41–50 of 149 posts
Most importantly, I’ve learned the joy and importance being near my family and spending time with them. These are all things I never cared about in my 20s.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
"ever"? We live in an affluent neighborhood surrounded by Doctors and CPAs. Our kids see that every day. That's their normal. And if/when there are major budget changes to the district, who do you think are the first parents in line advocating for their school? You literally buy your kids a chance at a better future.
School funds should be distributed equally across the entire population. If we were a democracy, rich neighborhoods wouldn't have better schools.
Some of the best public schools in the nation exist where I grew up in the Minnesota suburbs. They served trailer parks and public housing the same as the doctors and lawyers. But they also passed levies to increase their own taxes year after year.
It is unfair, and wrong, that Minneapolis inner city schools don't have the same funding, but the vibrancy of the well funded public schools was a consequence of local, effective, democratic political action.
This article is 5 or 7 years too late. We already moved to cities. Now we want to be married and do things that require yards. Or at least own a small piece of the city and no longer be at the mercy of landlords (non-rent controlled renters). Most importantly, I’ve learned the joy and importance being near my family and spending time with them. These are all things I never cared about in my 20s.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
"ever"? We live in an affluent neighborhood surrounded by Doctors and CPAs. Our kids see that every day. That's their normal. And if/when there are major budget changes to the district, who do you think are the first parents in line advocating for their school? You literally buy your kids a chance at a better future.
School funds should be distributed equally across the entire population. If we were a democracy, rich neighborhoods wouldn't have better schools.
Move abroad. That's simple. Lots of places with much better quality of life. European Union is terrific place: multiple nations, different climates, various cultures, freedom of speech, parlamentary democracy, clean ecology, safety, good education, inexpensive housing.
People from these areas are extremely conservative and xenophobic.
The restaurants and any business you might frequent are of lower quality.
These cities are not world class cities. Claiming that they are is just ignorant. You end up trapped in a little bubble with nowhere to escape to, surrounded by boring white people.
There is NOTHING TO DO.
What if you want to go out on Friday night and see a rock show? Or get a decent dinner? I hope you like commuting to Chicago...
You will be surrounded by insurance salesmen with none of the diversity and vibrancy a larger city offer.
That is to say: These places have no culture. No diversity. They have nothing going on, nobody creating anything, no one performing anything. Just going about their little lives selling insurance.
Additionally: Their nature sucks. I hope you're fine with never hiking through any interesting terrain, going skiing, or rock climbing, or really doing any interesting outdoor activities. ( I guess hunting is popular? )
Also.. where are you going to work? I'm a software developer: Where am I going to work in Cedar Rapids, IA? Some insurance firm doing meaningless banking bullshit?
"But I moved there for my kids!"
What if your kid wants to start a rock band, or be a painter, or do anything creative or interesting? Or, what if they are extremely intelligent and want to progress through a decent, competitive school system?
I can answer this one from personal experience: They will be completely alone surrounded by mediocre, extremely homogeneous racially and otherwise, people with no community of peers driving each other forward.
There will be no friday-night rock shows, no musical culture in general, no museums or after-school clubs or protests to attend. Nowhere to go. Nothing to do. Nowhere to explore.
So, after all I've said: What's left to inspire you, or your kids, in these mediocre little cities?
So I guess if you're willing to do nothing and be nowhere and be nothing, wasting your days watching television, moving to a smaller city is a great bet. Personally, I'd rather live in a decent city than slouch though a mediocre one.
I moved to Indy to get a programming job in the early 2000s, and then to Colorado a few years after that. I'm much happier with the climate, the people, and the tech out here. However, the house I close on this month cost 3x what my parents' place is worth.
I'm from the Midwest, from the Cedar Rapids area, moved to Chicago, and I have to say I would NEVER EVER move back there. People from these areas are extremely conservative and xenophobic. The restaurants and any business you might frequent are of lower quality. These cities are not world class cities. Claiming that they are is just ignorant. You end up trapped in a little bubble with nowhere to escape to, surrounded…
Move abroad. That's simple. Lots of places with much better quality of life. European Union is terrific place: multiple nations, different climates, various cultures, freedom of speech, parlamentary democracy, clean ecology, safety, good education, inexpensive housing.
Won't you have to pay taxes twice if you're from USA though?
Of course, though your taxes may be higher, other expenses may be lower (e.g. telecoms, health care, housing) so you'll probably end up with more in your pocket.
Move abroad. That's simple. Lots of places with much better quality of life. European Union is terrific place: multiple nations, different climates, various cultures, freedom of speech, parlamentary democracy, clean ecology, safety, good education, inexpensive housing.
Won't you have to pay taxes twice if you're from USA though?