I've been fortunate enough to travel to some big cities in the past few weeks, namely New York and Chicago.
Chicago has always been one of my favorite places in the world, and the New York trip was my first time there, and I loved it.
When I go to places like these, the first thing that strikes me is that people really live downtown. Or, actually, I think I'm supposed to call it "the city".
I live in the suburbs of a medium-large city (Hey, Nissan, I'm in Nashville, just sayin'...) and while the downtown residential population is growing (or, at least it was until the financial bottom fell out of the world), I think more people here live in standard neighborhoods in houses on streets.
That whole pesky Civil War thing probably eroded downtown infrastructure in this region, and cities are more spread out. Good, bad, whatever, that's just the way it is in some parts.
Now, is about the time where "city" people will rant about suburbs, minivans and strip malls or whatever is fashionable to harp upon, while "suburb dwellers" can't understand why in the world people want to live among the Murdery McMurdersons, or whatever is fashionable to harp upon about "the city".
Venus. Mars. Whatever.
At the risk of sounding like a bumpkin or something, I am fascinated by residential life in "the city".
I have no idea what it's like to walk to the corner store, your favorite Italian restaurant or the newsstand as a part of your life routine.
In my world, kids play in their yards and going to the park may be an activity or special treat. I was mesmerized by kids in Chicago riding bikes downtown, stopping in stores, etc.
In New York, I tried not to make a complete fool of myself when I saw neighborhood city blocks just like on Sesame Street!
I may or may not have asked a cab driver if we were on the Huxtable's street at one point.
He may or may not have understood me. That might not have been all bad.
When I go to the grocery store, I get in the car and go. I'm not lazy, there is nowhere to walk to, it's just what you have to do.
In "the city", there are these full sized grocery stores that people walk to in the middle of downtown, that is so foreign to me. I have no idea how you actually get your stuff home, but the idea of strolling home with your groceries is cool.
And, schools! With some exceptions, many of our schools are on your basic lot in a neighborhood with some grass and a parking lot.
I've never gone to a school that wasn't in the suburbs, and in New York, there kids were attending schools right there in the city. The school buildings were right amongst the office buildings, the stores and the hustle and bustle of Manhattan (where I happened to be) life.
I know, I'm a doofus, but I think that would be cool. (Tries not to sing, "Fame! I wanna live foreverrr..")
If one of our dogs needs to go to the bathroom, we just let them out the back door. Going for a walk on the leash is a treat. Well, not so much for the baby dogs, yet (Bella! Edward!), but it's optional.
In "the city", it was cool how people out walking their dogs would stop and talk amongst the business types walking with briefcases and a purpose. Such fabulous people-watching opportunities.
I could see myself in a big city, there's so much to do. I have no idea what it would be like to raise a family in the middle of one because it's so different from what I do.
I have no real point here except that I'm especially looking forward to going back to New York someday. I have a cousin getting married there this weekend, but we couldn't make it. (Make it? "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere..." Sorry.)
Though I'd never trade the life I have now, one day, I'll go back to New York, catch a show, peruse a street vendor's wares, walk in the crowd during rush hour, and stop by the market.
Then I'll meet a friend for drinks, go to some fabulous party and pretend just for a little while that I'm part of the city life until I have to go home and pick up toys and bikes so I can mow the lawn.
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Tracked on August 21, 2010 10:02 AM
I would love to live in a vibrant downtown as you described. Houston is extremely spread out so we will never have that centralized living experience like you have in New York or Chicago. I visited Chicago for the first time this summer and I loved exactly what you described. Walking everywhere, hopping the rail that whisked me around the city. No car, the freedom to walk among the buildings. I'm a big city girl anyway and those are the ultimate big cities.
Having lived in Queens for several years, I can vouch that sometimes it's not all it's cracked up to be. Try picking up your laundry or groceries in the rain when you don't have a car and live 2 blocks away - close enough that you don't want to pay for a cab, but far enough that you get drenched - and so do your new clean clothes and/or food. *lol*
I love the city! I think it's so novel for those of us who don't live anywhere near a place like that. I'm so used to driving 15 minutes to the nearest town that I think I would be completely overwhelmed by the easy access to everything! Great post :)
I had some of the same fantasies on my first trip to NYC. Then I realized how dirty it was. It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Now Boston is a city I could see myself living in. WHAT A COOL CITY!!! Of course, I was there in June. I'm sure it's a friggin COLD city in winter. But I think I'd be willing to endure the cold to live there. I loved it THAT much.
I love NYC! I will go with you anytime you want and we can shop Soho and Ties Square and Grennwich Village all day long!!
I lived in Boston for a few years. It was fun when I was single and childless, except for the grocery shopping (and when the T flooded). I am quite partial to my suburban life now.
I live in a suburb of New Orleans, and I felt the same exact way when I was in New York. I was amazed at the hustle and bustle on the street. Everyone seemed to have someplace to go...and in a hurry! It is so different down here!
Cool blog! I just discovered you! Having lived in the city and the suburbs (all over), I have to say that the energy of the city fills me and inspires me. But for raising kids, a bit of green, a less crazed environment, that "school with grass and a parking lot" you mention... it's all quite nice.
That said, I could've raised my kids JUST as well in Paris, merci... and why do I think you might agree?
Great post! I'm with you, totally fascinated with the idea of living downtown in the "big city." I haven't made it to NYC yet, I live near San Francisco, but in a suburban town. Not sure if I would really like living in the middle of a city, but boy, would I like to try it!
We can split a NYC apt together when our kids grow up. Having lived in Queens, my hubby wants no part of it, but I'm dying to live there.
