Compact living

There is lots of row housing here in Cambridge- the ones that are connected together. I like their little front yard gardens. And I am sure I would love the backyard ones too if I could see them. The houses are really close together here, but many people still have their own little tiny front yards, They are usually big enough of a place to put bikes, a few plants, and maybe the rubbish bin and recycling. Than there is a private backyard that is big enough for sitting out and eating, tossing a ball, having a little garden, and doing some landscaping. No big lawns to mow. We do Americans love their big yards other than them thinking they are suppose to? They take so much time to mow and gas and energy. What are they for? They are overwhelming. A little yard is not over whelming. It is manageable to go out and do a bit of gardening; it's not scary. If your yard is not big enough for a game of ball, you go to the community green space. Than you can socialize and enjoy your community. I think it is more green here, even if there are houses all compact together. It doesn't feel like it too much though. Like a puzzle how they all fit in. The houses and flats are a decent size, I think; large enough for what you need in life. Why do we need bigger houses? To put more unused stuff in? To keep busy cleaning? The bedrooms maybe smaller, but so you hang out in the living room with each other. Or have less clothes. Less clothes to clean. Who likes cleaning? You get out more when you don't have cleaning and mowing to do. No room to put stuff you don't need so you don't shop as much, so you go for a walk with your friends and have tea or a pint. Or a bike ride with your family. The country side begins at the city limits- always five/ten minutes away by car (least here in Cambridge, a city of 108,000), plus there are so many parks within the city. Boating is available in the city too. Maybe not gas guzzling speed boats, but canoes, kayak, punts, and rowing. Physical things. I feel it is ironic actually. And this may go for some cities in the US too, but it is more natural to be active here in the city than it was living in the woods of Vermont the last two years. I admit I do miss hiking in the woods very much, but it was so much more of an effort to do something physical when I lived in the woods than it is now in the city. I can walk and do errands. Not drive to do errands, than have to go walk after. But I guess I am doing a lot of generalizing. This is all specific to me and what I like. And I am not working. But people seem very good at biking to work and to pick up the kids at school by bike and shopping by bike or walking. Too big to carry, delivery services are everywhere. Places I need don't feel far to me. Occasionally maybe if I am tired from not sleeping well, but usually a 1/2 hour walk is fine. I use to dread 1/2 hour drives to the store in VT. We use to drive a 1/2 hour just to walk around Hanover because it was much easier with the stroller. And we could get a treat at the end of the walk. And not feel like we were going to be run over (walking down a country road doesn't always feel so safe, even if it is quite pleasant). Well enough from me, I am glad I have two working feet. P.S. If you couldn't tell, I love all the walking here. :)
But we just got me a bike and a seat for Juniper. I think I am going to miss the walking even though it will be more than twice as fast to bike. More time outside is better to me. Plus Juniper is too interested in the computer for me to use it when she is awake at home, which is what I want to do with more time. She doesn't sleep well at home unless she fell asleep walking first. I am finding this amusing as I write it out. Oh well, either way, biking will be lots of fun as a family. We can see more of Cambridge and the surrounding countryside and villages. Look forward to that a lot as it slowly warms up. The flowers are coming up already, the crocuses and daffodils, even a few tree blossoms. Pretty.