I like the shade too. But I am mainly concerned about 1) branches falling from the trees. We've had several fall over the dry summer and 2) the fact that I have no grass in the back and my land is washing into the neighbor's back yard.
The new neighbors are okay with it and are actually doing things to prevent the runoff into their yard. I'm trying to help too by planting a buffer.
But our previous neighbors were a different story. When hurricane Fran came through in 1996, she called and told us she feared our oak that was leaning into her yard. We eventually spent $3,000 to have trees removed that could potentially fall on her house.
When hurricane Floyd came through in 1999 (or 98?) she called and complained about the water running into her yard. Of course those six trees used to block that and in the middle of Floyd (after Dennis had parked off of the coast for two weeks), water was everywhere...
Mainly, I want a back yard I can fence in for the boys and the dog with some grass they can play in. Now that the inside is basically done (we still have some work) and the outside is done with the siding, I can work on the actual yard. I've been planting things for spring, and need to sow some grass.