When I got out of university, I desperately, like most recent grads, wanted to move into the city. It seemed as if that's where everything was. The bars, clubs, restaurant, people and the energy. I ended up doing the "responsible" thing and stayed with my parents. I was pretty bummed about the situation, until one day I ran into somebody from school a little while (meaning a year or two) after and chatted about it for a bit. He said that living downtown really isn't what it's cracked up to be. Sure everybody lives downtown, but nobody from school would hang out with each other. Everybody was too busy with work, chores, hobbies, basically life. From then on, I didn't feel so bad.
Recently I had the opportunity to move downtown again. And for a second time, I did not take it, this time opting to stay in the suburbs. For some people, this seemed crazy. Why would I want to stay in the boring land of 6 lane roads, cookie cutter houses and bland food options (sorry Jack Astors, as much as I love your garlic bread, that means you).
 |
| Buttery deliciousness! |
While I'm all up for looking good and being healthy, making responsible consumer choices, there must be a line somewhere. Must get tiring after awhile, trying to keep up appearances constantly. And for whom exactly? Are the neighbours in the beaches really going to care if they see you carrying a plastic bag, filled with groceries from No Frills? Are the other corporate drones scoffing at your phone that is two years old? And even if they did, why should you care?
I didn't want to get sucked up in this vortex of city culture. Constantly trying to make enough money, to spend on the latest and greatest that city culture has dictated as the new thing. The only opinion that should matter to me is my own, and to be perfectly honest, I don't have the energy.
"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"
- Sheryl Crow
Interesting read, but IMHO you're talking about two very narrowly characterized groups, and I don't feel they define "city culture." What I enjoy most about the city is its diversity, and the varying cultures/characteristics of the different areas. This is especially true in Toronto, which is a "city of neighbourhoods" and one of the most diverse in the world. Personally, I think there is far more pressure to conform in the suburbs, but to each their own! Agreed that Toronto is not the friendliest city around, but it could be worse.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a point. Perhaps I was too narrow in my assessment. But I think that may have to do with the fact that most of the people in my age group tend to collect within the same areas. And that is not indicative of the city as a whole, but more to the areas in which I'd be categorized in.
ReplyDeleteWhile the suburbs, there's a certain pressure to conform in its white picket fence manner, there's also a certain amount of privacy that allows for individuality and isolation that I find you don't get in the city.