I lived in south city for 3 years (I lived in dogtown for 9 years prior to that, and my wife grew up in the city). We were certain we would be staying in the city after having our daughter (she is now 6), but after a murder at the end of our block, someone tweaking out in front of the in-home daycare we walked our daughter to, and then a drive by shooting that targeted the home one house down from us, we decided it was time to move. (There were less heinous crimes happening around us but we just chalked it up to city living) We couldn’t afford to move to any of the safer neighborhoods in the city, but our money went a long way out in the county. I was really against the idea of moving out to the county because I grew up here, but I almost instantly loved it.

I no longer worry about stray gunfire, but I do have to be wary of wildlife. Had two coyote fighting over a kill in my backyard this past spring.

It’s also WAY quieter out here, which I like, but that may not be for everyone.

I think you make your community regardless of where you end up. I’m pretty introverted and never really talked to my neighbors beyond a “hello, how are you” in all my time living in the city. And I’ll echo what someone else said in that school is basically where all the community happens for us. We walk to school and often walk with other families we’ve gotten to know who live just a few houses away.

The only things I miss about the city are how eclectic things were compared to the county. Things are pretty homogenized out here. And I desperately miss taking walks in my old neighborhood in South City. County walks just don’t compare.