Comments on: We want someone else in the city.

By: Ramnik

Ramnik — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 23:45:05 +0000

In reply to Debra Klein. Interesting to hear the opposite experience.

By: Ramnik

Ramnik — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 23:44:37 +0000

In reply to Helene Dunne. It is all about priorities, isn’t it?

By: Helene Dunne

Helene Dunne — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:51:21 +0000

Your words kindle my memories of working downtown in my youth and again mid-career. The commute hasn’t changed much…I still visit family members who prefer to live in Chicago. It is an exciting place but it can take its toll on the family as you point out in your blog.

I see young families who appear to make it work. However, there must be sacrifices in the size of their homes, the quality of the children’s schools, and safety. It is possible to overcome the drawbacks with high incomes. I guess it is all about choices.

By: Debra Klein

Debra Klein — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:11:03 +0000

Ah! You touched on an experience I had as a mid-30’s single person but with a corporate move in the opposite direction – I went from working in downtown Chicago to the northwest suburbs. I realized the first day when I drove solo in my car that sure it was convenient, but I missed the the train ride and exercising walk to work from the station. Instead I had a walk of 100 yards from the parking lot to the building. Lunch time was a real letdown. Instead of walking anywhere I wanted in the loop, I had to get in my car and drive to somewhere to eat. Again, no exercise! And then my suburban office had few, if any singles, and after work social outings were limited. I loved the job and gradually met others in my life mode and didn’t feel so much like a “fish out of water”. When I had to go downtown on occasion for business, I was always reminded of the richness of the hustle, sounds, smells and sights lacking in the suburbs.

Once I married and we became parents, I understood the advantage of not working downtown. It’s tough to catch the train for that soccer practice at 4:00 p.m. And family is our most important priority in life, agreed.

I wonder about those who live downtown with their young family. How does that work? You’d have the best of both worlds.