City Living

As a staunch Type A personality, my interest in cleanliness goes beyond the pleasure of putting everything in it's place -- it's really about a state of mind. When my desk is clear, my mind is free from distraction; I have a sense of peace. But I have come to believe that at some point, the minimalist lifestyle can lead to a head that's clear only because it's empty.

It's the everyday things that make your life real, and that allow writing to breathe with your voice. So maybe stark white office furniture isn't as inspiring as it is austere at times.

That's exactly why my most recent vacation was very much in order. I just arrived home from Boston -- exhausted, broke and covered in chili from dinner on the road -- but also with a new appreciation for those little things that are just part of the element here in Detroit. I'm not suddenly disilusioned that this is anything like Boston...but there are clear differences.

One thing that was nice about being in the city -- and this is going to sound weird -- is that it was dirty and painful and public. In the privacy of loftier Detroit suburbs, life is about the comfort of your home and little subdivisions that bustle with children.

In Boston, it was city walking with a layer of impermeable dirt on your heels. It was EVERYTHING bustling EVERYWHERE. There is a sense of community in touching what a million hands have touched on the subway and suffering daily as you discover the discomfort of your shoes for the first time. There is a quaintness near the ocean as the buildings crammed into each other and overflowed into the street.

I have to admit that cities like Chicago and Boston have always felt dreamy to me. But like most others, it becomes difficult to just pick up life and go once you get rooted. But for all of us in that situation, I think that we can gain perspective on what our lives are about when we get a taste of the "greener grass." I enjoyed living a different life and the historical character for a few days. As a result I had a greater appreciation for my more stark,peaceful lifestyle at home.

Although the pull to "get everything together" is great, there is something spiritual about glistening hotly in the weather and getting lost for a while.