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Oh, I don’t think theres any debating the uniqueness. Good or bad, Northeast suburbs standout compared to many other regional suburban areas. You’re not going to find Newburyport or Manchester by the Sea or Marblehead anywhere less the PNW.
Boston's coastal suburbia is incredibly distinctive and unique for sure. I was just pointing out that distinctiveness takes on different forms.
I can spot Philadelphia suburbia a mile away, for example. Distinctive use of stone/brick (in many cases locally quarried using a schist found only in that area), farmhouses, rowhomes even in the the smallest 'burgs, rolling topography, heavy British/colonial influences, horse farms, a very passionate gardening culture that's more apparent to me than any other region I've lived in/visited, railroad suburbs (a typology shared with Boston, Chicago, and New York).
Quote:
Originally Posted by mwj119
But to me, the Boston suburbs and general region has run laps around the other metros I’ve lived in, save San Francisco.
Fair personal assessment. I have found the Boston area to have a lot of great attributes, but in my mind, I still see the Philadelphia and DC areas (where I've also lived) as having the same number. They're just different great attributes.
Living in different places is a lot like "whack-a-mole." You'll never find perfection. At least that's my philosophy.
Very nice photos. I'm the reverse. I love visiting out west and taking in the scenery. The word that always comes to mind for me, in comparison to the east, is 'dramatic'. The topography and variety is just much more dramatic to me. But I just couldn't deal with the lack of greenery. I get off the plane and the humidity and trees hit me in the face and it's like, oh thank god I'm back lol. Also those photos I posted are just Bucks County which is the county north of philly. Philadelphia sits directly on the edge of the Piedmont Plateau. South Philadelphia sits at sea level and it's swampy/boggy and flat as a pancake all the way to the ocean. To the north and the rest of the city is rolling hills until the Appalachians.
The Pine Barrens, NJ:
The farthest south I ever lived is NC and NJ to the north. So it kind of boggles my mind kind of that so many people in the southwest live in neighborhoods like:
Something about the no grass front yards feels wrong to me.
I'm pretty sure the OP wants to move to St. Louis though
I love my grass-free yard! Also, no mosquitoes, and no snow. This is from someone who used to live in the northeast for 40 years and the midwest for another 4. Low humidity is yet another benefit. Almost anyone I know that lives here and has to travel east, having felt the humidity is kissing the ground when they land back here. That seems to be the greatest complaint from those who venture away from here.
I love my grass-free yard! Also, no mosquitoes, and no snow. This is from someone who used to live in the northeast for 40 years and the midwest for another 4. Low humidity is yet another benefit. Almost anyone I know that lives here and has to travel east, having felt the humidity is kissing the ground when they land back here. That seems to be the greatest complaint from those who venture away from here.
Me too, every time I travel back east I chuckle at how much time our family and friends waste dealing with yard work. I know it's to each their own but I think the idea of a massive grass yard is a total waste of time, I'd much rather spend my time doing things like exploring all the amazing outdoor scenery in Arizona and regionally in the southwest. But I know some people would rather work on their yard all weekend, that's fine with me.
Phoenix/Arizona has no shortage of population, I'm more than okay if the OP wants to live in STL.
Milwaukee's east side has mile after mile after mile of beautiful neighborhoods like these. Green, leafy and beautiful. Some streets overlook Lake Michigan. Not sure why some think green and leafy only applies to certain cities.
Me too, every time I travel back east I chuckle at how much time our family and friends waste dealing with yard work. I know it's to each their own but I think the idea of a massive grass yard is a total waste of time, I'd much rather spend my time doing things like exploring all the amazing outdoor scenery in Arizona and regionally in the southwest. But I know some people would rather work on their yard all weekend, that's fine with me.
Phoenix/Arizona has no shortage of population, I'm more than okay if the OP wants to live in STL.
I mean, those are two extremes.
I, for one, like a small, manicured lawn. 45 minutes to mow and trim and weed the beds. I like walkability, to bars, restaurants, kids schools, and access to the core city. Don't need big acreage. Certainly don't want anything to do with maintaining big acreage.
On our free time, we like to head to the mountains, or ocean. Which you can't do either in a place like Texas. At least you're halfway there in Arizona.
The kicker is, we can't do a lot of it year around. While the heaviest population circles in Texas and Arizona can. That's the difference. That's, to me, what makes Northeast winter far more tolerable than Midwest winters. At least there's decent skiing and resorts abound.
If somewhere like Maine was 50-85 degrees year around, the two worlds would collide for me. Mountains, oceans, ample fresh water, and weather that allows you to enjoy it year around.
EDIT: Oops... I just accidentally described coastal North Carolina. Guess I'm moving...
I mean, it looks a lot like select few affluent neighborhoods across major metros.. If that's what you mean.
Even if Texas, you pay a premium for this look and feel.
Highland Park, Bellaire, Tarrytown/Old West Austin, etc.
Yep. Very leafy/lush, pleasantly walkable, and well-preserved historic neighborhoods are highly-sought and at premium everywhere. High demand with relatively low supply.
If only much more of American suburbia was built this way. Sigh.
Edit to add: there's also some unique vegetation differences across the Eastern US, even if all green. I can definitely tell Midwestern forests, bushes, native plants, etc. from those in the Northeast and South.
I, for one, like a small, manicured lawn. 45 minutes to mow and trim and weed the beds. I like walkability, to bars, restaurants, kids schools, and access to the core city. Don't need big acreage. Certainly don't want anything to do with maintaining big acreage.
On our free time, we like to head to the mountains, or ocean. Which you can't do either in a place like Texas. At least you're halfway there in Arizona.
The kicker is, we can't do a lot of it year around. While the heaviest population circles in Texas and Arizona can. That's the difference. That's, to me, what makes Northeast winter far more tolerable than Midwest winters. At least there's decent skiing and resorts abound.
If somewhere like Maine was 50-85 degrees year around, the two worlds would collide for me. Mountains, oceans, ample fresh water, and weather that allows you to enjoy it year around.
EDIT: Oops... I just accidentally described coastal North Carolina. Guess I'm moving...
Halfway to mountains in Phoenix? The city is a valley (technically a basin) surrounded by mountains, including those like Four Peaks, which rise up to 7,700', taller than the highest peak in the East. So you could live in Phoenix (the nation's 12 largest metro) and be next to mountains and 3.5 hours from Rocky Point (warm water beaches) or live in coastal Carolina and be a good distance from a major city, 3+ hours to bigger mountains but right on the beach.
It's not like you can't have a yard like you describe in Phoenix. A lot of people do. It's just not for me. I still spend plenty of time doing yard work, it's xeriscape oriented (more like gardening and trimming small bushes) versus mowing grass though.
Halfway to mountains in Phoenix? The city is a valley (technically a basin) surrounded by mountains, including those like Four Peaks, which rise up to 7,700', taller than the highest peak in the East.
By halfway there they mean you have mountains in Phoenix but no ocean. At least not within a few hours.
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