Now that I've been back to Chicago, there's a few things I'd like to compare with living there, and living in Texas. Now, granted, all of TX isn't like all of Chicago, but this just a few things that I'm thinking about. Also, keep in mind that I stayed in the 'burbs, too, so it wasn't like downtown Chicago...although, there's not much difference, IMO.
Walking. In Chicago, you can walk out your front door, and just go for a walk. There's a sidewalk right outside your door, and you can walk as far as you'd like. And chances are you can walk to wherever it is you'd like to go, too. There's NO sidewalks where I live, so you have to actually get in the car, drive to where you'd like to walk, and drive home when you're done. And something as close as a mile away requires vehicular transportation as well.
Biking. You can go for a bike ride in Chicago, too. Just jump on the bike, and go. You can ride down the side streets, and not (really) worry about getting run over. You can ride your bike to the bike trail, and go as long as you'd like. In TX, you have to pack the bike in the van, drive to the bike (walk) trail, unpack the bike, ride for a mile, get back in the van, and drive home. Not worth the mile that you can ride. And since the speed limit is high out here, you can't just ride down the street, lest you get yourself killed. So much for family outings...
Activities. How about heading to the park? In Chicago, you walk to the closest park, which chances are, there are at least 2 or 3 within a mile of your home. In TX, you have to pack the kids, pack everything you need, drive at leave 5 or so miles to the closest playground, and, if you aren't exhausted by this time, let the kids play before packing them up to drive back home.
How about a museum? Well, you have to take a train or pay for parking in Chicago, but the museums are 100x's more interesting and educational (and fun) than in Texas. Plus, there are a LOT of them. Children's museums, Science museums, zoo's, etc., etc., etc. In Texas, (at least where I am) you have to drive there (there's not actually PUBLIC transportation out here...lol), but it's so far that the price of gas is comparable to the price of parking in Chicago.
Grass. Yes, grass. It's amazing how much of that there is in Chicago...and how wonderful it is to walk barefoot in it. The grass is plush, it's soft, there's not "stickers" or fire ant mounds. You can lay down in the grass, look up at the sky, and just watch the clouds go by. You just can't do that here. The grass is itchy, there's pokey things that stick to your feet, and you'll get attacked by the fire ants...and their bites BURN!!
Food. Sorry, Texas...but the food SUCKS out here. Chicago has THE best pizza in the world. Seriously. And they deliver it to your door (I live just outside the ONE pizza place that delivers in my area...sigh). "Chicago Style Pizza" isn't real Chicago Style in Tx...it's AWFUL!!! And there's REAL Italian food. And Gyro's. Not Gy-ros. Gyros. And they freaking ROCK! And, seriously..there's nothing like a hot dog from Gene and Judes. It's Vienna Beef. You can't beat that. Oh--and Italian Beef. It is BY FAR the best in Chicago. They don't even HAVE that in East Texas...at least, not that I can find. And there's a HUGE difference in Chinese food.
On the other hand...Groceries are expensive as hell in Chicago. I was SHOCKED to see a loaf of bread for $3. And milk is like $5 a gallon! What is up with that? Then there's the price of gas...wow!! And housing...Holy Cow is right!! I have twice the home for half the price here in Tx. Traffic is a nightmare out there, too! It takes a good 30 minutes to drive 5 miles in Chicago...NOT during rush hour. I can drive 30 miles in 5 minutes out here..well, almost. But the speed limit is 70 around here. And the local "busy streets" are 50 mph or so.
Finally, Chicago has my sister...And the Cubs. And Texas has...no snow.
