Downtown vs. the Suburbs

I've been living smack downtown for almost 3 years now. Before that I had lived in the burbs for about 25 years. Well, that's if you can call Denton the burbs. Denton definitely has more of a personality than a typical suburb, so maybe it doesn't count. But the lifestyle has to be a lot the same of living in a typical suburb.

One of the differences I like is being able to walk to anything I need. Restaurant, grocery store, cleaners, pharmacy, doctor, dentist - it's all within a few blocks, usually less than a couple. Another thing is having a good workout facility right in the building where I live. Many of the condos, apartments and lofts downtown have on-site gyms and pools. Very convenient.

Contrast that with having to get in the car and drive to pretty much anything I just mentioned. And getting to the gym was a pain. I believe I drove more than a couple of miles to the gym. Too much overhead. Now I just ride the elevator downstairs.

Another contrast is a more social community feeling living in a high rise. I run into neighbors and other folks that live in the building way more than I ever did in the suburban neighborhood. It was hard to even know people who lived too far down the street. Here in the condo, there is a lot more casual interaction. Also, regular social events make getting to know people easy. In fact, we have a wine tasting party coming up this week.

Another fun thing about my specific situation is the view. Fortunately I live on the 23rd floor with a wide ranging South and West view from my condo. Lots of windows give all the rooms a big open feeling. At night the city view is great. I had a very nice rural and rustic view out the back door of my house before moving here. That definitely compared well to my current view, just different.

One thing missing compared to my previous residences is the quietness of a suburban neighborhood. I lived on a circle with almost no traffic, so it was pretty quiet most of the time. In the middle of the city there is always something going on. Being as far up as I am mutes most of the street noise, but the ambient noise level is certainly higher than I was formerly accustomed. Not a big deal. Good to feel the energy of the city.

I do miss Denton, but not enough to go back :-)