My husband had to go to Boston for a week for work and I tagged along. We stayed at The Plaza and across the street was an elementary school that was SEVERAL stories tall - this small town country girl watched the very organized drop off and pick up EVERY morning and afternoon from our hotel window.
Talk about efficient and smooth, even in the middle of that busy city. My local school system could learn alot from them!
I was in college before I realized that there were people who actually chose to live in the city. I always thought they lived there because they couldn't afford to live in the country.
amy324, that's interesting -- I always thought people lived "out in the country" because they couldn't afford to pay big city rent prices! :)
I know just how you feel. I get that pull everytime I visit Chicago too. For the longest time I thought my husband and I would move back to Los Angeles when the kids were out of the house but lately I've been thinking that renting a place in Chicago, parking the car and living the city life would be so much better. We were lucky enough to live that life for one spring break week when my husband had a corporate apartment on MIchigan Avenue. The kids and I loved being able to walk everywhere and explore the neighborhoods near the lake. I could really see myself there.
I had the same feeling when I first visited Chicago. I still love that city. I've never been to New York, but I would like to. I live in suburban Houston - a satellite city. Some folks are moving into "downtown," but I wouldn't want to be one of them. Unlike Chicago, the only draw would be the fine artsy things. There are really no basics like grocery stores. Alas, we are still dependent upon the automobile (just look at our lack of mass transit). I can see that even in Chicago, there would be drawbacks to walking everywhere - like rainy, snowy days!
Hi! We loved your post over at KiwiLog, and decided to feature it as part of our weekly mom blog round-up. Cheers!
I've got the Petula Clark downtown song in my head now.
I've always lived in Middle Tennessee, either in the burbs or in the country so I've never known what that city life is like, either. It does have a romantic quality to it.
My niece graduated from Vandy in the spring and is going to be working in New York this fall. I'm hoping to get up there in the next year or so to visit!
We moved from the city to the country where dh was raised. It took me awhile to get used to the country living but it's a good place to raise children. No regrets here!
Will the Nestle family bloggers look at the evidence or just relay what Nestle tells them?
http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2009/09/nestle-family-twitters.html
I have lived both in the deep country and city. I have a love for both. During my 30 years I have lived in apartments and on 40 acres. I gave up the 40 acres to move back to San Diego. The acreage was beautiful but there was not a lot going on. Ive decided that I want the city as a mom and want to retire in the country where its quiet and peaceful. Id still need some sort of beach villa though to go visit.
Nice post,
Lucy
I am in the city, but "the city" up here in Canada seems different.... when hubby says he lived in the Chicago suburbs, it was a different city than Chicago...
When I say I live in the suburbs of Calgary, it's still Calgary. The next town is a 10 minute drive through farmland... we seem to be really spread out up here in Canada since our cities sprouted up along the railway...
But I would LOVE to live in the country ... except my son loves being able to run two houses down to his friends house and we live on a quiet cul-de-sac just two blocks from the school... so I'm not sure I can leave here just yet.
I loved your blog. I have always lived in a small rural town of less than 60,000 but I had dreamed of going to the city. Last October I had the chance to take a week long trip to NYC and I fell in love. I loved walking the streets and seeing all of the people. You also experienced so many of the same thoughts I did when I was there. I want to go back and have a trip planned for 2010, but what I would love to do is experience staying with a family that lives in the city to see what life is really like for city families rather than just imagining from a hotel window or looking up from the street.
Ya, there is no walking to a full sized store or starbucks in my near future.... or distant for that matter. I live in California but in mountains.....down a loooooooonnnnnnngggg dirt road.....with cows and deer and coyotes and bob cats and mountain lions and bears OH MY.. City life is fun for a day, put chuckin' toys to mow a lawn .....now that is real living. ;)
Enjoyed your blog. Thanks for the chuckle.
I live in the rural section of a town of <3,000 folks. I like to visit cities - Boston and DC and ride the subway and oooo and ahhh for a while. But then...well, there's no place like home!
Hi everyone!
I was reading through this blog and realized this is a perfect place to ask for help!
I go to Bentley University in Boston and i'm currently working on writing a 200 page business plan for a company called Mamas Move that provides mom and baby fitness classes and well as birthing education classes. If anyone would be interested in filling out a brief survey for me I'd greatly appreciate it! Please e-mail me at duncan_shan@bentley.edu! Thanks a lot!
My father works for a big highrise apartment building in a major metro area. He brought us to the top (38th floor) and holy smokes! We could see the tops of all the sky scrapers.
We saw people playing bocce ball on the roofs of city buildings. There were gardens up there! And playgrounds!
But yeah, how do you have a monster grocery shopping day and hoof it home on your back?
Actually I lived in "the city" when I was in college and grocery shopping by bus was a total drag. But riding bike or walking everywhere kept me pretty svelte despite always eating out (since there was limited grocery shopping, lol)
But I could never imagine it with kids. We live in the burbs, hence my blog name but it's cool to venture into 'the city" and show the kids some neat buildings, lots of lights, and people everywhere.
As a pro storyteller, I love to read when folks live out the crazy fables that are all around us. Thanks for this slice of life post. I know that whenever I travel to other states, I know how much more I love coming home to my own place right here is Arizona.
In Chicago, for groceries, there is Peapod which allows you to order your groceries online and then they deliver them to your door. And in the summer there are a ton of farmer's markets so you can just pick up your produce there. A lot of the dry cleaners deliver as well. I work downtown in the Chicago Loop and I fantasize about getting a condo there after the kids are "gone" but I have some friends who are moving back downtown so their kids can go to high school there instead of the small suburb they currently live in.
Can't to see more insightful information from you.
Cycling with my mountain bike is the is so much fun.
Great post!
Chicago Bears jerseys is very beautiful.