Sheri ~ mostly the squash grows downward from the bucket and will spread on the porch floor and between the railings to trail downward toward the ground. And no, they don't usually break unless a neighborhood kid interferes with them.
We like the porch also except for the fact that the "roof" isn't a roof at all... it is the deck above! So of course rain, snow & ice land on our porch. In winter it is a skating rink. They should have roofed it first and then added the decking.
Yes, we are moving as soon as I can find us a good place. Maxi will be attending a private high school incoming freshman, Class of 2014. The school is nearly 20 miles from here & without transportation....
Also, in that same town, we attend church & see all of our doctors. So, it just makes sense to move.
It is just hard to think about moving to a big city. Mind you, it is Portland, Maine's biggest city but by other state's standards it isn't that big. 64,000 people. Still, it is much more congested than our little town.