#my mom asked me if i ever thought id movr back home but like

[bri-of-the-shire]

spent the holidays back home with my parents in rural/suburban area, and it just really made me appreciate living in a city, especially a more pedestrian friendly one.

need a specialty ingredient or out of something you need?? can walk to a store in like 20 minutes if i have the time! there’s a drugstore and dollar store a 5 minute walk the other way. the store you’re near is out, there’s 4 other grocery stores and 2 specialty markets in less than a 10 minute drive.

multiple library branches!!! i can literally go wherever i need to for a task and i’m close enough to a library to just pop in, that’s crazy!! i didnt know how easy it was to get a library card, but it was less than 5 minutes, and they have a spice club where they give away new and different spices every month!!

weekly events that happen at different parts of town! a stitch and bitch event and acoustics night at a cafe! a drink and draw night at a bar! food truck friday! sushi discount wednesday!

a designated park that has tons of free events open to the public!! a weekly farmer’s market!!

walk through an alleyway where trash pickup is downtown, and there’s a dresser there someone is tossing that you didnt have the money for! someone’s throwing out trimmings from their bamboo trees, and some hangers that they don’t need anymore!

being able to walk to a place that offers lgbtq+ support! being able to walk somewhere that can just help you file taxes for free! neighborhood pantries and libraries where you can take and give as you need! flyers and organizations that offer participation in mutual aid!!! recycling programs!!! local people have the ability to recycle glass now, and i’ve been able to volunteer and help deliver groceries to people for free in city mutual aid programs here and it’s. just surprisingly easy to just get involved with!

at home, there is one walmart, and a 30 minute drive to get to another, different walmart. it’s over an hour in any direction to go anywhere else. libraries and townhalls are on the opposite side of town from residential areas, fresh produce is sold at a stand like 35 miles away. towns are ripped to shreds and broken apart and the downtown squares are empty. it’s isolating! it’s empty! you cannot walk anywhere!

just made me feel grateful to be somewhere where community isn’t limited to a household. made me feel hopeful about something again.