alternative lifestyles & where to live

[Guest guest]

The ongoing off-topic subject of homeschooling has been mingling in my

mind with the earlier question of where is a good place for a veggie

family to live. Reading people's responses, I realize that I want to

more strongly make my point for where I live as an example of what can

happen when you have choices.

 

Another poster on this list suggested looking at university/college

towns. I completely agree. I live in the happy confluence of two

pro-alternative-lifestyle communities: a major metropolitan city, and

the campus area of a major university.

 

We can eat at any restaurant (dozens within walking distance, everything

from Lebanese to Cajun to fine French cuisine). We can go to any public

event where food is served and expect to be able to eat at least

*something*. The dozens (yes, dozens) of bookstores and libraries

within walking distance all have books & cookbooks that cater to our

interests. People understand without question when we mention that we

are vegetarian, and there has never been any problem eating in anyone's

home. It's not that we're surrounded by vegetarians; it's that we're

surrounded by people who are reasonably educated about the world and the

many wonderful differences embodied by its people. In fact, we're

surrounded by people *from* all over the world!

 

When it comes to schools, I am less knowledgeable about the pros &

cons....however, in my role as newsletter editor of the local parent

support network, I did active research into local pre-schools and grade

schools, and of course I've had to do that research again personally for

the benefit of my nearly 3 year old daughter. We have dozens (yes) of

schools to choose from within walking distance. Everything from

religious (Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim) to public (including

two magnet schools, a language academy where students are immersed in

French, Spanish or Japanese language & culture from age 5 up, and some

of the better-rated public schools in the city), with two Montessori

schools, a few parent co-op schools, one of the top academic prep

schools in the country, and other alternative schools run according to

specific ideals in between. All of them are supportive of vegetarian

families. (Most of them offer daily vegetarian meals.) All of them

require active parental involvement, in the classroom and beyond. There

are several homeschooling groups in the area: one meets weekly in the

same space as the parent support network group I was speaking of above.

They have extensive access to local resources, including the

above-mentioned schools and of course our wonderful, vibrant community.

Obviously, vegetarianism isn't a problem in that situation!

 

I've known people who are so specially trained in their field that there

are only a handful of companies that can employ them. Obviously, if

that is your specific situation, it might be harder to find the

" perfect " match of community vs. your ideals. But for anyone actively

looking to move anyway, why not try to find a community where you won't

be stuck without choices, whether they be about vegetarian or schooling

options? It's so hard to visit some of my relatives, because I know

that I will have to spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about

getting enough nutritious, satisfying food to eat. That's no way to

live on a day-to-day basis. If there's only one store, or restaurant,

or school to choose from, that's not really much of a choice. If you

have to spend hours each day in a car to access any of the above, that's

not such a great choice either. Then you start getting into the tough

decisions, like how much extra work to take on as your own (making your

own tofu, etc.). The more your community respects your choices and

supports them, the easier it is to live your life.

 

Liz

[Guest guest]

Well i want to know where you live. It sounds like a very openminded area with

lots of choices. What is the cost of living there...and do you get a lot of

snow....

jessica

" E. R. Bakwin " <bakwin wrote:

The ongoing off-topic subject of homeschooling has been mingling in my

mind with the earlier question of where is a good place for a veggie

family to live. Reading people's responses, I realize that I want to

more strongly make my point for where I live as an example of what can

happen when you have choices.

 

Another poster on this list suggested looking at university/college

towns. I completely agree. I live in the happy confluence of two

pro-alternative-lifestyle communities: a major metropolitan city, and

the campus area of a major university.

 

We can eat at any restaurant (dozens within walking distance, everything

from Lebanese to Cajun to fine French cuisine). We can go to any public

event where food is served and expect to be able to eat at least

*something*. The dozens (yes, dozens) of bookstores and libraries

within walking distance all have books & cookbooks that cater to our

interests. People understand without question when we mention that we

are vegetarian, and there has never been any problem eating in anyone's

home. It's not that we're surrounded by vegetarians; it's that we're

surrounded by people who are reasonably educated about the world and the

many wonderful differences embodied by its people. In fact, we're

surrounded by people *from* all over the world!

