3 ms·

I used to think this way but now that I have kids, I get the appeal of Suburbia.

criddell 10y ago
Same here. Age 20 - hate the suburbs. Age 40 - love them. I'm guessing when I'm ready to retire I'll either go rural or urban. Probably rural where I can afford to have a nice sized workshop.
- ghaff 10y ago
  I grew up (and now live) in what are called exurbs today. I do appreciate the access to the city. And appreciate the pros (and cons) or urban living, which was never a good match for my employment options. I've never been a big fan of classic suburbia although the one time I lived in such it gave me a 5 minute commute to work. So there was that.
- jimbokun 10y ago
  In my 40s with two teenagers, love living in a city (Pittsburgh). They can both walk to school (2 blocks to elementary school, high school is farther, though, about half hour). I love that in the summer they can hang out with friends at the local pool, or play ping pong with friends at the local rec center during the winter. Point being they have a lot of activities with in walking distance where they can meet with friends and we don't have to drive them. My son in high school has discovered he can hang out in one of the many many restaurants around his high school with his friends. I don't think they would have the same freedoms or independence living in a cul de sac somewhere, at least not before getting a driver' license.
_delirium 10y ago
In Denmark for many people it goes the other way. Suburbs are nice when you're a couple, because you've got a big yard, lots of space, etc. But once you have kids, they can become more of a hassle. Now you have to drive the kids everywhere. Many people prefer to live in the city (or one of the inner suburbs) once they have kids of a certain age, because then the kids can get around on their own, on bike or transit, rather than the parents having to drive them to/from every single thing. Kids also tend to prefer this, because it gives them more mobility/independence.
- int_19h 10y ago
  I think it doesn't quite work out that way in US, because biking infrastructure is rather crappy, and so is mass transit.
TulliusCicero 10y ago
I have a kid, and I like the idea of living in a suburb, just not a typical American one where you can't walk anywhere. Being forced to drive everywhere sucks. I'd love to see more 'streetcar suburbs' with local amenities within walking distance, where parents and kids can safely bike around, where transit to the city proper isn't a cruel joke, etc.

Same here. Age 20 - hate the suburbs. Age 40 - love them. I'm guessing when I'm ready to retire I'll either go rural or urban. Probably rural where I can afford to have a nice sized workshop.

ghaff 10y ago
I grew up (and now live) in what are called exurbs today. I do appreciate the access to the city. And appreciate the pros (and cons) or urban living, which was never a good match for my employment options. I've never been a big fan of classic suburbia although the one time I lived in such it gave me a 5 minute commute to work. So there was that.
jimbokun 10y ago
In my 40s with two teenagers, love living in a city (Pittsburgh). They can both walk to school (2 blocks to elementary school, high school is farther, though, about half hour). I love that in the summer they can hang out with friends at the local pool, or play ping pong with friends at the local rec center during the winter. Point being they have a lot of activities with in walking distance where they can meet with friends and we don't have to drive them. My son in high school has discovered he can hang out in one of the many many restaurants around his high school with his friends. I don't think they would have the same freedoms or independence living in a cul de sac somewhere, at least not before getting a driver' license.

_delirium 10y ago

In Denmark for many people it goes the other way. Suburbs are nice when you're a couple, because you've got a big yard, lots of space, etc. But once you have kids, they can become more of a hassle. Now you have to drive the kids everywhere. Many people prefer to live in the city (or one of the inner suburbs) once they have kids of a certain age, because then the kids can get around on their own, on bike or transit, rather than the parents having to drive them to/from every single thing. Kids also tend to prefer this, because it gives them more mobility/independence.

int_19h 10y ago
I think it doesn't quite work out that way in US, because biking infrastructure is rather crappy, and so is mass transit.

TulliusCicero 10y ago

I have a kid, and I like the idea of living in a suburb, just not a typical American one where you can't walk anywhere. Being forced to drive everywhere sucks. I'd love to see more 'streetcar suburbs' with local amenities within walking distance, where parents and kids can safely bike around, where transit to the city proper isn't a cruel joke, etc.