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Contrary to popular belief, there are indeed things to do in the suburbs. This summer, we've discovered free outdoor jazz concerts and movie screenings nearby. Our downtown area has a big live-music venue. Having a major university a few miles away means all of the perks of a "college town" are easily accessible: cute cafes, independent bookstores, good yet cheap restaurant.

While Jon and I do love our slice of suburbia, we don't necessarily agree with Corcoran spokeswoman Lauren Weber, who was recently quoted as saying that suburbs across the country have become the hot new places for sexy people to live. Huh? She obviously hasn't seen our 80-year-old neighbor who wears a psychedelic housecoat while watering her front lawn every Saturday morning. Yes, I admit that there are times when I catch myself perusing houses that are for sale in San Francisco. I often wonder what we could have afforded in the city instead of the suburbs. In fact, a few years ago, I seriously thought we would take up residency in Noe Valley or Bernal Heights.

But perhaps this is a case of reality imitating television: I was once a "Sex and the City" devotee -- mesmerized by the glamour of NYC. Now, that show has been replaced on our Tivo by "Desperate Housewives," which is set in an idyllic suburban locale. Finding the perfect Cosmo is of less interest than baking the perfect batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Sure, there are times when we miss the energy that comes with a metropolitan area. But just because we live in the suburbs, doesn't mean we're banished from the city forever. We just have to drive a little farther. And though we're probably looked down on a bit when prompted to reveal that we don't live in San Francisco, the way we see it, we're getting the best of both worlds. Urban offerings are within reach, but we get a quiet place to sleep. In a sense, we've expanded the way we live.

o

Anh-Minh Le spends her days working for a hedge fund, and her nights writing, crafting, and catching up on Tivo'd shows. She has spent 98% of her life in the SF Bay Area -- and now that she has a house that really feels like a home, she has no intention of leaving. She is currently obsessed with landscaping her backyard.

check out these related articles:
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more articles by Anh-Minh Le:
keys to the house: buying your first home

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