Great column: I was taken by your Everyman description of the place where it is you live, in ways so many can relate. The transition to the avatar-ean alternative project, meanwhile, is appealing yet jarring. Admittedly I am a Luddite with respect to anything beginning in "crypto". (Calypso, yes, gimme that.) I hesitate you use "meta-verse" of course, but what I read is that after a fond extolling of the virtues of your suburban locus, you advocate Dreaming Up Another Place. But buried within your essay is the perfect name for a vision of suburutopia: call it "Closeby."
Love this! The description describes my Midwest suburb pretty well; we have an immersion school right up the block, and it was a Trump yard sign that sparked a block-wide scandal in 2016...
Feb 12, 2022·edited Feb 12, 2022Liked by Lyle McKeany
I agree. I have always lived in a suburb, except when we lived in apartments (which were located in suburbs.) My daughter lives in Manhattan. It is fun to visit, but I couldn't take the crowds (or subway) on a regular basis.
We owned a house for years and am reminded of the semi-true joke, "Why be happy when you can be a homeowner." Maintenance is a killer. But we found the perfect alternative. We rent a house now. The landlord, who is a home inspector and die hard handyman who loves projects, lives next door. If anything needs fixing, he comes running. He has replaced the roof, water heater, and done plenty of other maintenance in the seven years we have lived there.
There is a greenway (wooded, paved walking trail) that circles a beautiful pond a short walk from our house. We also have restaurants and groceries within walking distance. And we are five miles from a real (small) city. Raleigh. So it is a little bit of everything.
Great column: I was taken by your Everyman description of the place where it is you live, in ways so many can relate. The transition to the avatar-ean alternative project, meanwhile, is appealing yet jarring. Admittedly I am a Luddite with respect to anything beginning in "crypto". (Calypso, yes, gimme that.) I hesitate you use "meta-verse" of course, but what I read is that after a fond extolling of the virtues of your suburban locus, you advocate Dreaming Up Another Place. But buried within your essay is the perfect name for a vision of suburutopia: call it "Closeby."
Well said Lyle, simpler the better
Great stuff as always Lyle. Thanks.
Love this! The description describes my Midwest suburb pretty well; we have an immersion school right up the block, and it was a Trump yard sign that sparked a block-wide scandal in 2016...
Had to laugh at the "RUMP" sticker. There's one of those on my street too.
I agree. I have always lived in a suburb, except when we lived in apartments (which were located in suburbs.) My daughter lives in Manhattan. It is fun to visit, but I couldn't take the crowds (or subway) on a regular basis.
We owned a house for years and am reminded of the semi-true joke, "Why be happy when you can be a homeowner." Maintenance is a killer. But we found the perfect alternative. We rent a house now. The landlord, who is a home inspector and die hard handyman who loves projects, lives next door. If anything needs fixing, he comes running. He has replaced the roof, water heater, and done plenty of other maintenance in the seven years we have lived there.
There is a greenway (wooded, paved walking trail) that circles a beautiful pond a short walk from our house. We also have restaurants and groceries within walking distance. And we are five miles from a real (small) city. Raleigh. So it is a little bit of everything.
I'm feeling the need for those foundations myself, Lyle. I completely resonate with this piece!
apologies for errata! I meant to say I hesitate TO use "meta-verse" of course ...