I'll Take Aux

 

Diagram of Denton's Highway Construction

Funny how I was prepared to discuss my experience of living my high school years in a town whose picture that I swear is next to the definition of suburbia in the dictionary. I read Little Boxes, listened to Malvina Reynold’s song, and was prepared to defend the idea of these homes. And then, I landed on the article Retrofitting Suburbia and ultimately backtracked. It mentioned the city of Denton, TX (less than a 30-minute drive from my town). If you live in my area, you are familiar with Denton. You are familiar with the absolute nightmare it is to navigate.

The entire metroplex that I live in is under construction. It does not stop. The roads and highways never stop growing wider and wider. And yet, the lanes become more and more condensed with the sprawl of vehicles.

It is important to remember why one desires to live in these towns. Myself, it is the congregation of various occupations and lifestyles. Yes, the houses all look the same from the outside, but when you step in, you can see the family's individuality. In a sense, it creates a mask that we often wear to the public, and only when we are prepared to do we slip it off and show others our true colors.

So let’s take this beauty of selective individuality. Now, envision this place and that for you to access “box store” materials, you need to get into your car to access. Often, it means a 20-minute drive either to the outskirt of your town or you jump on the highway to one of the neighboring towns. And just like that, you're backed up in the traffic waiting on your 8-lane highway to merge into two lanes.

Here's another pro/con: suburbia has been successful for a reason; it has become a sense of escape. Businesses (as a generic statement) within the town are local, and it becomes the local hangout. Kids meet up with their friends in the next city in the town square, then bounce to the neighboring town to meet up with others at the skate park. But there is a lack of spontaneity as one must coordinate how to get from place to place.

What does this all have in common? The need for a car. As Retrofitting Suburbia discusses the importance of dense areas to lessen the use of driving, there becomes the question that doesn't this lessen the original intent of what suburbia means for many? That they have yards surrounded by others and that there must be a true intent before venturing into the part of town where business is. And yet, maybe this upcoming generation is ready for the redesign of what suburban life means.

I can see both sides of the suburban argument, but I wouldn’t change how my high school years were influenced by suburban life. Many memories were from the car with friends and family alike. Just make sure you have a good playlist on for the upcoming construction zone.