Perks of living in the burbs

You know that specific frustration you feel when a gadget stops working and you're incapable of fixing it because of your naive understanding of how technology works?

Today my bike speaker stopped working out of nowhere. I'd planned a solid 12 mile loop around a couple small towns near my parents' house and my speaker breaking right as I was set to head out seemed to have ruined my trip before it had even begun. I had that tech-fueled frustration running through my veins, but before I let my rage take over, I thought, well, I could just bike without the speaker. I used to all the time before I had it, like a peasant. Whatever, just go bike.

Burbs Perk #1: biking in silence I was off! No speaker, no phone, no backpack, just my me and my child- I mean bike. Biking in silence isn't possible in the city, because silence doesn't exist there. Garbage truck beeps, L rail cars, and general city obnoxiousness tend to overpower any sound of tranquility in Chicago. Here in the burbs, however, I was immediately enjoying biking without my speaker - because there it was - silence.

Keep in mind it's Memorial Day, a day typically spent outside enjoying spring weather, so I thought the trail would be packed - and honestly, maybe it was, in suburban context. Coming from the city, this trail seemed dead. It was like my own personal private path where every half mile I'd maybe come across another person or squirrel.

This was probably the most blissful bike ride I've taken since I moved to Chicago last June. Birds were chirping, the wind was gently blowing the forest leaves - I swear people pay for sound bites of this stuff to fall asleep to. And yet, here I was, effortlessly reveling in it.

Burbs Perk #2: walking at night

Later on I decided to take Sadie for another walk. She loves walking when it's slightly cool out, and after the sunset the temperature was perfect for a substantial Sadie stroll.

Midway through our saunter I realized it was fully dark outside. This is where suburban perk revelation number two came to me.

I'm walking outside at night and I don't have the urge to do a half-run back to my home for fear of getting robbed or some other form of sketchery... This. Is. Luxury.

I totally forgot people can walk around their neighborhood at night and not feel scared for their life! What a lovely amenity!

I've been living with my parents back in the burbs for 9 days now, and most of the time I've spent here so far I've wondered why young people still live anywhere but in the city. After today, I kind of get it.