As it says in several on-line bios of Booted Harleydude, I live in the suburbs of Maryland, north and west of the city of Washington, also referred to as the District of Columbia (i.e., Washington, DC.)
I never wanted to live in the city because I am not a city boy, don’t like the noise, hassles, expenses, and for DC in particular, I can’t stand it’s weird relationship as a city, state, and Federal district in which any member of Congress can meddle in its affairs. I prefer to live in a real state, thank you, and keep those meddlers in their own states.
The photo below shows…
…a very recent picture of me in the downtown of my hometown.
As you can see, it is an urban setting with tall buildings, dense development, public transit, restaurants, entertainment, and so forth.
My spouse and I live close enough to this location that we can get here within 15-20 minutes if we want to. Seldom we do (together) though I am there every week day.
Confusing to most people, this location is not incorporated. It is not a city, town, borough, township, village, or whatever you want to call it.
My hometown is called by the U.S. Government a “census-designated place” (CDP). Local government services are provided by the county in which this CDP is located. We have what’s called “county-strong” government, so our county provides all services — fire, police, public schools, civil courts & judiciary, parks & recreation, transportation, planning & zoning, permitting, and much more — all under one banner. One tax bill. One central bureaucracy of elected & appointed leaders and staff serving residents.
My hometown has an estimated population of 72,000 packed into eight square miles within 507 square miles and nearly one million residents of the county of which it is a part. Funny, my hometown always seems larger to me because the mailing addresses using my hometown’s name ramble over 12 zip codes.
I was born here and have lived within 5 miles of this central “downtown” for my entire life, excepting half-years in Oklahoma when I was a kid, a year in Europe while in college, and probably six years (total) of time spent elsewhere while on business travel during my lifetime. But my HOME has always been right here in this ‘burb.
The ‘burb sprawls all over with a mix of commercial and residential locations. It is easy to get lost among the crowds and be nobody if you want to.
For me, I am somebody. I chose to become involved in community affairs. Served in a representative elected position. Serve on various boards and community groups. Life member of my local fire department. Hang out with the local bike cops and cops on the various beats that serve my area.
I have made my hometown a true HOME town. I know its nooks and crannies. I know what makes it work. I know what is acceptable and not when it comes to housing, building, construction, transportation, and the like. I know how to get things done. I know to whom to complain if things aren’t working the way that they should. I know how to rattle cages when necessary. I know how to grease those squeaky wheels of Government bureaucracy perfectly legally (no bribery involved, but sometimes I do some “horsetrading”).
This community is where I built our forever home, and where my spouse and I have settled. We are part of this vibrant community, and I’m darned proud of it. Good and bad, warts and all — it’s my home.
Life is short: be part of your hometown.