If you think that the city is the only place to live - or the suburbs for
that matter - and you're absolutely vehement about that, then you have some
idea how exactly half the country could vote for the man from Tennessee and
the other half the man from Texas. After all, one person's treasure is
another person's trash. Or is it the other way around?
Either way, it all underscores the fact that people are different, each
and every one of them. Men can be different from other men, women may be
different from men and each other, and gays can be different from straight
people.
But the buck doesn't just stop there. It's not that simple because some
gays have similar values as straight people, some blacks may have the same
values as their Asian neighbors, and often Republicans can share the same
beliefs as their Democratic counterparts.
Wacky, isn't it?
So what are the reasons people choose one brand of living over the other?
Sociological studies no doubt abound which could give us clues. Or perhaps
it goes back to the childhood; some who grow up in the suburbs no
doubt can't wait to get away while others find the sterile sidewalks and
ultra green lawns womb-like. But who has time for theories and more
theories? Let's see what the people who tend to the people who choose where
to live have to say.
For some it's monetary. Michael Kaminski lives in the suburbs and
grapples with a 20-minute drive to Dupont Circle - along with the inevitable
search for parking. But he says the savings on mortgage payments makes it
all worthwhile. "I live 3 blocks over the D.C. line
near 16th Street, N.W, and the same condo in D.C. would cost $200,000 more."
But wait, there's more: "I get to drive through Rock Creek Park everyday
and can hear crickets instead of police sirens at night. "le I love the
feeling of community you get in the city, it can also be claustrophobic -
everyone knows what you are up to!"
Real estate professional Dan Melman wonders good-naturedly whether it is
a misnomer to say "living" in the suburbs.
"Many would argue that that isn't really a life at all," he says. "This
has changed greatly with areas such as Bethesda and Ballston where you can
walk to hip, urban restaurants in addition to many chain restaurants."
For Dan, nothing beats being able to find a market, dry cleaner, gym, and
five different places to eat within a few blocks of home.
"While my partner and I are based in Dupont Circle, our business takes us
to Cleveland Park, Adams Morgan and increasingly the Hill - all of which
offer these same conveniences. For working professionals, factoring in the
shorter or complete absence of a commute improves the quality of life
dramatically."
Local artist Richard Kightlinger agrees. He particularly enjoys the close
proximity of art galleries and movie theaters that screen more .artistic"
genre films. And, like Dan Melman, Richard says, "the city has more outside
cafes and places to meet your friends for coffee without having to drive to
get there."
These notions don't just apply to the Washington, D.C. area, either.
Nathan Ramos, a San Francisco realtor says. "I think it' depends on
someone's personality. San Francisco is fast-paced, congested, very
expensive, and requires high energy. The conveniences are plenty, but for me
I have a hard time dealing with the time it takes to locate a parking space.
even at the markets, where the lots are full and you have to wait in line
for a space."
As for suburbia, he says, "There are open spaces, easy parking. and a
more relaxed pace about life. Rents are cheaper and it's definitely, in my
opinion, a better place to raise a family."
Urban environments make some people feet uncomfortable. They spell
s-t-r-e-s-s and translate into nothing more than concrete, steel, noise, bad
air, violence, dangerous people, and crowds. That's how one rural resident
described city living in an on-line chat about city versus country life. He
went on to say that cities "embody everything that is broken in human
culture. I can barely even imagine living in the suburbs of a mellow place
like Seattle."
Ultimately, where you decide to call home is a personal choice based on
your own preferences and lifestyle. Maybe neither is better than the other;
one is just more suited to your own requirements.
