Anyone regret moving to Raleigh/Cary? (Durham, Chapel Hill: leasing, how much, neighborhood)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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And on the other hand, I don't want my child to grow up in this artificial, sterile, "safe" suburban area with no roots in the "real" world beyond. I don't want some bored, angsty, skateboarding brat with a sense of entitlement and an overinflated sense of his or her own problems who thinks that the world begins and ends with their zip code. I want them to step outside their little bubble to have a wide variety of life experiences. I want them to open their minds.
Ugh. You just described about 95% of the kids in my town here in MA.
It's a fine balancing act. As a mother, I do want my child to live in an environment that fosters growth, stability and well-being. I also want my child to have other children nearby- socialization is important. So, despite my aesthetic ideals, I have found myself checking out "family" neighborhoods because, like it or not, it's where other children can be found. There's not a single baby or toddler in my neighborhood right now, and that's an issue. I don't think it makes me "family obsessed" to take my role as a mother seriously. Too many people in my generation were raised by people who were too busy going out and "finding themselves" to pay much attention to their kids, and the result is that there are a lot of screwed up Gen X'ers running around with attachment issues.
And on the other hand, I don't want my child to grow up in this artificial, sterile, "safe" suburban area with no roots in the "real" world beyond. I don't want some bored, angsty, skateboarding brat with a sense of entitlement and an overinflated sense of his or her own problems who thinks that the world begins and ends with their zip code. I want them to step outside their little bubble to have a wide variety of life experiences. I want them to open their minds.
It seems almost a contradiction that you want your kids to have a wide variety of life experiences and you want to restrain your family to a closed-in homogeneous cul-de-sac neighborhood where 99.9% of the houses are occupied by white families with 2-5 kids. I don't see any diversity and/or variety of experiences there. How are you planning to "open their minds" living in this kind of environment?
Ugh. You just described about 95% of the kids in my town here in MA.
Hee! And about 95% of the kids here...
Quote:
It seems almost a contradiction that you want your kids to have a wide variety of life experiences and you want to restrain your family to a closed-in homogeneous cul-de-sac neighborhood where 99.9% of the houses are occupied by white families with 2-5 kids. I don't see any diversity and/or variety of experiences there. How are you planning to "open their minds" living in this kind of environment?
Wow- you're obviously talking to the wrong person. I live in hippieville, where half of the roads aren't even PAVED, much less cul-de-sac-ish, and our neighborhood is full of artists, potters, professors, chickens, survivalist types, writers, etc. Before this, I lived in an old mill house in Old West Durham in an extremely diverse neighborhood. I have no intention of restraining my family to a "closed-in homogeneous cul-de-sac neighborhood where 99.9% of the houses are occupied by white families with 2-5 kids". Where in the heck did you get that from my post? I simply would like my kids to be around.. other kids. And sadly, most of the other kids are in developments.
I'll probably end up in an older neighborhood in Chapel Hill or Carrboro, like Quarterpath Trace or Colony Woods- or perhaps back to Durham, but in a neighborhood with children.
I'm not sure you really even read my post. If all I wanted was some "cookie-cutter" existence, I wouldn't even mention wanting to strike a balance.
I'm curious, what about the people in RDU don't you like?
I would say the wholesomeness! I know that sounds weird but I don't see the diversity (non race related) here. And don't give me Durham or Chapel Hill b/c I live in Durham and play in Chapel Hill and there is still a undercurrent of wholesomeness. Nothing wrong with being wholesome, but a truely diverse community has a touch of debauchery, good debauchery thrown in for good measure. It's adds to the overall liveliness. I'm a freaking young, single guy who is used to some debauchery and would like some here for good measure. It's makes for a better overall work/play experience.
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