Thank you for sharing. I am wondering if you live in a bigger city of equivalent size in France - would you get the same social experience? I def dont see the chatty neighborly aspects of say living in Paris.
Austin has 1M people and have so much business related things and people coming in and out so I dont think its fair to compare.
From my experience, Austinites are much more friendly and chatty than any other big cities in the US I have frequented over the years. The car thing is undeniable most places in the US
An apples to apples comparison is probably not possible. But I don't think they're that far off: Austin is the 11th largest US city, Montpellier is 7th in France. Austin population is just under one million, greater metro area for Montpellier is over 800K (300K in the city center). The loneliness statistics are from all over the US. Very small towns probably interact with their neighbors more but I think the people of Cincinnati and Santa Ana have similar problems to Austin in terms of social interactions and loneliness.
Your comments about daily interactions are spot on. The two photos prove it. As for places in the US where you can meet up with neighbors, I cannot recommend a single one. New York came closest for us because we lived in "the Village" which is all historic old brownstones with stoops that people sit on. But head up to Midtown or elsewhere and you find high-rises and lonely people. When you have to work really hard at making friends and you are not an extrovert, you could die of loneliness I think. That just does not seem to happen anywhere here. People do pay attention to other people, even if they are not close friends, and they take the time to chat.
I lived in NY too. I used to say "you have to find your village". For me that was cycling - I rode my bike everywhere. I knew cyclists all over town and would run into the same people on my bike day after day. We'd wave, we'd chat at red lights (if we stopped!), we'd stop to help each other fix a flat tire. I once picked up David Byrne's glasses when they fell out of his pocket on the west side bike path (he had pulled his hand out of the jacket pocket to wave to me and didn't notice his glasses fell when he did that) - I turned my bike around and chased after him to return them (I used to see him all the time and we'd always wave at each other...maybe it was the white hair and not the bikes that formed our bond!).
Commercialism has people costs. When I visit Dallas Tx, the volumes of vehicles, construction, noise, distances to drive, empty sidewalks, reluctant conversations from passing walkers. Empty.
It seems unless you have some form of connection, you could live in isolation. It does take effort though to connect.
Except, as you describe, in Montpellier! You paint a picture of integration, charm and everyday connections….that word again!
As I look over my little courtyard here in NZ and dream about vacations in Europe, living in France or Italy ( I speak reasonably good French and enough Italian)I yearn for these flavours. Flavours of Europe.
Although I do now live in an area which offers me much of what you experience, the romance of the French idea shouts its temptation!
I’ll keep it to holiday visits and follow your adventures as part of the filling in life’s sandwich!
Thank you/ merci beaucoup pour tes sentiments. Très gentil 🤗🌻
Community is one of the biggest protective factors in keeping folks out of harm’s way of mental illness and addiction. Nous sont tous ensemble sur the monde toujours pourquois pas embrasser la fraternité? 😘
I so appreciate the title of your post. Living well is very much about “running towards”, and the current political climate in the US seems very much about “anti-“ this and that.
It’s no way to live. It’s isolating, and I’m so tired of being afraid for my family and friends. My spouse AJ and I are also looking carefully at what we’re building, what we’re running towards.
Rugged individualism. The US disease. Ugh.
Love this.
Thank you, Robin!
Thank you for sharing. I am wondering if you live in a bigger city of equivalent size in France - would you get the same social experience? I def dont see the chatty neighborly aspects of say living in Paris.
Austin has 1M people and have so much business related things and people coming in and out so I dont think its fair to compare.
From my experience, Austinites are much more friendly and chatty than any other big cities in the US I have frequented over the years. The car thing is undeniable most places in the US
An apples to apples comparison is probably not possible. But I don't think they're that far off: Austin is the 11th largest US city, Montpellier is 7th in France. Austin population is just under one million, greater metro area for Montpellier is over 800K (300K in the city center). The loneliness statistics are from all over the US. Very small towns probably interact with their neighbors more but I think the people of Cincinnati and Santa Ana have similar problems to Austin in terms of social interactions and loneliness.
Your comments about daily interactions are spot on. The two photos prove it. As for places in the US where you can meet up with neighbors, I cannot recommend a single one. New York came closest for us because we lived in "the Village" which is all historic old brownstones with stoops that people sit on. But head up to Midtown or elsewhere and you find high-rises and lonely people. When you have to work really hard at making friends and you are not an extrovert, you could die of loneliness I think. That just does not seem to happen anywhere here. People do pay attention to other people, even if they are not close friends, and they take the time to chat.
I lived in NY too. I used to say "you have to find your village". For me that was cycling - I rode my bike everywhere. I knew cyclists all over town and would run into the same people on my bike day after day. We'd wave, we'd chat at red lights (if we stopped!), we'd stop to help each other fix a flat tire. I once picked up David Byrne's glasses when they fell out of his pocket on the west side bike path (he had pulled his hand out of the jacket pocket to wave to me and didn't notice his glasses fell when he did that) - I turned my bike around and chased after him to return them (I used to see him all the time and we'd always wave at each other...maybe it was the white hair and not the bikes that formed our bond!).
Wow 🤩 so so true!!! Am visiting Austin in case you have some time - we drive back to Houston on Tuesday afternoon- my cell 213-304-5267
Avram - I probably don't have time today, but let us know when you are coming through again!
Beautiful!!!!
Commercialism has people costs. When I visit Dallas Tx, the volumes of vehicles, construction, noise, distances to drive, empty sidewalks, reluctant conversations from passing walkers. Empty.
It seems unless you have some form of connection, you could live in isolation. It does take effort though to connect.
Except, as you describe, in Montpellier! You paint a picture of integration, charm and everyday connections….that word again!
As I look over my little courtyard here in NZ and dream about vacations in Europe, living in France or Italy ( I speak reasonably good French and enough Italian)I yearn for these flavours. Flavours of Europe.
Although I do now live in an area which offers me much of what you experience, the romance of the French idea shouts its temptation!
I’ll keep it to holiday visits and follow your adventures as part of the filling in life’s sandwich!
Thank you/ merci beaucoup pour tes sentiments. Très gentil 🤗🌻
Do let us know if you're ever nearby in France!
Bien sûr…merci!👏
Community is one of the biggest protective factors in keeping folks out of harm’s way of mental illness and addiction. Nous sont tous ensemble sur the monde toujours pourquois pas embrasser la fraternité? 😘
exactement!
I so appreciate the title of your post. Living well is very much about “running towards”, and the current political climate in the US seems very much about “anti-“ this and that.
It’s no way to live. It’s isolating, and I’m so tired of being afraid for my family and friends. My spouse AJ and I are also looking carefully at what we’re building, what we’re running towards.
Thank you, Carolyn! It's always good to hear from mindful, deliberate people.