Introduction - Hometown Roots

Most people say there are three types of places to live; the city, the suburbs, and the country. But I grew up in a fourth category; Suburbia. Suburbia, is often overlooked and misunderstood as part of the suburbs since it is similar in appearance, however it is very different to live in.

In reality, Suburbia is a mix of country, suburbs, and city all baked into one location.


Suburbia Distinguished:
It’s roots may be found in the suburbs, but over time it morphs into a new place identified as Suburbia. Location often dictates this differentiation. While the suburbs outlay a city, those that remain the suburbs are often ones outlaying a large city. The suburbs that morph into Suburbia often have the following characteristics:
-It outlays not just one smaller sized city...but often two...or three...or four cities.
-It is located within a half hour radius of any and all of these cities.
-It is located within a comfortable day’s drive to at least two, if not three, internationally recognized cities.


Suburbia Identified:
Resembling a STATE
-The borders between towns are often naturally drawn by nature (ie. rivers) much like states are.

Resembling the CITY
-Within 20 minutes you can get to absolutely anything your little heart desires.
-If the sidewalks became scummier, trees disappeared, and buildings grew a few stories, it would qualify as a city.
-There is clearly a center of town, and those living closest to it often pay the higher bills.
-Each town occupies as much space as a small city does.
-Like city boroughs, the name of your development tells a person your income status and lifestyle culture.
-New kids in high school aren’t necessarily ignored, they’re just invisible because the school is too big to know who’s new and who’s been there for 10 years.

Resembling the SUBURBS
-Within 20 minutes you can visit at least 10 different towns.
-Housing developments a plenty, though often not in nice-to-navigate blocks.
-Contains more eateries than stores...all serving the same type of food.
-Contains more banks than stores.
-Despite the amount of buildings and people, there is miraculously nothing to do.

Resembling the COUNTRY
-A car is a requirement to get anywhere besides your front porch.
-Public transportation is a myth.
-Houses come with bigger yards to give a false illusion of country living.
-It might even have horse stables on the outskirts to further disillusion.
-Winding roads are more common than straight ones.


Suburbia:
My hometown, my childhood life, my world. To live anywhere else would be to miss out on the best of three worlds.


And yet here I am...about to embark into the world of the big city. Oh I have visited it before, I am not naive to it’s atmosphere. But to live in it, that I have not done nor have I ever wanted to do. Yet life has brought me here despite my indifference.

So let the adventures of smiles and tears begin, and may this blog chronicle it as I go.