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a home + living guide for the post-college, pre-parenthood, quasi-adult generation

09.05.2005

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so long city, hello 'burbs! 
living in the suburbs
by
Anh-Minh Le | 1 2 3
continued from page 1

I made a pros and cons list, comparing what the suburbs and city had to offer us at this point in our lives. In addition to the fact that we were slipping into a quieter lifestyle, the suburbs had a few other big benefits. To start, Jon and I no longer work in San Francisco, and we didn't want to spend more than an hour of our day stuck in traffic. In the city, if we wanted two bedrooms and two bathrooms, we would probably be able to buy a condo -- but we just couldn't imagine having upstairs and/or downstairs neighbors again. And, not only did we want a backyard, but we wanted better weather so that we would actually spend time in that yard. Where we currently live, it's usually 15-20 degrees warmer than it is in San Francisco.

When we first saw our house, it was in a terrible state. But, walking through it with our realtor, we saw a lot of potential. We imagined hosting Thanksgiving dinners. We would have a spare bedroom so out-of-towners could stay with us instead of at a hotel. The backyard would be a perfect playground for my nieces and nephews. Not being close to bars, clubs and our favorite restaurants was a small price to pay for what this house would come to mean to us.

Now our life is indeed centered around our home. We revel in seemingly mundane things like listening to the crickets and birds outside our bedroom window; washing the car in our own driveway; picking oranges from the tree in our garden. Yes, we do actually get a thrill from being able to pull into a two-car garage every night. One man's minutia is another man's excitement.

This is not to say that the streets that lie outside our house are dull. My 'burb is not a place where folks only step outside to get into their cars. Here's what I see when I walk around my neighborhood: lots and lots of bicyclists, women power-walking together, couples jogging after work, families taking the dog out for a stroll, and kids playing basketball. Exercise and outdoor pursuits are plentiful in our area.

We are lucky enough to live within walking distance of shops and restaurants. This has saved us from feeling stranded in the suburbs; it gives us a sense of community. The same woman always helps me when I visit the local pharmacy's prescription counter. I know my favorite meal at the Chinese restaurant costs $8.88 (a lucky number). Once a week, Jon stops off at the taqueria down the street to grab dinner. Having routines and regulars allows us to feel connected to our surroundings.

saunter along this-a-way please!

 

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