June 23rd, 2008
The Urban Life of a Suburban Girl
I grew up in the suburbs of Ft. Worth, Texas and until 2005, spent 90% of my personal and work life in a twenty-mile radius from my little suburban home. I may seem like a woman of the world to some folks, but I am truly a small-town girl that wasn’t always accustomed to big cities and subway cars. As I mentioned on Sunday, I have spent the better part of the last couple of months working in Washington DC.
They (whoever they are) say things are ‘bigger and better’ in Texas, and when it comes to wide open spaces, they’re right. When it came to going anywhere, I hop in my car (typically alone) and go. It’s been a bit of a culture shock to be working in a Metro area like Washington DC. I am talking (mostly) about Transportation. In Texas, when you want to go somewhere, you get in your car and drive. Most places have huge parking lots and though the traffic isn’t always pretty, overall it’s manageable. And the concept of “mass transit” is mostly a concept.
Though I still have some missteps here and there, overall I have taken to the Washington Metro Rail like a duck to water. I have discovered that I can find myself anywhere in the area in a fairly short amount of time - and typically can get to a destination by rail much faster than if I were to drive or take a cab. The morning commute into my client’s offices can be spent reading a book or the newspaper and arriving relaxed instead of arriving stressed from the traffic. And evenings means I can dine at a trendy downtown restaurants if I choose, since areas like China Town, the Alexandria Water Front, Georgetown and Penn Quarter are a short (inexpensive) ride away.
This past Saturday, I spend the entire day out and with a swipe of my SmarTrip card, I traveled around from Old Town Alexandria to Arlington National Cemetery…from the Smithsonian Castle to the Barnes and Noble near The White House….from the National Portrait Gallery to a trendy cafe in Georgetown. I spent less than $10 on fares, but managed to work my way around a chunk of the city, all the while being able to read or listen to my Ipod…and give myself some needed exercise as well as I walked the short distance to each destination.
I may be the product of a Suburban upbringing, but I think I’m adjusting to the advantages you can only find in the Urban Jungle.
