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I take the opposite view. Most of these debates overlook the fact that for a lot of people, it's simply more desirable to live in cities. Compare Vancouver wit

by na85 8y ago

I take the opposite view. Most of these debates overlook the fact that for a lot of people, it's simply more desirable to live in cities. Compare Vancouver with a small town of less than 100k people just up the Fraser valley (Chilliwack). I've lived in both. Vancouver has better restaurants, more concerts of every sort, better transit, access to the ocean, better internet, is more diverse, more liberal politics, better social services for the homeless and those needing mental health services, better access to diverse foods at the grocery stores, better night life, etc. Sure, I paid a lot more when I was living in Vancouver that. I was in Chilliwack, but it's worth it. No amount of videoconferencing technology can make up for the fact that if I want to go out for good sushi and I live in Chilliwack, I have to spend 2 fucking hours in the car each way.

skybrian 8y ago
Completely agreed that it takes a lot more to make a community desirable to yuppies than just fixing telecommuting. But it seems like at least some of this can change? Smaller cities are not universally conservative. Decent coffee can be found in most places, and this didn't used to be true. Many smaller cities that get some tourist traffic have small downtowns with good restaurants; maybe not every kind of ethnic restaurant, but some good choices. There is not a big migration of retirees to big cities, so it seems pretty clear that it's all about the jobs. Without the attraction of a big paycheck, people look for smaller "nice" cities that have enough.
- lmm 8y ago
  > There is not a big migration of retirees to big cities, so it seems pretty clear that it's all about the jobs. Without the attraction of a big paycheck, people look for smaller "nice" cities that have enough. Could just be that retirees can't afford to live in the big cities.
  - twic 8y ago
    Or that they want different things. When i was in my mid 20s, living in inner London was vital to me, because it meant i was close to the cool bars, nightclubs, art galleries (really!), and all my friends, who also lived in inner London. Now i am approaching my 40s, none of those things are much use to me, but i appreciate the fact that in my not-quite-inner-London suburb i have a good neighbourhood coffee shop, and some excellent bakeries and a big DIY shop nearby. I should imagine that in my 60s, i will value different things, and in my 80s, different things again.

by na85 8y ago

skybrian 8y ago

Completely agreed that it takes a lot more to make a community desirable to yuppies than just fixing telecommuting. But it seems like at least some of this can change? Smaller cities are not universally conservative. Decent coffee can be found in most places, and this didn't used to be true. Many smaller cities that get some tourist traffic have small downtowns with good restaurants; maybe not every kind of ethnic restaurant, but some good choices. There is not a big migration of retirees to big cities, so it seems pretty clear that it's all about the jobs. Without the attraction of a big paycheck, people look for smaller "nice" cities that have enough.

lmm 8y ago
> There is not a big migration of retirees to big cities, so it seems pretty clear that it's all about the jobs. Without the attraction of a big paycheck, people look for smaller "nice" cities that have enough. Could just be that retirees can't afford to live in the big cities.
- twic 8y ago
  Or that they want different things. When i was in my mid 20s, living in inner London was vital to me, because it meant i was close to the cool bars, nightclubs, art galleries (really!), and all my friends, who also lived in inner London. Now i am approaching my 40s, none of those things are much use to me, but i appreciate the fact that in my not-quite-inner-London suburb i have a good neighbourhood coffee shop, and some excellent bakeries and a big DIY shop nearby. I should imagine that in my 60s, i will value different things, and in my 80s, different things again.