Days like these...
Have a Blessed Day
Not sure if that reply was for me but I literally start feeling anxiety. Everything seems so fake, so samey, so perfect. Everyone squirreled away in their private hell. I just couldn't.
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Why do the suburbs suck so much?
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Not sure if that reply was for me but I literally start feeling anxiety. Everything seems so fake, so samey, so perfect. Everyone squirreled away in their private hell. I just couldn't.
SolidusDave
Member
At least in the US this doesn't seem to translate into perceived feeling of safety.
Going by some of the ridiculous spending on alarm systems, locks, guns etc.
And again, depends on the city and country. Also type of crime. You don't seee many people breaking into specific condo apartments.
NESpowerhouse
Perhaps he's wondering why someone would shoot a man before throwing him out of a plane.
At least you have internet in the suburbs unlike here in the middle of bumfuck nowhere.
It is pretty here though.
superdeluxe
Member
There are suburbs in the Seattle area as well.
The fact is if you want a 4 bedroom home with some space, you have to go the burbs or a multi-millionaire
The fact is if you want a 4 bedroom home with some space, you have to go the burbs or a multi-millionaire
I grew up in a small village in the swiss alps and now in a city. Both have their positives and negatives sides.
While I enjoy the life in the city a lot, it can get stressfull sometimes and it's more difficult to "live" together with people (just talking about me, of course). In the rural area, everyone greets to each other and u know everything about the area around u, which also feels like home for u. Fortunatelly, the people were also very liberal and I could use an excellent puplic transport system that allowed me to go everywhere quite quickly, also to the cities. And of course, it's modern there as everywhere else ;P.As a young man though, I want to live in a crowded area for now (but not getting old there).
However, as I'm not used to live in big cities and a population of 400'000 is already enormous for me, I can't imagine myself living in a metropole 😅
With suburbs I don't have experiences. But I think they are great places to live.
While I enjoy the life in the city a lot, it can get stressfull sometimes and it's more difficult to "live" together with people (just talking about me, of course). In the rural area, everyone greets to each other and u know everything about the area around u, which also feels like home for u. Fortunatelly, the people were also very liberal and I could use an excellent puplic transport system that allowed me to go everywhere quite quickly, also to the cities. And of course, it's modern there as everywhere else ;P.As a young man though, I want to live in a crowded area for now (but not getting old there).
However, as I'm not used to live in big cities and a population of 400'000 is already enormous for me, I can't imagine myself living in a metropole 😅
With suburbs I don't have experiences. But I think they are great places to live.
Oh please, get over yourself.
Muppet of a Man
Member
Get best of both worlds: live in a good progressive suburb or small city that's located just outside the major city you want to have easy access to.
Andrew Korenchkin
Member
Deluding yourself is far easier, you can join the burb zombies by embracing the temporarily embarassed millionaire lifestyle.
gutter_trash
Banned
pillowtalk
Member
I like both. edit: not rural life
Martinski43
Member
Texas suburbs where I grew up fucking suuuuuuuck. Zero things to do for a single adult, no good hangouts, no views, no dating scene, no scene for... anything really. Just miles and miles of parking lots, highways, and single-family homes that no one ever leaves. Living in a big city in Taiwan is eight million times more fulfilling.
MåndagSöndag
Banned
Suburbs are primarily built for family, not young adults living alone.
I live in an urban area in stockholm. But i want to leave the city for a more rural setting now that i have kids.
I want my kids to be able to run around freely when they get abit older.
I live in an urban area in stockholm. But i want to leave the city for a more rural setting now that i have kids.
I want my kids to be able to run around freely when they get abit older.
SoRuffShoNuff
Member
Living in the city just isnt affordable in a lot of cities in the US if you have children, want a house, and a decent school district. My wife and I make about 200k a year and we cannot afford to live in the good school districts in Atlanta (and Decatur). You are talking 1300 square foot homes going for 500k plus. We live in a townhouse now and do not want to live in this type of residence with a couple kids and a pet. We want our own space with a backyard for family get-togethers and activities. Thats why we are moving to the suburbs, primarily for good schools but also space. If we want to do something in the city we are only 20 minutes away.
When our kids grow up we fully expect them to move back to the city as that is where the scene is for younger people without kids. Thats the thing about living situations, everything doesn't work for everyone. You pick your living arrangements based on the lifestyle you want and your specific needs.
