I’ve been debating what kind of dwelling place I’d rent/buy “when I grow up.” A small condo/townhouse/loft located centrally and in close proximity to where I live/work/play/worship? Where I can somehow hop on a bus or rail line to get to most places I need to go? That’s one of the greenest options. Occupy a smaller physical footprint, and you’ll contribute a smaller amount to our collective carbon footprint – in general anyways! But then I need a place to start setting up a workshop with a table saw, etc, which requires proper ventilation… Ideally a garage would work well for this, and I don’t know if lofts come with garages…
But now… If I ever want to raise a family (Ha! BIG “if”!), I imagine my kids running around in suburbia in neighborhoods of cul de sacs (Bleh! Oh, Jane of contradictions!) and lush green lawns (even though lawns – and golf courses, esp in, eg, Arizona! – are so UNenvironmental! See
New Yorker review on Turf Wars book, as an intro to this topic…)
If it were just me, I’m fine living in a small space, hopping on public transportation, but if I had kids, I’d probably want the suburbia that I’m thumbing my nose at now (yes, even though I’m living in that suburbia right now…).
Anyways, I thought this article in the NYTimes was pretty interesting, maybe only because it continues to stir the ongoing debate I have with myself.
Real Estate
By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY
Published: August 31, 2008
It adds convenience, privacy and security. And the oversize door is handy for moving big objects in or out. One owner even turned his garage into a music room.
Suburbia?!!!!!!
I KNOW!!!
Okay, maybe not cul-de-sacs – that’s a bit too tranquil and gated/guarded for me, even if/when I have a family (watch me eat my words a couple of decades from now)…
But I agree; “suburbia” is not a lifestyle I strive for or desire right now… Suburbias don’t have the dense transportation networks that I want!
In any case… I think the deciding factors for where I live will mostly be based on where I work and play (this includes where family and friends are) – hopefully on some sort of bus line! That’s how I picked my last two apartments. The only thing I might commute for is church!