Unmistakable Signs You Belong in the Suburbs
With more companies allowing employees to work from home, the dream of switching to suburban living is suddenly much more feasible. Some people are simply not cut out for big-city living — and it's easy to tell. You prefer the sounds of birds over sirens or the comfort of your own (preferably reliable) car to a packed subway car. Read on for some other telltale signs that you're just made for the 'burbs.
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Most city dwellers are used to sharing — the cramped courtyard in their building, the rooftop "beach," or the pocket park down the street. You prefer a little privacy or at least some space if they have to share. Many suburbanites have their own yard plus a more-than-generous town or city park, usually in close proximity.
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You take pride in the upkeep of your property – even if you pay someone else to do it. You can discuss lawn care and pool chemicals, snow shovels and rakes, even lawn chairs and hammocks until you're blue in the face. It gives you something to boast about and an excuse to keep yourself well-stocked in tools and "toys" such as fancy ladders and hoses (though hopefully not useless gizmos).
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Packed in a subway car when the A/C breaks? Not fun. Waiting for the bus and getting splashed from a big puddle? Even less fun. Suburban travel can still be harried, but it's often on a smaller scale. Having the option of taking your own car is almost always an attractive alternative to overstuffed public transportation.
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City driving is tough, expensive, and really, just how much parallel parking can one person handle? Suburban driving tends to be less stressful — every trip is not a major undertaking. Even better, you often have parking lots with spots that don't require a shoehorn to squeeze your car into.
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City dwellers shop for groceries often. They buy for tonight's dinner and maybe a bit more (unless they splurge to have it delivered). You like the good ol' hands-on experience of filling a shopping cart and loading your haul into the minivan to take home. You've been known to buy toilet paper (and some kitchen staples) in bulk since you save money and you have the space to store all of it once you get it home.
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Lucky city dwellers might have a stoop or a terrace — but it's not often they have true outdoor space to call their very own. If you're in the right part of the country, a flock of geese flying overhead in autumn or spring birds chirping on a quiet morning just make your day. Those sounds — not sirens and honking cars or drunken patrons falling out of the bar underneath your window — are what you crave.
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You prefer to know your neighbors a bit more than just someone you nod to on the elevator. It's something that reminds you of simpler days on the cul-de-sac you grew up on. You like to hear the latest news (we won't call it gossip), say hello at the library or bakery, and you like taking the time to chat or share a cup of coffee.
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You'd never imagine hiding a key under your welcome mat in an urban high-rise, but some people feel secure enough in the 'burbs to do just that. They also participate in neighborhood-watch programs and have a closer relationship with their towns and police.
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A garage houses not only your car but countless tools. Beyond assuring you of a place to park no matter the weather, the garage sometimes even becomes an impromptu workshop.
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Besides the garage, attics and cellars offer storage space that no city studio can offer. Sure, there are self-storage centers in every community, but you have less of an excuse to use one if you simply take advantage of the space in your own home.
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While malls aren't doing so well in this golden age of online shopping (which itself can be a marketing minefield), you like the one-stop-shopping convenience of this suburban staple. You can get new shoes, an iron, have your hair cut, and maybe even grab a slice of pizza under one (sprawling) roof — and you only have to park once.
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Local downtowns are the traditional home of mom-and-pop shops, and you love supporting them. The influx of big-box stores into urban areas are often squeezing out small businesses, with chains taking over and unique flavors disappearing. You want to do your part to keep your community unique.
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You like the sense of belonging that comes with being a volunteer at the local food bank or taking the stage of the community theater. Sure, cities offer similar opportunities, but when you're in the suburbs you often make time to do more things like this.
There's a certain sense of nostalgia and pride when a town has its own historic site, society, or specialty group. You love sharing the story of your community in a way that connects with locals and visitors alike.
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If you live in a big city, you will be surprised at how many college friends, former colleagues, friends of friends, or distant cousins call on you as their tour guide, source of local tips or, the ultimate horror, a crash pad when they visit. Living out of the way makes such scenarios less likely, and the only people "just dropping in" only want to see you, not the sights.
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We're not talking about a shelf of herbs in the kitchen window or a sliver of ground in the city's community garden. No, when you live in the suburbs and have a plot of your own land you can grow flowers or sweet corn, carrots or beans. You will become the person who brings fresh tomatoes to work every week during the season, and the one everyone hides from when zucchini takes over your garden. Hint: Don't plant them.
Admit it. You have spent time debating the merits of one minivan amenity versus another. You admire your neighbor's latest model and can now smile when you think of the countless carpools you have driven and the great conversations you've had with your kids within this icon of suburban life.
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When you're in the city, there are people. Lots of people. How did everyone have the same idea to take a "quiet" walk through the city's largest park or go ice skating right before the holidays? When you're in the suburbs, you have plenty more options for outdoor activities and often easier access to parks, pools, ski areas, ball fields and more.
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Your driveway – of course you have one in the 'burbs – gives you a place to wash your car, shoot some hoops, play hopscotch, draw with chalk, or just sit outside, all the while on your own property and following your own rules (if there are any).
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It's hard to imagine that the hubbub of a city, and the way it stresses out many people, doesn't have the same effect on your pet. Sure, there are leash laws that you must follow, but walking your dog down a quiet neighborhood street has to be easier on your animal companion than letting them be constantly assaulted by the pollution, traffic, and noise of a city.
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We're not talking about squeezing the hibachi onto the fire escape. No, suburban life allows the master of the grill to indulge in his or her passion, the bigger (and sometimes more expensive the unit the better. The bigger the party to enjoy the grill, the better. Bon appétit!
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Forget stadium shows (and those endless lines for the restroom or a snack) and Major League ballparks (ditto). You like the local jazz trio playing in the park's gazebo, the charms of family night at the minor-league game, catching a play at the 50-seat local theater, or a movie screened in the library's community room (free popcorn to boot).
You have more than just a sad front window where you can string some lights. You do the holidays up in style, from the decorated eggs creating an Easter tree out front to flags flying high for the Fourth of July, Halloween inflatables, and a tour-de-force Christmas lawn display that has the whole town talking.
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You like a slower pace without crowds no matter where you go, plus a wait time that's reasonable. Those things are more likely when you're outside city limits, when the queue for everything from tickets to movie popcorn might have more people than your entire suburban neighborhood.
The smell of fresh laundry dried outdoors is priceless. A suburban backyard filled with a clothesline may be a throwback, but if you want it you can have it. And as you snuggle into those sheets at night, you'll be so glad you did. Best of all? It saves money and energy, too.
No, not Brad Pitt… though we wouldn't mind that. We mean the actual stars, up in the sky. Big city lights and smog can obscure the treasures of the night sky. An evening walk down your local street looking at the constellations can not only broaden your mind but also your appreciation of nature.
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Sure, the suburbs are your jam, but maybe, just for a minute, you might crave a little of the big, buzzy excitement you can only find in the big city. No problem! You can still be secure in the knowledge that when you really need a dose of city life, it's often just a train, bus, or short drive away.
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