For some people, happiness is a quiet backyard. For others, it’s the ability to roll out of bed, take ten steps, and find themselves in a cozy café where the barista knows their order. If you’re in the latter group, you might understand why so many people are making their way back to city living.
There’s something about walkability that changes the way you experience life. When coffee, groceries, a bookstore, and a last-minute dinner spot are all within arm’s reach, the world feels more connected, more spontaneous—more alive.
The Death of the ‘Quick Errand’
In the suburbs, the phrase “I’m just going to grab a coffee” means keys, car, parking lots, drive-thrus, and traffic lights. What should be a five-minute detour turns into a 30-minute mission with three additional stops along the way. And let’s not forget the existential crisis in the drive-thru lane as you contemplate whether you really need a pastry, too.
But in the city? Coffee is a stroll away.
The simple act of walking out your front door and straight into a coffee shop isn’t just about caffeine—it’s about effortless convenience. No gas, no parking, no time wasted circling a shopping plaza. Just fresh air, a stretch of the legs, and the smell of espresso greeting you on the sidewalk.
Where ‘Last-Minute’ is Actually Last-Minute
City living brings with it a certain kind of freedom—the ability to be spontaneous.
Dinner plans in the suburbs require group texts, OpenTable reservations, and a coordinated effort to meet at a place with parking. Meanwhile, city dwellers are out the door and at a corner bistro before their suburban friends have even left the house. Need a bottle of wine at 9 PM? In the suburbs, that’s a logistical nightmare. In the city, it’s a one-block walk.
Walkability = Built-In Social Life
It’s not just about the errands—it’s about the people.
In walkable neighborhoods, you run into friends. You chat with the bookstore owner. You get to know the guy making your sandwich at the deli. These small, everyday interactions create a sense of community that’s hard to replicate in a place where everyone drives straight into their garage at the end of the day.
So, What’s Better?
It all depends on what makes you happy. Some people love the peace of suburban life—the space, the quiet, the predictability. Others thrive in the energy of a walkable world, where every errand, meal, and chance encounter is a footstep away.
But if you’ve ever caught yourself longing for a place where a cup of coffee is just a stroll down the street… well, maybe the city is calling you home.
I’m a definite suburbanite (I don’t drink coffee). Which one sounds like home to you?