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I think one appeal to city life is being able to go out without everyone knowing who you are and your business. I don't think I could live in a small town because I like to have some privacy. I want to choose what people get to know about me ;-)
I like that I don't need to own a car, that I live in a city where people all over the world flock to either as visitors or immigrants, I like the restaurants, theater, etc options in my neighborhood. I like that I can see arthouse flicks in the theater, I like that I have museums and universities nearby. I like that I can go two miles up the street and listen to a renown University of Chicago professor(s) lecture on various scientific topics while drinking a beer every few months, ... and I like all those damn big buildings.
I tried living in a small college town for awhile, I hated it.
I like that I don't need to own a car, that I live in a city where people all over the world flock to either as visitors or immigrants, I like the restaurants, theater, etc options in my neighborhood. I like that I can see arthouse flicks in the theater, I like that I have museums and universities nearby. I like that I can go two miles up the street and listen to a renown University of Chicago professor(s) lecture on various scientific topics while drinking a beer every few months, ... and I like all those damn big buildings.
I tried living in a small college town for awhile, I hated it.
If you don't mind my asking, which college town and why?
I really enjoy riding my Brown line. There is a certain place where it's heading towards the loop and you get to see this really amazing view of Chicago. I love going downtown. Although I don't like large crowds, I like the excitement.
I'm sitting back listening to jazz and just thinking about the city gives me good vibes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by supernerdgirl
blugh. I will never go back there again.
Basically, i have a short attention span, and living in Chicago I can just hop on the train or bus and go do pretty much whatever I want.
I can walk to the grocery store (several grocery stores actually), the bank, several restaurants, several spots to shop, get coffee, have a few drinks ... and stretching it a bit... the post office, a bookstore... the lake is two blocks away and the train is the same distance.
And if i'm really lazy - i can have my groceries delivered. beat that. haha
The best part is not having to deal with a car anymore.
A lot of people, a lot of things to do, and I have many transportation options outside of owning a car. Also, there's a subtle story/history to every neighborhood and every block that I pass through and I love absorbing it. Cities just excite me.
Personally, I can have fun and a great life in any size city. I don't have narrow parameters like most people in this respect.
I live in a big city because I like it alot (Houston) and would choose to live here over any other big city (except San Diego) but later in life I would love to live in a place like Jackson Hole, Truckee CA, Estes Park CO etc. with few people because of the solitude (usually) and natural beauty that is largely undisturbed
Because ive had a very mixed bag growing up in a pristine suburb, while i appriciate the good schools and safety, living in a bubble suburb looses its appeal to a kid after about 5th or 6th grade. There is soooo little diversity of ethnicity, religion, economic background, personalities landscape. A major effect of alot of suburbs to me seems to be conformity and almost making any suburb anywhere look the same as any suburb anywhere. Many LA suburbs, CHicago suburbs, seattle suburbs, NY suburbs Boston suburbs, Dallas Suburbs, Boise Id suburbs, discount the landscape near each one they look and feel very similar. The City offers diversity, amenities, less pressure to conform, just a different feel, usually some more prevalant problems but your not immune from problems anywhere.
I guess I just knew at an early age that wherever I lived, it needed to be in the heart of a large dense city.
I love the people watching, the huge amount of options, the activity, the crowds. I also really appreciate being able to hop a train to go everywhere and not deal with driving or traffic. I like being able to walk everywhere, not worry about drunk driving, be in the middle of action.
I don't mind going back to the suburbs and smaller areas where I grew up, it's actually really refreshing to go back a few times a year, but I"m always REALLY excited to get to come back to my condo in the city.
The strangest thing when I think about it is that growing up with a car in a smaller town, I would leave town and drive all over all the time. Now I'll suddenly realize that I can go MONTHS on end without ever leaving the city limits of Chicago and it never even crosses my mind. If I were to go back 15 years ago and tell me younger me that this would be my situation, I'd probably have thought myself crazy. I love it now though.
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