When our kids grow up we fully expect them to move back to the city as that is where the scene is for younger people without kids. Thats the thing about living situations, everything doesn't work for everyone. You pick your living arrangements based on the lifestyle you want and your specific needs.
We just stayed in a suburb in Spain for a week for a holiday. Longest period I've ever spent in a suburb in my life.
It was fucking. Grim.
Having lived in big cities my whole life, I think it boils down to having no sense of culture or community - no 'human connection' in your immediate vicinity.
It was fucking. Grim.
Having lived in big cities my whole life, I think it boils down to having no sense of culture or community - no 'human connection' in your immediate vicinity.
- yes, there's a "community", but it's in a nominal, arms-length way, where everyone's walled apart and they can see each other more easily than they can talk to each other or meaningfully interact.
- there are no shops or services within immediate walking distance, so you don't get lots of people walking back and forth
- there are no 'watering holes' at frequent intervals - no bars, maybe a rare kids' playpark - meaning there's no place to go and sit when you just want to interact with people
- you don't have signs and art and creativity everywhere - not even in the architecture. There's no sense of humanity in the environment. Front lawns don't count imo - they don't feel like a shared endeavour
AppleBlade
Member
I live in downtown Newington (a Connecticut suburb of Hartford) and it's pretty awesome. I get the schools, family activities, and safety of living in the suburbs but I'm in a walkable neighborhood. I can walk to the library, town activity center, nicest park in town, many restaurants ranging from trendy to casual to cafes and a couple of chain fast food spots, an ice cream shop, a tailor, a martial arts studio, a small supermarket, my doctor and dentist, etc.
It's the best. If I ever had to move I would look for the same thing, the downtown most walkable area of a nice suburb. You get the best of both worlds imo.
It's the best. If I ever had to move I would look for the same thing, the downtown most walkable area of a nice suburb. You get the best of both worlds imo.
entremet
Member
More specifically a beer run, missing some butter, staples. You know, stuff you want quickly.
megashock5
Member
Came here hoping for this, GAF does not disappoint.
For me though, it's where I grew up and where I live now that I have kids. It's where I'm comfortable. No regrets.
RenegadeXV8
Banned
These are positives to me. I don't want a bunch of people hanging out close to where I live.
torre_avenue
Banned
Speaking as someone who has grown up in various suburbs in the Bay Area of all places, they're ideal to raise a family in, but when you're a teenager / 20-something they're the worst.
Speaking as one of those 20-somethings who goes to a major metropolitan city for college, I like coming back home because then, I get to get away from the noise, the expense, the people, and the lack of space. That being said, that happiness only exists for 2-3 days before I remember why I dislike the suburbs; the fact there's nothing to do. The days blur into one another as I stay stuck in the house. Driving around is alright, but it's like one has to actively find cool spots to experience like museums, concerts, etc. That lack of spontaneity is what kills life in the suburbs for me.
Speaking as one of those 20-somethings who goes to a major metropolitan city for college, I like coming back home because then, I get to get away from the noise, the expense, the people, and the lack of space. That being said, that happiness only exists for 2-3 days before I remember why I dislike the suburbs; the fact there's nothing to do. The days blur into one another as I stay stuck in the house. Driving around is alright, but it's like one has to actively find cool spots to experience like museums, concerts, etc. That lack of spontaneity is what kills life in the suburbs for me.
gutter_trash
Banned
the only reason why I am living in the city is for a reduced commute.
But I would move back to the burbs in a heartbeat if commuting was not an issue.
I value relaxation, space and tranquility
But I would move back to the burbs in a heartbeat if commuting was not an issue.
I value relaxation, space and tranquility
Same
Moose Biscuits
It would be extreamly painful...
I live in the UK so perhaps our suburbs are different, but I definitely prefer suburb living to living in a city (if by that we mean living in city blocks, high density housing).
Cities have all sorts of bullshit.
Cities have all sorts of bullshit.
Mortimer Brewster
Member
Agreed, Toronto is a shithole, I couldn't stand living there. I have a lot of business in the city but I much prefer operating out of London and and just going in a couple times a month for my GTA clients. I like mid sized surbanized cities like London. We have all the niceties of the city but not the overpopulation and ridiculous cost of living. Plus it's nice living in an area with lots of trees and parks.
PumpkinSpice
Banned
Yeah I do that by bike but its true a lot of suburbs make any task by any method other than car very difficult.
