Yesssssssss I SO know what you mean! It wasn’t until I lived downtown in a major global city outside the United States that I became a happier person in general. I realized that I’m happier when I walk — when I’m outside, in the elements, around other people. There’s so much more community when there’s population density and adequate public transit. I became hooked on daily movement and even though I now live in a much smaller Canadian city, I still walk everywhere. I often feel that if more North Americans had this experience so common in Europe and Asia, they wouldn’t have so many issues with depression.
Thanks for sharing this Leah, I really hope that more people can have this same experience. Once you get a taste of it, it's hard to go back!
Like you said, it doesn't even have to be a big city to be walkable and we don't have to be packed on top of each other like sardines. I'm starting to find more places with smaller populations that are walkable and have a good community vibe to them. I think things are moving in the right direction :)
Lol this is my first encounter with town mouse and country mouse, thank you for that insight. Does seem a little anti-town but like you mentioned it's all about preference!
Barcelona was so energizing and pro-social. E-bikes were readily available and the bike lanes were way busier than any city in America. No wonder Europeans are healthier and happier. Last weekend I was driving back from Maine. The car was on autopilot and a piece of metal was on the highway. I got a flat. The two was 175 and a new tire plus install was 400. Car ownership is not cheap! There's interest on the car loan, depreciation, opportuntiy cost, insurance (1500/yr), tires, registration, taxes. It's like jeez - i may as well just rent a car on Turo when I need one.
Or move to Barcelona!
With e-bikes, Uber, Turo, and soon robotaxis, car ownership is far less compelling. It's been 10 years since I haven't owned a car. But I think that's coming soon.
Urbanism for the win! You hit the nail on the head, a lot of (suburban) Americans know what it's like to visit a city but they don't know what it's like to truly live the benefits. I didn't truly understand what it meant until living it day to day here in Spain. I still get a mini high walking to get bread, fruits & veggies, going to a shop, etc. The novelty of it never wears off.
And I'm right there with you, any time I visit the US I'm jarred by the amount of time I spend in a car daily. Here I can go months without being in a car (I only drive when I'm escaping the Sevilla heat headed to the beach!).
My husband, son, and I lived in Soho in Manhattan. Our son, Curtis, was born there. In the summer, we'd move up to our country house. I thought every kid should grow up being able to see stars.
We commuted. We hated it because it ate up time we could have spent with our son.
When the summer was over and we came back into the city, Curtis would stand on the street corner & inhale the fumes as if it were the most fragrant thing he could imagine. He's still a city boy.
My criteria for where I will live is that I need to be able to walk to a coffee.
I felt so seen reading this post, Brian! As an Italian now living in the U.S., I often fantasize about redesigning cities here to make them more walkable—haha! I loved the section where you say, 'It triggers something inside of me. It’s not normal, it’s not how we were meant to live.' I 100% agree with that!
I was recently happy to read that a city in North Carolina is tentatively considering becoming more walkable after a survey showed that most millennials and Gen Z want to live closer to shops, work, and other amenities. However, they mentioned how massive the undertaking would be, as it would require changing the entire layout of the city and its roads—some of which are under federal, not state, jurisdiction. Let’s see—small steps! I’m glad to see more awareness growing around this topic!
Also, anyone here should watch Road Guy Rob's Youtube channel, he's hilarious and amazing! Lots of good fodder about developing US cities more consciously and the consequences of change 😂
Huge fan of urbanism, became a big fan as a biker in Midtown Atlanta in college/grad school. As Jeff and I moved to the suburbs, the biking option has become less available, and this does rack up questions in my head about where we want to purchase our house for the long term. Jeff loves the country, but the necessity of cars makes it tough. And we watched his grandparents not age gracefully isolated from everyone. Atlanta seems to be our place, and while it's not the "best city" by any means, family is here, which is important to us for our future family. Lately a wonderful little coworking space popped up in our suburb, so I'm hopeful this is another data point to how this little suburb, despite being car centric, could turn into something with lots of serendipity.
Yesssssssss I SO know what you mean! It wasn’t until I lived downtown in a major global city outside the United States that I became a happier person in general. I realized that I’m happier when I walk — when I’m outside, in the elements, around other people. There’s so much more community when there’s population density and adequate public transit. I became hooked on daily movement and even though I now live in a much smaller Canadian city, I still walk everywhere. I often feel that if more North Americans had this experience so common in Europe and Asia, they wouldn’t have so many issues with depression.
