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Where Would YOU Live?
Jacob on our site provided the clearest encapsulation of the personal choices involved in Larry Thompson's urban-rural Damascus mix. He asked:
Given a choice, living near vegetables and orchards OR living near efficient mass transit that can take you to organic farmers markets, great ethnic resturants, downtown shops, universities, museums, airports and train stations, professional sports games and concerts---WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE?
Well, where would you?
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I was faced with this choice in 1989 when we moved up from Oakland CA to Vancouver WA. It was tempting to buy acreage in Battleground or in the Cascade foothills but the reality was that we wanted to be near services for our young and growing family. My husband did not relish driving on icy mountain roads to his Portland job in the winter and I wanted to be able to walk to schools and shops and live in "Mr Roger's Neighborhood."
So, we chose to live on the west side of Vancouver, in the older section, where we bought an older fixer upper for a song. We joined a food co-op and also grew some of our own vegetables. We got involved in our neighborhood association and community.
We are still near downtown Vancouver on a larger lot, growing vegetables and chickens and we have access to all the amenities Portland has to offer. We have a fabulous Farmer's Market and now there are CSA groups. I CAN have my (organic) cake and eat it too.
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Comments are now closed.
I would live in the city, I like having nieghbors and people I see at my regular hang outs.
However I do like going to rural areas, where I can ride dirt bikes, ATV's, shoot guns, and drink beer around a huge bon fire. Its kind of the "Nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there" thing.