (under the powerlines, middle left), Palm Tree Hill

Mission Basilica, center

It's all very green, isn't it? It's been raining for weeks. It always rains approx. 48 hours after the doomsayers have pronounced it a 'very dry winter' with 'little snowpack'. Never fails. 

Hope you find new owners soon, or RIP, House Opposite.