Thanks for sharing this Leah, I really hope that more people can have this same experience. Once you get a taste of it, it's hard to go back!
Like you said, it doesn't even have to be a big city to be walkable and we don't have to be packed on top of each other like sardines. I'm starting to find more places with smaller populations that are walkable and have a good community vibe to them. I think things are moving in the right direction :)
a.k.a. "town mouse" 😀
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Town_Mouse_and_the_Country_Mouse
Hmm, I hadn't remembered the story and had thought it was just about preferences. Maybe it's anti-town, which is not what I meant.
Lol this is my first encounter with town mouse and country mouse, thank you for that insight. Does seem a little anti-town but like you mentioned it's all about preference!
My childhood home of 23 years right there !
Barcelona was so energizing and pro-social. E-bikes were readily available and the bike lanes were way busier than any city in America. No wonder Europeans are healthier and happier. Last weekend I was driving back from Maine. The car was on autopilot and a piece of metal was on the highway. I got a flat. The two was 175 and a new tire plus install was 400. Car ownership is not cheap! There's interest on the car loan, depreciation, opportuntiy cost, insurance (1500/yr), tires, registration, taxes. It's like jeez - i may as well just rent a car on Turo when I need one.
Or move to Barcelona!
With e-bikes, Uber, Turo, and soon robotaxis, car ownership is far less compelling. It's been 10 years since I haven't owned a car. But I think that's coming soon.
PS I love the old map photo.
Man I'm glad to hear you're okay, what a bummer about the tire. I just got a flat on my bike and the new tire + repair cost me €36 😂
Honestly 36 seems like a lot
It's a really high end tire lol
I was imagining just replacing the tire tube, but if it’s a whole new tire, 36 is not bad at all
Urbanism for the win! You hit the nail on the head, a lot of (suburban) Americans know what it's like to visit a city but they don't know what it's like to truly live the benefits. I didn't truly understand what it meant until living it day to day here in Spain. I still get a mini high walking to get bread, fruits & veggies, going to a shop, etc. The novelty of it never wears off.
And I'm right there with you, any time I visit the US I'm jarred by the amount of time I spend in a car daily. Here I can go months without being in a car (I only drive when I'm escaping the Sevilla heat headed to the beach!).
Ahh yes I love that mini high just from taking a stroll around the barrio! Next time I'm in Sevilla I will definitely be reaching out :)
My husband, son, and I lived in Soho in Manhattan. Our son, Curtis, was born there. In the summer, we'd move up to our country house. I thought every kid should grow up being able to see stars.
We commuted. We hated it because it ate up time we could have spent with our son.
When the summer was over and we came back into the city, Curtis would stand on the street corner & inhale the fumes as if it were the most fragrant thing he could imagine. He's still a city boy.
My criteria for where I will live is that I need to be able to walk to a coffee.
Balance is key, I think your son and I would get along ;)
I felt so seen reading this post, Brian! As an Italian now living in the U.S., I often fantasize about redesigning cities here to make them more walkable—haha! I loved the section where you say, 'It triggers something inside of me. It’s not normal, it’s not how we were meant to live.' I 100% agree with that!
I was recently happy to read that a city in North Carolina is tentatively considering becoming more walkable after a survey showed that most millennials and Gen Z want to live closer to shops, work, and other amenities. However, they mentioned how massive the undertaking would be, as it would require changing the entire layout of the city and its roads—some of which are under federal, not state, jurisdiction. Let’s see—small steps! I’m glad to see more awareness growing around this topic!
Also, anyone here should watch Road Guy Rob's Youtube channel, he's hilarious and amazing! Lots of good fodder about developing US cities more consciously and the consequences of change 😂
Huge fan of urbanism, became a big fan as a biker in Midtown Atlanta in college/grad school. As Jeff and I moved to the suburbs, the biking option has become less available, and this does rack up questions in my head about where we want to purchase our house for the long term. Jeff loves the country, but the necessity of cars makes it tough. And we watched his grandparents not age gracefully isolated from everyone. Atlanta seems to be our place, and while it's not the "best city" by any means, family is here, which is important to us for our future family. Lately a wonderful little coworking space popped up in our suburb, so I'm hopeful this is another data point to how this little suburb, despite being car centric, could turn into something with lots of serendipity.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/urbanism