The month of May has begun and because of my particular configuration of ethnicity, religious background, family structure and time of life, it is the month that usually brings a deluge of family events. Given the size of my family on any given weekend in May there will be religious ceremonies, birthdays, anniversaries, showers that precede summer weddings, graduations and of course Mother’s Day.
Being the black sheep of the family, literally and figuratively, as you can see in the above photo, I am the only member who migrated (fled) to the city. Everyone else decided to stay put. So yesterday was the first of many trips I will make this month back to the ‘burbs. Not wanting to keep a car in the city, I make good use of the commuter railroad.
The very same commuter railroad took me on many trips away from the ‘burbs when I was a teenager and old enough to travel on my own. I could hang with my friends on Bleeker Street, get drunk at the St. Patrick Day’s parade or go hear the New York Dolls and listen to Patti Smith read poetry. Somehow the city felt like it knew me better than anyone else ever could or did. I finally felt like I had a home. The city then was both dangerous and exhilarating.
Now the train takes me back to the ‘burbs and though I feel incredibly loved by my family and I love them, I no longer feel like I am going home. I am sure they feel the same way when they make a visit to the city. Calvin and I try to take some pictures for the blog in the ‘burbs but somehow I just can’t get inspired. After a few hours the longing returns, my feet feel itchy. I am ready to get going and get back home.
Yes. With you anywhere was a place I felt knew me. Xo
Aww thanks cuz.
My husband and I are going through a similar realization. Cities in general seem more at home to us. Seattle is our home of choice. It seems to have chosen us as well. We keep returning from the ‘burbs with a sense of relief and an organic sense of being known and understood.
Now that is one city I would like to visit and have not had a chance to yet.
I have to say been to Portland once and spent 5 days there and have to say I absolutely loved it. Even considered applying to Portland State but it is pretty far from my daughter and that would be hard. So much to like about it though.
My husband and I are going through a similar realization. Cities in general seem more at home to us. Seattle is our home of choice. It seems to have chosen us as well. We keep returning from the ‘burbs with a sense of relief and an organic sense of being known and understood.
Now that is one city I would like to visit and have not had a chance to yet.
Portland, where I now live. There have been many places, however, where I felt comfortable living, but always with a sense that it was temporary, not really home for the long haul. I love the photograph of you looking down the tracks for the train, and I suspect that I would have felt the same way about New York City if I had been raised in its suburbs.
I have to say been to Portland once and spent 5 days there and have to say I absolutely loved it. Even considered applying to Portland State but it is pretty far from my daughter and that would be hard. So much to like about it though.
I haven’t yet found my perfect place, but I have always known that I was a city girl. Some of my fondest memories are of visiting my grandmother in a big city. Her house was at ground level on a busy street corner, and I remember waking up to the sound of passing trucks, and paper boys.
I grew up in the suburbs but as an adult, I’ve always lived in small cities, and always in the center of the city. Although I have a car, I refuse to live anywhere that isn’t walking distance from a grocery store.
I think I do see a city girl lurking in there! I was the same when I lived in the burbs I needed to be able to have something walkable nearby.
I haven’t yet found my perfect place, but I have always known that I was a city girl. Some of my fondest memories are of visiting my grandmother in a big city. Her house was at ground level on a busy street corner, and I remember waking up to the sound of passing trucks, and paper boys.
I grew up in the suburbs but as an adult, I’ve always lived in small cities, and always in the center of the city. Although I have a car, I refuse to live anywhere that isn’t walking distance from a grocery store.
I think I do see a city girl lurking in there! I was the same when I lived in the burbs I needed to be able to have something walkable nearby.
Yes, had that feeling. Looks like it’s trying to say ‘welcome home’!
Oh a litany of everything I love!
Yes, had that feeling. Looks like it’s trying to say ‘welcome home’!
Yes, the places are usually cities that are filled with creative people and artistic inspiration. Just sitting, let alone living, in these cities penetrate my soul.
I love cities with public transportation and neighborhoods with diversity. Yes, cities like these find me every chance I can get.
Oh a litany of everything I love!
I, too, grew up in the burbs and never felt at home. Went to school in NYC and felt that it was my true home… But then I moved to the mountains of Colorado and felt like I was even more at home. Give me mountains, blue sky, lots of snow. But cities are terrific vacation spots for me.
Something to be said for the wide view of life.
I, too, grew up in the burbs and never felt at home. Went to school in NYC and felt that it was my true home… But then I moved to the mountains of Colorado and felt like I was even more at home. Give me mountains, blue sky, lots of snow. But cities are terrific vacation spots for me.
Something to be said for the wide view of life.
Beautiful post. San Miguel & San Francisco. Found my home after much wandering!
I enjoy being in a proper city or by the sea, so I’m trying to balance my current existence which is divided between London and the south west coast of England. Suburban/small town/village living has always left me deeply uncomfortable. The pressure to conform to the (usually) conservative norms whether they be aesthetic or political is corrosive over time. Of course you can resist but then you end up not fitting in socially, always being the "eccentric" and meeting up with your "real" friends online or when you visit the city!
Yes why not just be where you are comfortable instead of dealing with all the expectations and having to resist them. You sound like you have a great plan.
I enjoy being in a proper city or by the sea, so I’m trying to balance my current existence which is divided between London and the south west coast of England. Suburban/small town/village living has always left me deeply uncomfortable. The pressure to conform to the (usually) conservative norms whether they be aesthetic or political is corrosive over time. Of course you can resist but then you end up not fitting in socially, always being the "eccentric" and meeting up with your "real" friends online or when you visit the city!
Yes why not just be where you are comfortable instead of dealing with all the expectations and having to resist them. You sound like you have a great plan.