As someone who grew up in Toronto, moved to Ottawa for University, and returned to the GTA for work, the thing that makes Toronto (especially the neighbourhood

As someone who grew up in Toronto, moved to Ottawa for University, and returned to the GTA for work, the thing that makes Toronto (especially the neighbourhood where I grew up) feel like home is a combination of deep familiarity with the city, a diverse set of memories of happy times untainted by adversary danger that are geographically rooted here, a strong sense of familiarity with assistive services, and (at least memories of) a strong social network. In my case, being engaged with church was probably the most successful driver of these things. I'm in a very different place in terms of metaphysical beliefs now than I was growing up, but I can't deny the strong network effects of regularly meeting with a group of people that seek ostensibly compatible goals of self-improvement through empathy, service, and self-congratulation.