while i really enjoy living in somerville's davis square area, it's not because of the traditional sense of community. i enjoy the occasional summer events which block off the square and have music and street vendors and such, but at this point in my life, that's not what is important to me.
what matters to me are my friends. when i came to boston, i knew almost nobody. there was Lee over in brighton, who i moved in with, and there are catling and lisa, and that was just about it. i was depressed and unhappy that i just didn't know anyone. back at university i knew people -- people to see and talk to and hang out with. it took years to build that in boston, and it happened so slowly i didn't even notice it.
now i have a circle of aquaintances and a few dear friends who i don't want to leave behind. my community is somewhat geographic but very distinctly not city-based. i don't live in the community of Davis Square -- i live in the community of bunicula and dancer and niralth and br0k3n and anime chick and bhakti and puck and coffeekitty and tember and skaven and alex and lauren and ... it goes on. a few are dear friends, many are good friends, some are just aquaintances whose company i enjoy. they're all here in boston, or near it, and this is the community i live in and want to remain a part of. (hell, i've even gotten most of the nuts out of my life and stopped being a nut myself ;-)
so what's my criteria on where i want to live? for sheer convenience, i'd love to buy a home here in davis square, but that ain't happening -- i'm not sitting on $400k and i sure as hell can't handle a morgage that large. so when i'm ready, i'll start looking outside the city. what matters to me? a garage, to be west or north of the city (not south), and no more than 30 minutes from Boston. if i can get that, i can stay with my community. i can go see movies with friends, hang out on the weekends, go to thursday night goffee, and so forth. if i'm lucky enough to be within 15-20 minutes (bwahaahahah) i could even hold parties. (i've learned from my own tendencies that if you're more further out than 128, good luck getting more than six people.)
this is where i think we differ. you like your city, and want to remain part of it. for me, a city is convenient but disposable, because my community is made up of people who are somewhat scattered already. i don't really care what goes on in my community ... although when i buy a house i expect that will change (i'll have an investment in it, so i'll show up to town meetings and such). but even there, it's a case of i'll find something convenient, then join whatever local community is there ... but that's secondary to practical considerations based on a very different sort of community than the traditional city-based one.
i suspect this wouldn't have been the case pre-internet... my community would be more geographically centered. but it's not -- and i think that's a strength!
hope these ramblings provide some insight as you think about this...
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2002-04-19 11:01 am (UTC)what matters to me are my friends. when i came to boston, i knew almost nobody. there was Lee over in brighton, who i moved in with, and there are
now i have a circle of aquaintances and a few dear friends who i don't want to leave behind. my community is somewhat geographic but very distinctly not city-based. i don't live in the community of Davis Square -- i live in the community of bunicula and dancer and niralth and br0k3n and anime chick and bhakti and puck and coffeekitty and tember and skaven and alex and lauren and ... it goes on. a few are dear friends, many are good friends, some are just aquaintances whose company i enjoy. they're all here in boston, or near it, and this is the community i live in and want to remain a part of. (hell, i've even gotten most of the nuts out of my life and stopped being a nut myself ;-)
so what's my criteria on where i want to live? for sheer convenience, i'd love to buy a home here in davis square, but that ain't happening -- i'm not sitting on $400k and i sure as hell can't handle a morgage that large. so when i'm ready, i'll start looking outside the city. what matters to me? a garage, to be west or north of the city (not south), and no more than 30 minutes from Boston. if i can get that, i can stay with my community. i can go see movies with friends, hang out on the weekends, go to thursday night goffee, and so forth. if i'm lucky enough to be within 15-20 minutes (bwahaahahah) i could even hold parties. (i've learned from my own tendencies that if you're more further out than 128, good luck getting more than six people.)
this is where i think we differ. you like your city, and want to remain part of it. for me, a city is convenient but disposable, because my community is made up of people who are somewhat scattered already. i don't really care what goes on in my community ... although when i buy a house i expect that will change (i'll have an investment in it, so i'll show up to town meetings and such). but even there, it's a case of i'll find something convenient, then join whatever local community is there ... but that's secondary to practical considerations based on a very different sort of community than the traditional city-based one.
i suspect this wouldn't have been the case pre-internet... my community would be more geographically centered. but it's not -- and i think that's a strength!
hope these ramblings provide some insight as you think about this...