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Hmm, I'll start answering some of these questions that you guys have asked - you're all doing a great job, and so far, it looks like all the questions I'll be able to answer in some way!
What made you choose to live in the suburbs instead of the city, when that's where you work?
- Karl
There are several reasons:
1) Money. Living in Chicago is horribly expensive if you want a house. We were thinking of getting a condo downtown that was in our price range, but the thought of friends having to find parking (anyone who knows Dave knows how he feels about parking!), expensive groceries, and a possibly long commute for Dave made us choose not to.
2) Location. Yes, although I work Downtown, Dave works in the suburbs. The great thing about working downtown is that pretty much anywhere you live in the Chicagoland area, there's a train that can take you into the city. Chicago has the CTA, the 'burbs have Metra. We wanted to find a place that wasn't a far drive for Dave to go to work, but was also near a train station so I could commute into work. Also, the location of our home is not too far from his parents, who live in the suburbs, and my family, who live in the city. No more than half an hour drive.
3) THE HOUSE. We found the perfect house for us. We couldn't pass it up!
With all that said, it's still hard to adjust to life in the suburbs. It's not an easy drive to the city - especially during rush hour. We live far out enough that when people have things going on in the city, we're too lazy to make the drive in. Also, my parallel parking skills have really diminished - when I park by my dad's place, there's like 3 feet of space between the curb and my car. Ack! The suburbs are converting me!
I've got it good, though, because I still work in the city, so I still have that quick hustle and bustle of city life to experience. I miss it a lot, though!
Posted by Yano at September 15, 2005 10:59 AMI feel your pain. I really, really, really miss working and/or living in a city!
Posted by: noelle on September 15, 2005 11:47 AMI know your rationale Yano. When we moved to the East Bay from AL we got out the maps the school stats and the BART line routes. We needed a H.S. for Gillian to walk to and a BART station nearby for us to commute to San Leandro and San Francisco. Oh, and near our temple. We came up with a 1 square mile area in which to look for a house....and paid as much as the bank would lend us! Gulp...but we're in a semiurban area, Berkeley, with all the activities you could want. It's having the time and energy to do stuff....but urban areas have so many things you're bound to find something for everyone!
Posted by: SusanG on September 15, 2005 12:39 PMAll good points. I thought you may have hinted at "because of a future family", because that's what ultimately made us stay away from the actual downtown area. I couldn't see living there with a child!
I tried to convince my wife to look for some houses in Oak Park. Both my dad and my grandparents grew up there. It's only a 10-15 min. CTA ride to the Loop, but it still has a somewhat suburban feel. My only concern was if you venture too far out of Oak Park you find yourself in some bad neighborhoods real fast. And yes the houses are old and expensive, but you're so close to the city; it's all about location.
Anyways thanks for answering! I will eventually move to the city... until then I will keep inviting myself over to my friends who live there already.