Yep. No access to anything on foot. No consideration for what happens when the boomers age to the point they can't care for themselves anymore. Public transportation is sporadic or effectively useless due to travel times. Huge stretches of uninterrupted retail space. No consideration for traffic beyond "just add another lane."
entremet
Member
ThatÂ’s my only beef really. I know not everyone can tolerate cities. But I love walking and when I lived in a Texas suburb, arguably one of the worse designed in the US lol, being a slave to an automobile was horrible.
God Dayumm
Banned
I live in a small city whose downtown sucks and there's not much to do, so the suburbs are the fancy places with all the cool stores. I have not been to a big city suburb. Is King of Prussia a suburb? Because that one is cool
Correct answer. I prefer the Austin suburbs because I can still get to Austin food and events within 30 mins but my day to day experience isn't a busy mess.
Now other metro suburbs where you're 1 hour out and there's no craft beer, wineries, restaurants, theaters etc locally yeah I would prefer the city.
Zen_Arcade
Banned
What suburbs are you guys living in where you need to drive 10 minutes to get basic essentials? I live in the suburbs and there are like four places I could get the basic essentials within a five minute drive. And like four grocery stores within a 10 minute drive.
"A bunch of people"? People are just people. What's wrong with them?
In the last 8 hours I've had young and middle aged commuters saunter past my flat silently, a group of kids at lunch laughing and playing in the street, some cars drive by blasting music (only hear it for a few seconds). The rest of the time a nice quiet neighbourhood, and it is literally right by the city center, not a suburb. It's perfect - i have my space but I'm also in touch with other humans in some way.
Whenever i walk down the street i smile at people and say hi. I chat to the owners of the grocery store.
Thousands of people live in this area alone. It doesn't have to be a nightmarish urban crush. (That said, i live in a VERY friendly city.)
If you feel that way, my point is that the full countryside as a better option. Don't have to deal with people but are in nature rather than a cookie cutter nightmare. Still a journey to get anywhere but at least it's a nice journey.
Yeah pretty much, I love having a short commute to work (I don't enjoy mass transit and like the alone time). I am 10 minutes from multiple parks and trails which is great since I am a trail runner. I am 2 miles away from a lake. I can walk to breweries and anything I need is just a 5-minute drive. I like the suburbs a lot. The city made everything a pain in the ass. I feel like in Chicago you have to wait to do anything just due to the amount of people and everything is dirty.
I sure do love seeing mcdonalds around every corner of the street /s
Not necessarily. NYC for sure mandates walking. But most major cities in the US require a car for a majority of people. My suburb has trails, sidewalks, bike routes, and parks all over the place.
Zen_Arcade
Banned
People get progressively more irritating the more of them there are. I'd take having a few neighbors I actually like over having to be around and hear a bunch of strangers around my house.
I think you're really exaggerating the whole "Cookie cutter nightmare" thing. Or you had a bad experience. Either way, there are suburbs that aren't generic hellholes.
Chozoman
Banned
Raptomex
Member
I was just thinking the same thing. These "cookie cutter" comments seem silly.Yeah...living in the "cookie cutter nightmare" of the suburbs must be hell
thesoapster
Member
You sound like me, OP. (I also live in the same area and do software engineering.)
I'm visiting Seattle for the fourth time this August. I'm really excited! I am planning on moving (there or...somewhere more populated) within the next couple of years after I have a bit more experience in my current job under my belt.
I'm visiting Seattle for the fourth time this August. I'm really excited! I am planning on moving (there or...somewhere more populated) within the next couple of years after I have a bit more experience in my current job under my belt.
crisdecuba
Member
I see the pros and cons to both, and I can understand folks who'd like to live in the more active, more communal, hustle and bustle of the city. That was me when I was younger.
But now that we have a family, I prefer the space, relative calm, and lower home prices of the suburb. I like to drive and carpool with friends and don't enjoy public transportation. And it's easy to drive into the city (or anywhere else) when you want to go do something. And the communities are generally planned so you have easy access to stuff like groceries and whatnot.
Of course, some sub-urban areas are crappy, as are some urban areas.
But now that we have a family, I prefer the space, relative calm, and lower home prices of the suburb. I like to drive and carpool with friends and don't enjoy public transportation. And it's easy to drive into the city (or anywhere else) when you want to go do something. And the communities are generally planned so you have easy access to stuff like groceries and whatnot.
Of course, some sub-urban areas are crappy, as are some urban areas.
Yeah...living in the "cookie cutter nightmare" of the suburbs must be hell
By not cookie cutter they mean low income.