city girl

For as long as I've lived, I've lived in the city. It suits me. Some people would think that as a quiet person who needs their alone time, the hustle and bustle of the city would upset me. But I like that. I like anonymity of it, the diversity, the never-exhausted supply of new stores, restaurants, and people. There's always something new to explore.

My city has a little of everything. You can dress up and see a play, or you can wear sweatpants for yoga in the park. You can ride your bike or you can ride the bus or you can risk a lot of traffic and drive your car. There are locally owned vegetarian places and there are taco trailers, just as local. There's always something going on, some sort of celebration or festival or protest for people standing up for what they believe in. There are college students, families, and people who have lived here for 60 years. There are weirdos galore, and lots of animals, too. It's perfect for people-watching (and dog-watching, too).

I live about 10 minutes from downtown, which feels like the best of both worlds. We run into people we know at the grocery store, but it doesn't have that feeling of being stuck there. The skyline is both a comfort and a thrill, and there's music everywhere you turn.

And if you're feeling like a hermit, something I do a lot? There's room for you, too. Between the shelves at the library or on an empty bench in the park. Don't let anyone tell you it's impossible to hear yourself think in the city. It may lack the wide open spaces the Dixie Chicks sing about, but sometimes, if you search hard enough, you can look past the street lights and headlights to see some stars. It's just as beautiful.

It's not just my city that I love, either. San Francisco, Kansas City, Boston (pictured above), and Washington D.C., I've all fallen in love with. Up next is Los Angeles next month. I'm excited to see what sort of things that holds!

Are you a city mouse or a country mouse, or maybe something in between?

Kendall