Writer's Block: City mouse or country mouse?

[urbpan]

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This seems like a good opportunity to bring up the rural nature lover paradox which, roughly stated is: "People who love nature move there and ruin it." Pretty good comments section in the post in the link above, taking me to task and offering alternatives. Worth a read, especially if you feel like disputing the paradox.

As for me, well I've defined myself in a very deep way as "Urban" since 1998 or so. But at this point in my life, it would make things much easier on me if I had a bit of land to run the dogs. It would also make me happy to have a place to keep a composter, and a place to sit and watch the seasons pass from a lawn chair, and maybe even some chickens to provide some eggs for our breakfast. I actually spent the first 7 years of my life in the wooded hills of Connecticut (it's not all suburban NYC) and feel more at home in the forest than almost any other place--I need trees around me.

On the other hand I love the fact that I live in a city, and that exciting cultural things are happening all around me. I don't take advantage of them nearly enough, but they are happening, and when I want to partake in them, I have many to choose from. I can buy a coffee with my bank card within walking distance of my home 24 hours a day, and I can walk to my choice of six or seven bars, four grocery stores, a yoga place, a puppet theater, or a ceramics studito (none of the latter I've actually been to).

Our compromise appears to be the outer, Southwestern part of Portland Oregon. For the price of our little Brookline condo we can get a small house with a big yard, with money left over for home improvements. "The city" would be a few miles northeast, full of all the things a city offers. Forest Park, a monstrous rainforest, pokes into the heart of the city itself, actually reducing the city's heat island effect and providing a nearby source of spirit-restoring trees. We're at least two years away from this major change, as Alexis wants to pursue a career move and associated school program, and the thought of it terrifies and excites me.

Comments

[yummykit.livejournal.com]

i have heard forest park is amazing. i really should go down there and check it out since i'm only a few hours north.

the rural nature lover paradox drives me nuts because to some extent, i agree with it. a lot, actually. but after living in the city for about 4 years, it is driving me batshit crazy and it's like i can't think of enough ways to get out of here...even though i really love this city.

i want to be out of the city for some of the reasons you mentioned -- i want land for my dogs (or future dogs too), i want to be able to cultivate plants...native trees, shrubs, etc. and basically have a yard that encourages birds and wildlife to use the area...then i really just want to be able to sit on my porch or in the yard and enjoy the fresh air, quiet, and the animals.

i feel like a huge hypocrite though...there's no doubt about that.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

It's tough, but surely there must be a way to find a balance?

[yummykit.livejournal.com]

yeah...there has to be a way to find a balance. i'm just not sure what it is yet! my coworker and i were talking about this the other day...that americans haven't really figured out how to master the high-density living like other cultures have (such as europeans). we're all so used to having so much space and just want want wanttttt more all the time.

and then i sit here and i'm like...wow, i really AM a hypocrite because i would love to live in a tiny town (not suburbs) and have land to grow food on and such. wouldn't we all love to have that luxury...sheesh!

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

yes. you must go. it looks like this:

[yummykit.livejournal.com]

if you two ever find yourselves in seattle, you should go to discovery park. parts of it look a lot like that too, although other parts are beach and tall grass meadows. you might like it! it feels pretty big, although seems small in comparison to forest park (550 acres vs. 5000 acres).

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

My dad and I went there in 2006! It was really nice, but I was surprised at how dry everything was. I much preferred Vancouver!

[yummykit.livejournal.com]

oh yes, i prefer vancouver too. you also went in august, it looks like...it gets pretty hot/dry in july and august. right now it is super beautiful and green everywhere! lovin' it.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

oh, definitely.

[grrlpup]

I live in Portland on the east side, and the area you're talking about is noticeably more temperate than my neighborhood, because of the forest and the shelter from Columbia Gorge winds. To the point that in wintertime I sometimes run on the west side to escape the cold and wind. I'd run there in summer to escape the sun, if I didn't have to swelter by car or bike to get there. Pretty, pretty woods over by Lewis & Clark College!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Wow, good news since we are also escaping the ravages of the New England winter!