For the past couple of years, I have constantly been forced to stand up for the "little guy". I have felt obligated to defend something that has no voice. I have battled rumors, jokes and myths as a crusader for a seemingly minority group. Yes. As a young, "single"*, hip (again, its my blog and I can say what I want, so I'm "hip", get over it) female, I have spent the past couple years supporting my choice to live in the suburbs - GASP.
I feel that my decision to live "way out" in the suburbs is a constant issue for those around me. Well, "issue" may not be the best word, as it often has negative, confrontational undertones, but lets just say that when someone hears that I work in the bustling city yet live in the mundane 'burbs, its as if the freak show just came to town as they respond with a combination of disgust, curiosity and pity. "Look ma, that lady has a beard. Oh wow, that man is 900 lbs... no... wait... LOOK at this young, single, hip female... she's the freakiest of them all... she lives in the SUBURBS".
The freak show is over, people... I'm going to defend my beloved homeland for the final time. Take it or leave it, but please don't point and stare anymore because unlike the bearded lady, this lady is living the good life.
First, let me define my suburb. I live about 30 miles from one of the biggest cities in the country. 30 miles. Not 300. Did you know that you can get from the suburbs to the city in something other than in a horse and buggy? No? Well, I can get to the city in a really nice car that I can afford because I don't have to pay for astronomically expensive parking and have access to cheaper gas making my sometimes 30 minute (or less) drive so much more satisfying. Okay, okay - I can hear some of my colleagues screaming, "What about the morning commute to work?! Its NOT 30 minutes!" You caught me. So, if its a lazy Sunday afternoon of shopping in the city or a random Tuesday night after rush hour, my drive is quick and easy; however, I will admit that morning traffic rivals the gridlock of Macy's on Christmas Eve. So I choose not to drive it - I train it.
Ah, the train, another misunderstood suburban myth. I'm not going to sing the praises of it as I often feel chained to specific departure times, but I do want to defend it as a very respectable mode of transportation, and for my environmentally responsible audience, its also a green way to go, which only adds to my hipness.
So, now you know that I'm a 30 minute drive or a relatively hip, green train ride away from the city (which if you think about it, isn't THAT bad), lets talk about what us suburbanites do for fun. Contrary to popular belief, there is more to do in the suburbs than crocheting sweaters and hanging laundry. Now, I will agree that some suburbs in this beautiful country fit the stereotypical picture of lameness as they are literally hundreds of miles away from a Wal-Mart, let alone a large city, and although I've stressed time and time again to my friends and coworkers that I'm not Laura Ingalls Wilder and that my town does not have any Little House on the Prairie tendencies, they don't seem to buy it. Alas, I continue to fight the good fight and battle the injustice.
Bonnets and prairies aside, let's get back to suburban social activities. First, lets talk about shopping. I often will shop in the city because once again - say it with me now - I don't live THAT far away, but I also live about 10 minutes from one of the largest malls in the world. Do you know what us suburbanites say when we bump into obvious tourists while shopping? "Damn those city people." Admit it. You city folk get a kick out of huge sprawling shopping centers and my area is full of speciality shops, chains and department stores of all kinds. And one thing I can't stress enough is the easy access us suburbanites have to Target. If you want to go to a Target in the city, you must prepare both mentally and physically for practically a 10 day adventure of trains, planes and automobiles, just to enjoy all the bounty of the finest store in the world.
What about food? Its either TGIFridays or Olive Garden in the suburbs, right? WRONG. We have everything from cheesy chains (don't knock them, I would kill for a good Chili's salad) to really great high end eateries. Do you know that 2 of most critically acclaimed Chicago restaurants of 2007 are in the suburbs?! GASP. And yes, I even "go out" in the suburbs and believe it or not, there are actually great bars and great people "out there". Everyone in the city believes young people who live the suburbs must watch dateline on Saturday nights at home because they are stranded in corn fields - not so much. I have a very active life, which I'm coming to find is somewhat mysterious and, dare I say, "hip". And may I remind everyone that the city doesn't make you social, you're personality does and I know some pretty lame people who live in the city and some crazy social butterflies who call the suburbs home - if you're wondering, I think I fall right in the middle.
I think we can now agree that the suburbs have good shopping and good food. Oh, and did I mention that I pay less for both? And when I want to splurge and enjoy true Chicago shopping or eating, I can then go back home to 2 acres of land, look out to a beautiful sunset and breath fresh, unpolluted air. Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT knocking the city - if you know me, you know I LOVE urban life and unless you knew my address, you would have no idea that I spend 2 hours everyday commuting to and from the burbs in my horse and buggy.
So to all those city dwellers that don't understand this young suburbanite - stop trying to understand me and just appreciate that I'm just your gateway to visiting beautiful landscapes and the infamous Target. And remember that I'm not a freak... I'm just a young, single, hip female living in the 'burbs.
*Please note that I consider myself as "single" (and the following explanation is for my beloved bf who was probably pissed from that word on throughout reading this post, if he even reads it), because "single" legally refers to anyone who is not married, thus putting me in the "single" category; however, I believe there is an up and coming "engaged" category that I would like to be a part of... just throwing that out there. (I bet my bf is now a little less pissed about the "single" comment and a lot more angered by "engaged").
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