I have lived in two major cities in my life so far.
The nation’s capital, Washington, DC
and the pride of the Midwest, Chicago, IL
While living in the city does has some setbacks (so many sirens), city life has become a part of me in many ways.
Without further adieu, here are
The 5 Reasons Why I
Love Living In the City
1. Being able to walk everywhere
I can pretty much access all of life’s necessities via my own two feet. Within just a few blocks are my gym, the mailbox, the bank, the pharmacy, a grocery store, tons of restaurants, a farmers market, a zoo, and Lake Michigan.
Just steps away is Lincoln Park Zoo
A few steps more and I can dip my toes in the Lake
In DC, I had the ultimate luxury of being able to walk to work. The 20-minute walk to and from was my favorite way to begin and end the day. In the year and a half I lived there, I never once took the Metro to work. I walked rain or shine.
Not many people actually live in downtown DC, but I lived smack in the middle in Chinatown
2. If I can’t walk, public transportation is always an option
Yes, there are some things that are a bit farther outside the radius of the distance I would casually walk to. But there are also some times I will make a day of it if it is nice out, like the one time in DC where I decided to walk 4 miles to and from Trader Joes.
Our location here in Chicago is right near the L and many bus lines heading into the Loop. In DC, I lived a block from the one Metro stop that could connect me to all other lines.
3. Never far from something interesting
Living in a city basically means there is ALWAYS something going on, much to the chagrin of drivers and people trying to go about their daily lives without getting stampeded by Lollapalooza attendees.
See a movie in Millennium Park
Go to antique and vintage markets
Play softball on the National Mall
Attend a march for a good cause
See your favorite sports teams play
Pick up your produce from a farmers market
4. So many spaces to exercise & explore
A lot of people think that when you live in the city it becomes harder to exercise. That is absolutely not true. While I am a bit further away from acres of undeveloped green space, I do have access to some of the greatest spaces to work up a sweat.
Go for a run along the Lakefront Trail
Not only are there so many cool places outside to go work out, there are also so many different kinds of gyms that everyone can find something they are interested in. Aerial yoga? Got it. Trapeze lessons? Got it. American Ninja Warrior gym? Got it.
Running the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
I became a part of a great fitness community while I lived in DC called November Project. It’s free and we worked out all over the Capital. From the Capitol building steps to underneath the cherry blossoms, we were everywhere. Now in Chicago, I meet up with November Project at the Bean and everywhere else in between.
5. Being able to be a part of so many different things
I am involved in almost way too many things. I serve on a non-profit associate board, regularly volunteer at beach clean ups, and participate in numerous environmental functions.
Election day didn’t turn out like I thought, but I was able to serve as an election judge at my district’s polling place.
Last year, I became a Chicago Conservation Corps leader. I can partake in projects that better my community and environment.
Marching with thousands on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC’s March for Climate
Cleaning up Montrose Beach
waste not want not 