Thursday, August 02, 2007

feet and buses

Cities are amazing places. Yes I have replaced the sound of the ocean for the sound of traffic almost drowned out by a window air conditioner, but I have also replaced my car with my feet. Or in some extreme cases, a bus or train. My neighborhood is amazing. Within a half a block from my new apartment I can find a record store, an L stop, two book stores, a little market, a movie theater, three coffee shops, three dollar stores, several banks, a Wallgreens, a library, a park, a pool, and a smattering of boutiques and restaurants. There are about five thai restaurants in fact. If I venture a little further, I can find a bigger market, and if I hop on a bus I can reach Target, a supermarket, and Trader Joe's.

I like the ocean. But I can see the point of the new urbanists who work toward cities instead of suburbs, feet, bicycles, and buses instead of cars. It's extremely convenient.