Redefining the American Dream

Because the urban life is a green life

About the author

The data shows Americans returning to cities for the first time in 50 years. Despite this trend, my husband and I still find ourselves defending our lifestyle choices - living in a city, becoming a one-car household, using transit, shopping local and walking/biking. It has occurred to me that all things attached or associated with the word "urban" suddenly turn negative. Usually, we attach "urban" to bad things to make them sound worse. Urban poverty is worse than poverty. Urban crime is worse than crime. It must follow that urban neighborhoods are worse than just neighborhoods then, right?

Wrong. There just isn't a compelling narrative about the good life which can be found in our urban neighborhoods. We're not talking Sex and the City urban life, this is a narrative about being middle-class 20 & 30-somethings laying down roots in cities. We want the same things you do - a nice house, good neighbors, a garden, a place to keep our tools & toys. We don't want gridlock traffic, pollution, a toxic mortgage, to feel unsafe, debt, or a reliance on foreign oil. It's time to redefine the American Dream... or at least tweak it.

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Posts tagged Long Island

3 notes

July 25, 2011

There are many things about Long Island that I strongly dislike. Yet, I managed to spend an incredibly beautiful weekend down there drinking local wine & eating delicious foods. Albany needs more wineries & distilleries. Or perhaps I just need to explore more?

Filed under summer Long Island Locavore Drink Local