May 18, 2004

Office News and one more city vs. suburbs discussion

Well, it seems that my friend Martin, who was not my favorite boss of all time, is leaving the company. His last day will be next Friday and while I will miss the friend he's been over the past four years, I think my job will be more comfortable without his bossdom. In other words, Martin, best of luck where ever the road takes you.

After a couple of recent discussions I've become even more clearly focused on debunking the myth of suburban life. Particularly the role of backyards:

Backyards #1: Why do people have backyards? So you can put your kids in the back and stay in the house and get things done. Right? Not the quality family time you get when you have to take your kids to the park that's four blocks away. It's a convenient dumping zone. And for me, I'll take the playing with my kids in the park over the convenience of a backyard.

Backyards #2: Where do most kids, especially in the 'burbs, spend their time. Why on the sidewalks and streets in front of their houses. Really, I lived in the burbs as a kid and that's exactly what we did. Really. How about you? Did you really spend that much time in the back you your house? I mean, sure, we would walk in the woods out back but not all that much. And if you want hiking, I'm sure going to a nearby state park is a bit safer then on wooded cow pastures.

Backyards #3: The dog. In the city, people have to walk their dogs. It builds community and friendships in every city neighborhood I ever lived in, even to the point of almost cliqueness. Same things goes for parents with kids. But in the 'burbs, what do we do? Do we spend as much quality time with Fido? Nah, just open the door and set him free. Hope he comes back before dark. Hope you own kid doesn't step in the you know what lying around free in the neighborhood.

These are my opinions. Driven by the fact that I will always try to convince my friends to stay in the city, because, well, I'm going to miss them if they are gone. And trust me, I know from experience, that a fifteen-minute drive from the city seems much farther than eight blocks ever will be.

Posted by robdesign at May 18, 2004 02:49 PM
Comments

1. So you can take your kids outside and teach them how to do important stuff like differentiating between "weeds" and "perennials". (just kidding.) Seriously, though, spending time with your kids out in the backyard is just as important as having a convenient place for them to play while you do stuff inside.

2. I spent most of my time in the backyard, the woods behind my house, or in somebody else's backyard/woods.

3. Eventually, when the herd thins, we plan on having a dog. There is a huge field across the street at the elementary school for important things like frisbee and running and more frisbee, but I suspect we will have many mornings or evenings with the family dog in the backyard while grilling dinner, weeding the garden, playing catch, shooting down the slip 'n' slide, chasing fireflies, climbing trees, playing flashlight tag, etc.

Posted by: Ex-Cantonite at May 18, 2004 04:53 PM

1) ditto the slip'n'slide

2) and the lightning bugs (fireflies)

3) victory garden fantasies

4) trolley trails

5) cicada's so thick you can't think over the noise

6) TREE HOUSES. I'm getting me one of those when I get big.

Posted by: tbtine at May 18, 2004 05:57 PM

I grew up in the country,I mean the sticks.So,I'm partial to peace and quiet.Now we live in the ity,and I like it too.I'm close to anything I want to do.But,I do miss the country as well.

Posted by: Emily at May 18, 2004 09:49 PM

I guess I'm in the minority of both having city residency and a backyard. Currently, mine is a battlefield.

The ubiquitous bamboo, while half-hacked to smithereens, is still growing and sending shoots to all avialable real estate. Add to that a barrage of cicadas, ants and, soon, tiger mosquitos, the plot of land is no more than a jungle left for 'tree rats' to scamper through and feral cats to pee in.

So, my piece of untamed urban wilderness is the abhorrent singularity in this argument.

Posted by: XLT at May 19, 2004 09:08 AM

Actually, we do have a very small backyard. Enough room for a little landscaping, plants, PERENNIALS, and enough grass that I occassionally pull out my manual push mower and spend about three minutes cutting the grass and weeds. Apparentely, the cicadas and ants must like your neighborhood better. I haven't seen hide or hair of them in mine.

Rats and cats are to the city what mice and dogs are to the 'burbs. : ^ )

Posted by: rob at May 19, 2004 09:49 AM