 

When it comes to schools, I am less knowledgeable about the pros &

cons....however, in my role as newsletter editor of the local parent

support network, I did active research into local pre-schools and grade

schools, and of course I've had to do that research again personally for

the benefit of my nearly 3 year old daughter. We have dozens (yes) of

schools to choose from within walking distance. Everything from

religious (Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim) to public (including

two magnet schools, a language academy where students are immersed in

French, Spanish or Japanese language & culture from age 5 up, and some

of the better-rated public schools in the city), with two Montessori

schools, a few parent co-op schools, one of the top academic prep

schools in the country, and other alternative schools run according to

specific ideals in between. All of them are supportive of vegetarian

families. (Most of them offer daily vegetarian meals.) All of them

require active parental involvement, in the classroom and beyond. There

are several homeschooling groups in the area: one meets weekly in the

same space as the parent support network group I was speaking of above.

They have extensive access to local resources, including the

above-mentioned schools and of course our wonderful, vibrant community.

Obviously, vegetarianism isn't a problem in that situation!

 

I've known people who are so specially trained in their field that there

are only a handful of companies that can employ them. Obviously, if

that is your specific situation, it might be harder to find the

" perfect " match of community vs. your ideals. But for anyone actively

looking to move anyway, why not try to find a community where you won't

be stuck without choices, whether they be about vegetarian or schooling

options? It's so hard to visit some of my relatives, because I know

that I will have to spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about

getting enough nutritious, satisfying food to eat. That's no way to

live on a day-to-day basis. If there's only one store, or restaurant,

or school to choose from, that's not really much of a choice. If you

have to spend hours each day in a car to access any of the above, that's

not such a great choice either. Then you start getting into the tough

decisions, like how much extra work to take on as your own (making your

own tofu, etc.). The more your community respects your choices and

supports them, the easier it is to live your life.

 

Liz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Jessica asked:

 

<<Well i want to know where you live.>>

 

Chicago, south side.

 

<<It sounds like a very openminded area with lots of choices.>>

 

Again, I stress the collegiate atmosphere. This is the neighbourhood of

the University of Chicago. There are certainly many areas of Chicago

that would require much more effort to find like-minded people,

restaurants, and/or food stores. Also, more driving.

 

<<What is the cost of living there...>>

 

That's one of Chicago's best kept secrets. You'd never guess it's a

world-class city. The housing costs are much lower than comparable

metropolitan and/or alternative living areas (like NY, LA, Boston, San

Fran, Boulder, Aspen, or Seattle, for example). And one thing I found

when I lived in NY is that salaries aren't always perfectly pegged to

the cost of living, which makes things tougher. When I was living there

(10 years ago), NY salaries weren't much different than Chicago's, but

housing costs were 50-100% higher, for example. Meanwhile, theatre

tickets here are much less; there's a lot of free and/or cheap arts &

culture available; the parks system is ubiquitous and well-used; and the

public transportation system might not be as good as the ones in NY or

the Bay area, but it's much better than most U.S. cities. My father

hasn't felt the need to own a car since 1960. I didn't bother getting

one until I was 25 -- and have gone back to not having one occasionally

over the intervening years-- now, even with a child I only use my

current car a few times a week. Of course, you'll have an easier time

of it depending on which neighbourhood you live in (and where you work).

 

Lower costs without significantly lower salaries really makes a big

difference. Now, obviously, YMMD (your mileage may differ), depending

on your job situation and other personal factors, but it's a pretty

decent place to live.

 

<<and do you get a lot of snow....>>

 

Um, well, you knew there was a catch, didn't you? <g> Yes, we get

winters. Freezing cold, snowy, mucky winters. And August is usually

horribly hot & humid. And it'll take you at least a half day's drive to

get to any topography that isn't perfectly flat. I never said that

Chicago was perfect!

 

Liz