One of the enduring mysteries to me is how so much of our population voluntarily chooses to live in places where walking - or even taking a cab - home from a bar, any bar, really isn’t an option. While I believe there is a shortage of walkable communities in many parts of the country, with many people being priced out of what little good urban living is available, I also believe that many people really like the archetypal American suburban neighborhood. This desire for complete separation of residential/retail is just weird to me.
…adding, I don’t mean that I find it weird that people want to live in suburbs, I mean that I find it weird that so many people want to live in the post-1950s style suburbs which are prevalent in many places, instead of places which more resemble older inner ring suburbs or European-style suburbs. Still very suburban, but with walkable access to retail at least in parts.
I think a lot of it has to do with how you think of your house - is it a home, or is it an investment?
Because if it’s an investment, a place to hang your hat until you clamber further up the ladder and buy the next bigger house - then no, you don’t want retail near where you live. Spotty kids might be hanging around! It might attract criminal activity! Property values!!!
Whereas if you’re thinking, you know, this is the nest, the place we are going to be for the foreseeablee future, if you think in terms of memories rather than appreciation, you may be more apt to think about how and where the nest is situated, how close you are to the things you need, etc.
