I live in the suburbs, if someone passes you walking somewhere--even though you can walk to a lot of basic amenities here within a half mile to a mile--they think your car broke down.

Also, we have parks that no one goes to, and neighbors you never see. I value the fact that my street has not been as transient as many--I've known my immediate neighbors on three sides for almost 30 years, but I think that's a fluke.

Also, there is no town center in my township, which also hinders community. It was built as little Levittown type homes on farms when people started to move out of Brooklyn--not much planning. A farmer would make a few bucks and a subdivision would go up. A school went with it, but not many shops or amenities.

I have roots here, so I like it It's familiar, comfortable, I know my mailman well, I know the merchants, and I cross paths with teachers my kids have had throughout the years, so that's what makes it "home."

While I'm not a big fan of suburbs in general (I always wanted to live in Manhattan), I think you have to look at them on a town-by-town basis Some of them function well and others not so much.

Here's my own blog entry on suburbia: