The City Vs. The Suburbs

Today's Guest Rambler: Dan Hadley
Relation to Aimee: One of my husband's oldest and dearest friends and now my friend too.
Occupation: Professional Student, Master of Theology, and soon-to-be Urban Planner.
Notes from Aimee: I am honored to have Dan today. I have been hoping to share his wisdom, thoughts and humor with all of us. Please give him your love by sharing your comments.

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Let me first say that it's an honor to guest ramble here. Thanks Aimee. I'm writing this the way you used to - secretly at work.

My question for the Aimee bloggernacle is this: Is it better to live in the city or the suburbs? I know that’s sort of like asking which bear is the best, and that most people choose where to live based on jobs, friends and family, but it’s still an important question.

During my adult life I have gone back and forth. I moved from Cottonwood Heights, Utah (a location abutting, but not actually part of Sandy, the world's worst suburb) to Los Angeles and back again. Next, I went on a mission to Rome and then returned to Sandy … er ... Cottonwood Heights. I am currently writing this from Cambridge where Lisa and I have been for the last year and a half. We love it here, but we also feel the pull of the suburbs, especially now that we are thinking of having kids.

The way I see it, the city is kind of like Johnny Castle, the rebellious heartthrob from the 1987 smash hit "Dirty Dancing," with whom everyone wants to dance, but only a few can tame (in the movie, it's "Baby” who reaches Castle with her honesty and integrity). Downtown is unpredictable, trendy, exciting and sexy, much like Swayze's character. The city is the guy you would date but never marry.

The suburbs are a bit duller. You go to suburbia to settle down and have kids. The only time people use newfangled, erotic dance moves is at night, after the legitimate establishments have closed down. It’s safe and comfortable in the suburbs. It’s more like Neil Kellerman, the overbearing but well-to-do suitor who competes with Johnny Castle for Baby’s affection.

Suburbia is affordable. Places like Portland and San Francisco are astronomically expensive. School districts in those cities have been closing because so many families have left for the suburbs.

Still, I don’t think the suburbs will remain affordable forever. Due to the rising cost of oil, denser neighborhoods with connections to public transportation – Transit Oriented Development or TODs in New Urbanist parlance - will become much more popular and affordable than conventional suburbs. The city will cost less to live in than the suburbs because you won’t need to drive as much (not to mention the positive impact on the environment).

Maybe when that happens, Johnny Castle will finally be able to get out of that crappy little resort town and freak dance with some city girls.