Today I live
in a suburb north of Boston in a community where houses are zoned on half acre
lots. As a result I know only my neighbors a few houses away on my side of the
street and those on the opposite side. I enjoy my backyard deck where I can
drink my morning coffee in the most casual of clothes. Living in spaced out
areas gives a great deal of privacy.
In
comparison, when I was a youngster and living on West Fifth St. in Southie, our
houses were jammed close together. Narrow alleyways provided separation and in
many cases there were no spaces at all. It was a congested urban setting which
still exists today. Growing up in that environment I knew not of the type of
neighborhood I live in now.
The
advantages as a young boy is that whenever I set foot from my house there was
always a gang playing and you could just join in without an invitation. We
played until our mothers called us in for dinner. I gained a lot from my
interaction with the kids on the street. I recall that period as the happiest
in my life. It also prepared me later in my professional career when I had to
meet and deal with others.
So which
lifestyle do I prefer, actually both. When you are young it’s important to have
social interaction with others. It is a learning period that is essential to
growing up. Without it, it becomes difficult to function in society. But now I
am beyond needing that. My privacy means more to me. So yes, I can say I am
pleased with both ways of living.
