What do you think about moving to the burbs.... (Philadelphia: appointed, crime)

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by 1ondoner

I can bet you my left nut that I have a more exciting life than you do. And I don't go out to clubs, bars and coffee shops.

The world is my playground and my life is not confined to my neighborhood and SEPTA routes.

I, for one, am interested to hear what makes your life so interesting. And that's not sarcasm, that's a genuine interest.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Some of this is true, but the benefit to Fishtown and "some neighborhoods in South Philly" are that they are pretty walkable to useful things. Passyunk Square/EPX provide everything you could need, including grocery stores/markets, bakeries, dollar tree, take-out Mexican food, farmers market, etc. Of course, if you live near 19th and Washington, your statements are true. Fishtown is also very functional, of course less so when you get closer to Port Richmond. Part of the problem is that this city is too dependent on the automobile for how it's built. Take some of that away and you can spread the useful, everyday amenities more evenly IMO.



While I fully agree with you, this will be complicated by America's refusal to negatively impact the number of automobile consumers. It's the center of American economics. Buy a vehicle, gas, insurance, maintenance, etc etc etc. Can't buy a suburban house unless you can drive. Can't shop at suburban malls unless you can drive.

The reality is that a huge number of drivers should have their licenses taken away, at least temporarily, based on the way they drive and the quality of their physical abilities. But that will never happen because driving is a religion here.

It all depends on the suburb, where you work, & when you work.

I lived in a neighborhood in Cherry Hill that was near the Haddonfield border. I could get to anything without a car except work (at one place that I worked at) because I didn't work "normal" hours, & that problem was in the city. There isn't a one size fits all answer to city vs suburbs.

Haddonfield's merchant association & the borough government do events regularly. Downtown is packed during the events. It's not a ghost town when there is no event, either.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

It all depends on the suburb, where you work, & when you work.

I lived in a neighborhood in Cherry Hill that was near the Haddonfield border. I could get to anything without a car except work (at one place that I worked at) because I didn't work "normal" hours, & that problem was in the city. There isn't a one size fits all answer to city vs suburbs.

Haddonfield's merchant association & the borough government do events regularly. Downtown is packed during the events. It's not a ghost town when there is no event, either.

Agreed with everything you've said. And I need to spend some time in Haddonfield because I've never been.

Another factor is the type of walkability that exists in the suburbs. Haddonfield looks walkable in a good way, but walking to places like malls and grocery stores with huge parking lots sucks even though you're technically walking.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Agreed with everything you've said. And I need to spend some time in Haddonfield because I've never been.

Another factor is the type of walkability that exists in the suburbs. Haddonfield looks walkable in a good way, but walking to places like malls and grocery stores with huge parking lots sucks even though you're technically walking.

Bus routes run from the Haddonfield speedline station to two local malls. Those bus routes were walkable from my house. I haven't been big on malls for decades, but I didn't need a car to get to a mall. It all depends on where someone lives in Cherry Hill. I've said for years that Cherry Hill is partially walkable & Haddonfield is totally walkable.

Haddonfield has an Acme that was once a Hicksite meeting house. Many people walk to & from it.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by 1ondoner

I can bet you my left nut that I have a more exciting life than you dio. And I don't go out to clubs, bars and coffee shops.

The world is my playground and my life is not confined to my neighborhood and SEPTA routes.

Honestly this about the most idiotic thing you've said on here. lol. I can't think of any regular poster who does not have a full life wrt what they've chosen to do with it.

Lots of us travel(I'm going to NYC, DC, Birmingham, Al, Tucson, AZ and hopefully Chicago(haven't been there in ages) before
Christmas/New Years.) And few here are trapped in their neighborhoods by what septa does or does not do.

Next year, I'm planning on going to China which I have never been to before.

[1ondoner]

This is exactly what I'm saying. For someone who's life/world is confined to a few blocks around their home, living in Center City is may look very exciting as opposed to living in the burbs.

Just because there are no clubs, bars, museums, coffee shops in my neighborhood does not mean I live a boring life. And I don't need them. I have a life beyond going out for dinner in my local eateries, or hanging out in the mall.

Originally Posted by kyb01

Honestly this about the most idiotic thing you've said on here. lol. I can't think of any regular poster who does not have a full life wrt what they've chosen to do with it.

Lots of us travel(I'm going to NYC, DC, Birmingham, Al, Tucson, AZ and hopefully Chicago(haven't been there in ages) before
Christmas/New Years.) And few here are trapped in their neighborhoods by what septa does or does not do.

Next year, I'm planning on going to China which I have never been to before.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by 1ondoner

This is exactly what I'm saying. For someone who's life/world is confined to a few blocks around their home, living in Center City is may look very exciting as opposed to living in the burbs.

Just because there are no clubs, bars, museums, coffee shops in my neighborhood does not mean I live a boring life. And I don't need them. I have a life beyond going out for dinner in my local eateries, or hanging out in the mall.

That may be true, but I believe life is enriched when friends, stores, restaurants, museums and the rest are in such close reach. It adds to the super-exciting life that so many of us already have. And, for many, it reduces stress, time and cost when so much of life can be lived on foot rather than in a car.

[ionlyused59]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

My thought on all this is that the walkable suburbs with good rail access into downtown is a reasonable option. BUT, you lose out on the quick easy access, resulting in doing less in the city than you would if you lived here. And nothing is as fun as walking out the front door into the city on a Saturday morning and just bouncing around to whatever. It's a real joy. I love going to the Italian Market to get some food and browse Fante's, grab a nice espresso from Anthony's, and then head into Center City, grab the El, go to Spring Garden, walk through NoLibs, grab lunch in Fishtown. Museums, walks along the river, stop in and browse at antique shops, look through some of the strange shops in Chinatown. The list goes on. And all is walkable. No car needed for any of it.

I love being home and cooking and having peace and quiet as much as anyone. But I can do that too. Maybe not as quiet as a detached suburban house, but I don't care.

Wow nice Saturday! I think the quick easy, access is key. I told myself if we moved to the burbs we could come into the city when we wanted for dinner or other events but I'm realizing now that it may be more of a production than I thought. For example I just love walking my dog daily through the different streets and alleyways here and discovering architecture or things I've never saw before. So it's not so much being here solely for the big city ammenities but also some of the every day things that I enjoy.


I think I've just convinced myself to stay lol!

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by ionlyused59

Wow nice Saturday! I think the quick easy, access is key. I told myself if we moved to the burbs we could come into the city when we wanted for dinner or other events but I'm realizing now that it may be more of a production than I thought. For example I just love walking my dog daily through the different streets and alleyways here and discovering architecture or things I've never saw before. So it's not so much being here solely for the big city ammenities but also some of the every day things that I enjoy.


I think I've just convinced myself to stay lol!

I'm happy you connected with what I was trying to say. And I hope you find happiness wherever you end up.

I think a big part of it is being happy not just with your neighborhood, but also the street you live on. I used to live on a busier street with buses and some other nonsense, but now I live on a much smaller/quieter street. I know my neighbors and I really love having access to all the simple things. At times where I've lived outside of the city (in other cities), I would plan to go into the city for something but not go when the time came because who wants to commute 30 - 40 mins each way? I was always jealous of those that lived there because they could step outside and enjoy it for 20 mins on a whim.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Originally Posted by ionlyused59

Where are you and your wife off to?

Most likely somewhere well outside the Twin Cities Metro (where my wife is from and where I've lived before) but close enough to go there once in a while. I turned down a job I interviewed for and was offered in Northern Iowa earlier this year, for instance, staying one more year here in Philly.